Roma begin the season under Gian Piero Gasperini with a 3-4-2-1 that pairs Paulo Dybala and Rodrigo Mora behind Donyell Malen, promising an aggressive, high-tempo approach at the Olimpico. Fiorentina, now coached by Fabio Grosso, debut an attacking trident of Mastantuono, Atta…
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Sign inThe 2026-27 Serie A campaign gets underway on Monday, August 24, as AS Roma welcome Fiorentina for a round-one encounter that pits two clubs in transition against each other. Both sides have new faces in the dugout and on the pitch, making this an unpredictable curtain‑raiser.
Roma are expected to hand competitive debuts to several summer arrivals. Full‑back Nahuel Molina, signed from Atlético Madrid, is in line to start, while teenage playmaker Rodrigo Mora and former Dortmund forward Donyell Malen – who leads the Giallorossi attack – should also feature prominently. Gian Piero Gasperini’s squad enters the fixture with no reported injury concerns.
Fiorentina, meanwhile, are under new management after Fabio Grosso swapped Sassuolo for the Viola hotseat. The Football Italia report on Serie A’s probable line‑ups states the visitors are set to change half their starting XI from last season, with six new regular starters in place. That overhaul began to take shape in the Coppa Italia, where a 4‑1 demolition of Benevento featured goals from Albert Gudmundsson, Moise Kean, Luca Ranieri and Cher Ndour, while teenage midfielder Samuele Lamesta made his senior debut.
Grosso’s tenure began with a statement win in the cup, providing a sharp contrast to the side that limped to survival last term. The Viola’s 0‑0 home draw with Genoa in May was described by Viola Nation as “the dreariest biscotto you’ve ever seen” – a lifeless display that secured their top‑flight status with little conviction. The Coppa Italia rout of Benevento, however, suggested a fresh attacking verve, and Grosso will hope that momentum carries into the league.
Gasperini’s appointment signals Roma’s ambition to return to the Champions League places. The Giallorossi inflicted a humiliating 4‑0 defeat on Fiorentina in last season’s corresponding fixture – a performance Viola Nation called “as pathetic … as we’ve seen in years” – and they will expect to set a similar tone on opening night. Malen’s pace, coupled with Molina’s thrust on the right, gives Roma a dynamic edge that the visitors’ reshuffled defence must find a way to contain.
Fiorentina’s rebuilt forward line will test a Roma defence that went unbeaten in pre-season. Gudmundsson and Kean offer a mix of guile and physicality, while the creativity of Ndour and debutant Lamesta could exploit gaps if Roma push too high. How well the Viola’s six new starters gel in such a demanding away assignment could decide the contest.
With the transfer window open until September 1, both squads may still evolve, but a positive start is crucial for two clubs with eyes on European qualification.
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