AS Roma take on the visitors Bologna in the round 1 match of Italian Serie A. The match will be played on Saturday, August 23rd at Stadio Olimpico (Rome).
Roma remain ambitious, yet for years they have struggled even to finish high enough for a Champions League return. Last season held plenty of promise, but after early setbacks Daniele De Rossi was dismissed, and his replacement, Ivan Jurić, completely failed to deliver in the capital. Claudio Ranieri then came back from retirement and nearly guided the team to fourth place, missing out on Juventus by just a point or two. Ranieri has since stepped aside, and Roma moved decisively to appoint Gian Piero Gasperini from Atalanta. The experienced coach immediately began reshaping both the squad and the playing style, with the saga around Dovbyk illustrating how intense the rebuild is. These adjustments mean Roma’s real quality will only become clear in the opening Serie A rounds. The team showed flashes of attacking fluidity in pre-season friendlies, but defensive organization still looked shaky. Consistency will be the key if Gasperini’s men want to re-establish themselves among Italy’s elite.
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Bologna left a mixed impression in 2024/25. The Rossoblù were the sensation of two seasons ago when Thiago Motta guided them into the Champions League. But they entered that competition without their coach, who left for Juventus, and quickly fell short in the group stage. In Serie A they slipped back into mid-table, which felt like a natural regression. However, new boss Vincenzo Italiano delivered silverware, lifting the Coppa Italia with his squad. Over the summer, Bologna cashed in on Beukema and Ndoye, yet reinvested smartly — signing Vitik, loaning Pobega, and bringing Bernardeschi back to Italy. This means the team may actually have more balance and depth than before. Their preseason form was encouraging, with convincing wins that highlighted their attacking width. Still, questions remain over whether they can consistently challenge the bigger clubs.
Bologna are unbeaten in their last five matches against Roma. Even last season, they managed a draw and a win over the Roman side. Roma cannot afford to slip in this fixture. Expect nothing less than a home victory for the Giallorossi.
Prediction for the match: AS Roma to win.
