AS Roma begin their Serie A campaign against Fiorentina at the Stadio Olimpico on Monday, 24 August 2026, with kick-off at 18:45 GMT and the hosts priced at 1.64 to win the match.
The fixture brings together two coaches with contrasting approaches. Gian Piero Gasperini, renowned for high-intensity pressing and rapid transitions, begins his second season in charge of Roma, while Fabio Grosso takes responsibility for a Fiorentina side expected to focus on defensive organisation and set-piece efficiency.
Mahamad Sangare, presenter of the sports debate programme La VAR on Burkina info TV, has provided his assessment and prediction for the opening-day contest.
Roma finished fifth in Serie A last season, narrowly missing out on direct qualification for the Champions League, but the club’s ambitions have risen after several seasons outside the top four. They are aiming to re-establish themselves among Italy’s leading teams and challenge for a return to Europe’s premier club competition.
That objective will be tested by a demanding schedule, with Serie A and the Champions League both requiring Gasperini to manage the squad carefully. The Roma manager must balance the intensity of his football with rotation and the physical demands of a long campaign.
The club’s pre-season was mixed. Roma began with a 4-1 victory over Newport County but were then beaten 4-1 by Cardiff and 3-0 by Brighton. The latter defeat exposed concerns in defence, although a 2-2 draw with Borussia Dortmund offered a more positive conclusion to their preparations.
Fiorentina are also starting a new era. The club endured a difficult previous campaign and spent much of it in danger of relegation before an improvement in the second half of the season secured safety. They eventually finished 15th, eight points clear of the relegation zone.
The Viola are now hoping to return to a position more consistent with their ambitions. Grosso, who did good work at Sassuolo, has been appointed to lead that recovery. The 2006 World Cup winner with Italy made a winning start in a competitive match, guiding Fiorentina to a 4-1 victory over Benevento in the round of 32 of the Coppa Italia.
Fiorentina’s squad has undergone a major overhaul. Defenders Comuzzo, Valentini, Moreno, Lamptey and Gosens have left, as have midfielders Richardson, Amatucci, Sohm and Fazzini. Beltran and Roberto Piccoli, who scored four Serie A goals, have also departed, with Piccoli joining Bologna on a loan deal that includes an option to buy.
Rugani, Solomon and Harrison were not retained after their loan spells, while Brescianini and Fabbian remained at the club following their temporary deals.
New arrivals include defenders Viery, Radu Dragusin, Valdepenas, Joao Mario and Jimenez, alongside midfielders Inao Oulai and Atta. Real Madrid winger Franco Mastantuono has also joined. Mateo Pellegrini arrived from Parma but was not fit enough to play in the Coppa Italia and is likely to be available for Monday’s match.
Italy international Moise Kean, who scored eight Serie A goals last season, did not perform at his best but remains an important player for Fiorentina. Dodo, Marin Pongracic and Nicolo Fagioli are also still with the club, while defender Parisi is injured.
Roma have likewise made substantial changes to their squad. Celik, Angelino, El Shaarawy and Dovbyk have left, while the loans of Bryan Zaragoza and Lewis Ferguson were not extended. The club made the moves for Malen and Ghilardi permanent after their performances impressed.
Molina and Koulierakis have strengthened the defence, while Castro and Rodrigo Mora provide further attacking options. Goalkeeper Svilar remains a key figure after an excellent season, with Gasperini also able to rely on Mancini, Ndicka, Wesley, Cristante and Kone. Paulo Dybala and Matias Soule remain Roma’s principal attacking threats.
The most recent meeting between the clubs ended in a commanding 4-0 victory for Roma on 4 May 2026. Across the past five years, Roma have won five of the 10 meetings, with two draws and three Fiorentina victories.
Fiorentina’s most emphatic result during that period was a 5-1 win on 27 October 2024, underlining how dramatically this fixture can turn if Roma’s defence becomes vulnerable.
The four most recent meetings have produced at least two goals in three of them, while the current assessment is that scoring twice before half-time could prove difficult given the teams’ respective form.
Roma’s home advantage, as well as their recent 4-0 success in this fixture, has made them the leading choice in the current markets. Betting odds may change.
