In a compelling pre-season encounter, AS Roma is poised to challenge Brighton & Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium. Roma's manager, Gian Piero Gasperini, has unveiled a robust squad, including the dynamic trio of Matias Soule, Paulo Dybala, and Donyell Malen, signaling a strong intent for the fixture. This match serves as a crucial preparatory step for the Giallorossi as they fine-tune their strategies and cohesion ahead of the demanding competitive season.
This upcoming game represents a significant rematch, as it's the first time these two clubs have met since their intense Europa League showdown in 2024. During that memorable two-legged affair, Roma emerged victorious with a commanding 4-1 aggregate score, largely thanks to a dominant 4-0 performance in the initial leg held at their home ground, the Stadio Olimpico. Such a history adds an extra layer of intrigue and competitive spirit to this friendly encounter.
For Roma, this match is their penultimate pre-season fixture and the concluding one of their brief tour in the United Kingdom. Their journey through the UK has been a mixed bag of results; last weekend saw them suffer a 4-1 defeat against Cardiff City in South Wales. However, they demonstrated resilience and offensive prowess by bouncing back with an impressive 4-1 triumph over Newport County on Tuesday, showcasing their ability to adapt and perform.
The offensive strategy for Saturday's match will see Malen leading the attack, with creative support from Dybala and Soule, who are expected to operate in the trequartista roles. This attacking setup aims to capitalize on their individual brilliance and collective synergy. The midfield will be anchored by Neil El Aynaoui and Bryan Cristante, providing both defensive cover and playmaking capabilities, while Wesley and Devyne Rensch will patrol the wing-back positions, contributing to both defense and attack. Gasperini's defensive formation features a solid back three comprising Gianluca Mancini, Evan Ndicka, and Mario Hermoso.
New additions to the squad, Santiago Castro and Konstantinos Koulierakis, are listed among the substitutes, indicating their potential involvement and providing Gasperini with additional tactical options from the bench. The match is scheduled to kick off at 15:00 BST.
The confirmed lineups for both teams are as follows: Brighton (4-3-3) will feature Verbruggen; Wieffer, Simmonds, Boscagli, Kadioglu; Ayari, Hinshelwood, Gross; Minteh, Kostoulas, Gomez, under the guidance of coach Fabian Hurzeler. Their substitutes include McGill, Dunk, Osman, Cashin, Kostoulas, Costinha, Cozier-Duberry, De Cuyper, Yalcouye, Yohanna, and Middleton. Roma (3-4-2-1) will field Svilar; Mancini, Ndicka, Hermoso; Rensch, El Aynaoui, Cristante, Wesley; Dybala, Soulé; Malen, managed by Gian Piero Gasperini. Roma's bench will consist of Gollini, Di Marzi, Ghilardi, Ziolkowski, Koulierakis, Nardin, Reale, Mannini, Lulli Panico, Cherubini, Vaz, and Castro.
This friendly provides an excellent opportunity for both Brighton and Roma to assess their squad depth, integrate new players, and refine their tactical approaches. It's a chance for players to gain valuable match fitness and for coaches to experiment with different formations and strategies in a competitive environment before the official start of their respective league campaigns. Fans can anticipate an engaging contest as both teams vie for supremacy and look to make a strong statement in their final pre-season outings.
