Roma Travel to Bergamo as Gasperini Returns to His Old Stomping Grounds

There’s a rare mix of emotion and ambition as Roma travel to Gewiss Stadium this weekend to face Atalanta. Although the Bergamo side have long been a thorn in Roma’s side, the Giallorossi’s hiring of their most legendary manager means that this match gains even more importance than the typical top-four implications. After all, Gian Piero Gasperini is the man who redefined Atalanta. He transformed the side from a provincial team hoping to simply stay in Serie A into a European heavy-hitter over nine spellbinding seasons. Gasperini returns now not as the hometown coach but as the architect of a Giallorossi challenge for a return to Champions League football and more—and there’s no doubt that even if they are currently in tenth place, Atalanta stands in Roma’s way as I Lupi attempt to reascend the mountaintop of Italian football.

Gasperini acknowledged the unique flavour of this particular match in his pre-match press conference, naturally speaking fondly of those nine years and the bond he built with the people of Bergamo, from Percassi’s boardroom to the tifosi that roared his teams to glory. Still, Gasperini insisted that tomorrow’s match is no sentimental stroll down memory lane, but instead a pivotal test of Roma’s ability to cement itself back among the big boys of Italian football.

True, there’s a flu going around and a few niggling injuries, and the rumor mill suggests that the Giallorossi will be making big moves in the January mercato. Regardless of all of these mitigating factors, there’s clear motivation to make a statement where Gasperini built his legacy as one of the biggest Italian managers of the 21st century.

What to Watch For

Can Pisilli Save His Spot?

While it’s certainly not the biggest story of the week involving a Roma academy graduate, Niccolò Pisilli’s push to reclaim his status as a midfield option is certainly bubbling under the surface as an important trend. It’s no secret that Pisilli turns heads when he’s playing for the Italy Under-21s, most notably with a brace in a 4–0 win over Sweden in U-21 European Championship qualifying. Matches like those exemplify the kind of dynamic, box-to-box influence that made him one of the club’s brightest young midfield talents. Yet as Romanisti know, those flashes of brilliance for his country have not translated to significant minutes under Gian Piero Gasperini just yet. The 21-year-old has been consigned to a handful of scant substitute cameos in Serie A and Europa League action that don’t reflect his potential.

That contrast between international form and club usage has fueled speculation that Roma might explore a January loan move to ensure the 21-year-old plays regularly in the second half of the season. Reports in the Italian press have linked him with moves to Genoa and even a swap proposal involving Bologna, suggesting Roma are willing to be pragmatic in finding him minutes. Still, there’s reason for some confidence among Romanisti who hope he is in Rome for the long haul: after all, Pisilli does have a contract running through 2029, a clear signal that the club still has a vision of the youngster as a part of the long-term core of this side (perhaps when Manu Koné finally falls victim to the siren song of the Premier League).

Gasperini hinted in his press conference that Pisilli will be available to play tomorrow against Atalanta after struggling with the flu, and given the injuries to both Tommaso Baldanzi and Lorenzo Pellegrini that will likely keep them out of this match, there’s a chance that GPG’s homecoming will be an opportunity for Pisilli to turn in a star performance (in a Roma kit this time) at the Gewiss Stadium. Whether that opportunity comes as a start or another appearance off the bench, the stakes for Pisilli feel significant. If he can string together a few sharp progressive carries, showcase a willingness to receive under pressure, or even just display the confidence to play on the front foot, that could be enough to suggest to Gasperini and the Roma hierarchy that Pisilli needs minutes at the Olimpico, not a smaller Serie A side.

A strong performance from Pisilli wouldn’t erase the logic of loaning a youngster in need of minutes, nor would it suddenly reorder Roma’s midfield depth chart overnight. Still, football decisions are often shaped as much by moments as by plans, and a strong showing in Bergamo would perhaps buy Pisilli what he needs most right now: belief from his coach, patience from the club, and a genuine runway to grow in the shirt he’s worn since he was a kid.

Zalewski v. Wesley (Say that Five Times Fast)

The most interesting man-to-man battle tomorrow will almost undoubtedly be the duel between Nicola Zalewski and Wesley on the flank, at least for Romanisti still following the Polish international’s career with interest. While Zalewski didn’t leave Roma with much affection lingering among the tifosi after struggling to find space in multiple Giallorossi sides, he has found a way to carve out space for himself at both Inter and Atalanta. Wesley, by contrast, was handed the keys to the kingdom by Gasperini from the moment he arrived in Trigoria. The Brazilian has been given the freedom to be the attacking wing presence many once hoped Zalewski would become, with a bit more defensive reliability than Zalewski ever consistently showed.

The two players shape games in very different ways. Zalewski’s time at Atalanta has been defined by steady influence rather than eye-catching production; he’s provided one goal and two assists in the 2025/26 Serie A season, paired with regular involvement in attacking phases and key passes that unsettle defensive structures. Wesley’s impact is more physical and immediate. His athleticism down the right offers Roma a dimension no one else in the squad quite matches: overlapping runs, recovery pace, and a kind of verticality that turns transitional moments into genuine chances. He’s logged heavy minutes, driven Roma’s forward thrust, and earned both domestic praise and a call-up to the Brazilian national team in the process.

The contrast between Zalewski’s technical craft and interior combinations and Wesley’s explosive pace and relentless work rate makes this flank battle a fascinating tactical subplot. Zalewski’s ability to drift inside and link play has kept him relevant in Atalanta’s creative phases despite stiff competition for minutes, while Wesley’s directness has turned him into a genuine star in Rome, stretching defenses and pinning full-backs deep. The flank could well be where this match is decided: if Zalewski finds space behind his marker, Atalanta gains a valuable creative outlet. Meanwhile, if Wesley wins his duels and forces overlaps, Roma can suffocate the home side’s rhythm and tilt the match their way. I’d put my money on Wesley to win this one, just as I’d put money on a Roma win tomorrow if I was betting man. Still, Roma have been haunted by the gol dell’ex more than once, and Zalewski will hardly lack motivation against his boyhood club.