Serie A Week 1: Roma vs. Bologna official line-ups

Official: Evan Ferguson joins Roma on loan with an option to buy from Premier League side Brighton and Hove Albion (picture via www.asroma.com)

Gian Piero Gasperini makes his Roma debut with Evan Ferguson and Wesley Franca against Ciro Immobile’s Bologna.

It kicks off at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT).

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from this game, Milan-Cremonese, Sassuolo-Napoli and Genoa-Lecce on the Liveblog.

Wesley gives his first Roma interview on July 29, 2025 (AS Roma Youtube).

The Giallorossi have been completely transformed this summer by the arrival of ex-Atalanta coach Gasperini, who changed the tactics and many of the personnel too.

Paulo Dybala is still not at 100 per cent after his injury at the end of last season, so Stephan El Shaarawy and Matias Soulé are chosen to support new centre-forward Ferguson, preferred to Artem Dovbyk.

Daniele Ghilardi and Neil El Aynaoui had been tipped to start, but are only on the bench.

Lorenzo Pellegrini and new buy Leon Bailey are injured, with Zeki Celik suspended, but Wesley Franca is another debutant.

Bologna pre-season Ciro Immobile (@bolognafc1909)

Bologna won the Coppa Italia last season, but are also still trying to deal with the loss of Dan Ndoye and Sam Beukema.

Juan Miranda sits out a ban, while Emil Holm has an injury and Federico Bernardeschi is not at 100 per cent, so Jhon Lucumi starts despite publicly pushing for a move to Sunderland.

It’s a special debut for Immobile in his old hunting ground, having played against Roma so many times here for Lazio.

He is supported by Riccardo Orsolini and Nicolò Cambiaghi.