ROME, ITALY – AUGUST 23: Wesley Franca of AS Roma scores his team’s first goal whilst under pressure from Charalampos Lykogiannis of Bologna during the Serie A match between AS Roma and Bologna FC 1909 at Stadio Olimpico on August 23, 2025 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
Wesley Franca scored on his Serie A debut to give Gian Piero Gasperini a strong start to his Roma career, but Bologna were unlucky with injuries.
The Giallorossi were transformed under new coach Gasperini, starting Evan Ferguson and Wesley Franca, though Leon Bailey and Lorenzo Pellegrini were injured, plus Zeki Celik suspended. Bologna missed Juan Miranda and Emil Holm, but gave ex-Lazio striker Ciro Immobile his debut in a familiar arena.
See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.
Ferguson tested Lukasz Skorupski from the edge of the area and then nodded inches wide from Angelino’s cross, while Riccardo Orsolini had the ball in the net long after the offside flag had gone up for Immobile.
Roma thumped the upright on 23 minutes with Bryan Cristante’s glancing header on a Matias Soulé free kick.
There was bad news for Bologna when Immobile pulled up clutching his thigh just above the knee, hobbling off the field visibly upset at what might be a serious injury.
To make matters worse, Nicoló Casale also pulled a hamstring on the stroke of half-time and he too had to be replaced.
Nonetheless, substitute Santiago Castro almost opened the scoring when his cross-shot from the right surprised Mile Svilar and smacked against the crossbar from a tricky angle.
It was Roma who opened the scoring with new buy Wesley Franca, who made the most of a clumsy Jhon Lucumi first touch to win it back inside the penalty area and off balance scuffed a snooker shot finish past Skorupski.
Paulo Dybala made his return from injury and immediately forced a save from Skorupski with a curler on the Wesley pull-back.
Federico Bernardeschi saw his finish deflected over within a minute of coming off the bench, while Artem Dovbyk failed to make the most of an inspired Dybala pass that sent him one-on-one with Skorupski.
Roma 1-0 Bologna
Wesley 53 (R)
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Image:Getty
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