Dovbyk: ‘Roma like going to university with Gasperini as teacher’ | OneFootball

Artem Dovbyk admits working with Gian Piero Gasperini at Roma is ‘like going to university’ for the players, as he gets his first Serie A start of the season.

It kicks off at the Stadio Olimpico at 14.00 UK time (13.00 GMT).

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from today’s Serie A games on the Liveblog.

The Giallorossi were expected to sell Dovbyk over the summer, and he was on the verge of a potential exchange with Milan striker Santiago Gimenez on deadline day, but ultimately remained at the Stadio Olimpico.

Now he is fighting it out for the centre-forward role with Evan Ferguson, and after playing in Wednesday’s 2-1 Europa League victory over OGC Nice, the Ukraine international is given his first Serie A start of the campaign.

Dovbyk learning so much from Gasperini

ROME, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 14: AS Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini looks on during the Serie A match between AS Roma and Torino FC at Stadio Olimpico on September 14, 2025 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

“I feel good now, we won two games and the special one was the derby, so the mood is good in the dressing room. I improved my form, I feel in good shape, the coach said so and I want to prove that today,” Dovbyk told DAZN Italia.

It is safe to say that Gasperini is a very different coach to predecessor Claudio Ranieri, and it is taking a while for the players to get to grips with his tactical ideas.

“Now we are like in university, the coach is like our teacher, so everyone listens to him and wants to do what he said. We need to improve our offensive movement, as our defence is good, so that’s what we are working on.”

Curiously, the strikers aren’t getting any goals yet this season, as they have mostly come from defenders and midfielders.

“We are very hungry, I hope we will get goals and win today.”