Roma Champions League Bid: Gasperini Warns Of Mistakes With Three Games Left

Roma’s 4-0 home win over Fiorentina keeps the Champions League race tight, and Gian Piero Gasperini believes a top-four Serie A finish is within reach, yet stressed that any slip could be costly with Juventus just one point ahead and three league games remaining.

The victory at Stadio Olimpico lifts Roma above Como into fifth place and cuts the gap to fourth-place Juventus, while goals from Gianluca Mancini, Wesley, Mario Hermoso and Niccolo Pisilli complete a one-sided display that extends Roma’s unbeaten home run in Serie A to 11 matches, matching Inter’s active sequence.

Roma deliver three goals before half-time, control most phases, and achieve a winning margin of at least four goals in Serie A for the first time since a 4-0 home success over Monza in February 2025, underlining how Gasperini’s mid-season attacking adjustments have changed the team’s threat and risk profile.

"We've changed our attack since midway through the season, so scored many more than in the first half, though we also conceded quite a few more too," Gasperini told Sky Sport Italia. "It was good to score with four different players and some good moves. We are in a good period of form. Though games are all very balanced and difficult, we know that we cannot afford a mistake to still have a chance, but we are in good shape."

Gasperini highlights the impact of having a fuller squad available during this stage of the Serie A campaign, arguing that the return of key players has unlocked Roma’s potential and allowed a run of positive results that keeps Champions League qualification realistic if the current level is maintained.

"I saw that we had the possibility of getting players back, that with a complete team, we could get a run of results and had much stronger potential. This is a very strong squad. Above all, I never had to keep a tight grip on them, because from the first day I arrived, they were fully focused. I never had a problem with their mentality, and the response seen in recent weeks has been even more determined. There is great unity between myself and the players; we will try to achieve a target that we wanted strongly from the start."

Roma Serie A Champions League race, run-in and probabilities

Gasperini praises how the group handled the Fiorentina test, yet underlines that the final three Serie A fixtures against Parma, Lazio and Hellas Verona will demand maximum output, as Roma must keep winning and also rely on results elsewhere in the table to climb into the top four places.

"These lads gave their all in every game, so I cannot fault their attitude, and they seem stronger than ever [against Fiorentina]. There are three games to play; we know that we have to achieve the maximum and hope someone else slips up."

Roma’s closing schedule and the Champions League race in Serie A are reflected in Opta’s current modelling, which gives Roma a 33.8% chance of reaching the Champions League positions and suggests fifth place, at 38.8%, as the most likely finish, leaving Gasperini’s side needing a strong finish and favourable results from Juventus and other rivals.