Roma surged into an early 2-0 lead away to Borussia Dortmund with Paulo Dybala and Bryan Cristante, but were pegged back 2-2 and Nahuel Molina made his debut.
The summer had been largely dismal, including heavy defeats to Cardiff City and Brighton, so Gian Piero Gasperini wanted to see a very different attitude in their last test.
Wesley was injured and new signing Nahuel Molina on the bench, but otherwise it was a strong starting XI in Dortmund. The hosts started Italy internationals Luca Reggiani and Samuele Inacio.
DORTMUND, GERMANY – AUGUST 15: Samuele Inacio of Borussia Dortmund is challenged by Bryan Cristante (L) and Emanuele Lulli of AS Roma (R) during the pre-season friendly match between Borussia Dortmund and AS Roma at Signal Iduna Park on August 15, 2026 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Christof Koepsel/Getty Images)
It took only a handful of minutes for Roma to take the lead at Signal Iduna Park, as an initial cross from the right was charged down, allowing Dybala to drill home the rebound from a tricky angle.
They added a second from a Dybala corner, with Bryan Cristante peeling away from his marker for a glancing header at the near top corner from six yards.
Borussia Dortmund pulled one back when a sweeping Konstantinos Karetsas cross was pulled back from the by-line for Julian Ryerson to volley in.
They restored parity when defenders lost sight of Serhou Guirassy on a free kick into the six-yard box.
DORTMUND, GERMANY – AUGUST 15: Manu Kone of AS Roma is challenged by Jobe Bellingham of Borussia Dortmund during the pre-season friendly match between Borussia Dortmund and AS Roma at Signal Iduna Park on August 15, 2026 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Christof Koepsel/Getty Images)
It should’ve been 2-3 moments later when Donyell Malen got down the right and pulled across the face of goal, but Devyne Rensch stumbled for what was meant to be a tap-in and prodded it wide.
Karetsas smacked a ferocious strike onto the top of the crossbar after the restart, then Mile Svilar rushed off his line to deny the same player after a Matias Soulé error.
Molina came on for his debut and Roma wasted good chances to win it with Gregor Kobel’s save on Soulé, and Santiago Castro failing to make the most of an inspired Dybala pass.
DORTMUND, GERMANY – AUGUST 15: Paulo Dybala of AS Roma runs with the ball during the pre-season friendly match between Borussia Dortmund and AS Roma at Signal Iduna Park on August 15, 2026 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Christof Koepsel/Getty Images)
Castro again couldn’t quite get on the end of a Robinio Vaz cross, and Svilar rushed off his line to deny Fabio Silva, while Dybala’s free kick was a tricky one for Kobel.
Borussia Dortmund 2-2 Roma
Dybala 4 (R), Cristante 9 (R), Ryerson 12 (B), Guirassy 28 (B)
Borussia Dortmund: Kobel; Gadou, Mane, Bensebaini; Ryerson, Bellingham, Nmecha, Svensson; Karetsas (Sabitzer 60), Inacio (Albert 60); Guirassy (Fabio Silva 60)
Roma: Svilar (Gollini 86); Mancini (Reale 75), Ndicka (Ziolkowski 86), Hermoso (Koulierakis 60), Lulli (Ghilardi 75), Cristante, El Aynaoui (Koné 60), Rensch (Molina 60); Dybala (Mannini 86), Soulé (Vaz 75); Malen (Castro 60)