Alarm at Roma as Bah suffers knee injury in Cardiff friendly

Paulo Dybala's return from a right calf injury is taking longer than first hoped, after a small tear hidden by swelling was discovered. The Argentina forward did not travel to Udine and will continue individual training at Trigoria, with the aim of being called up for the Champions League clash against Manchester United. According to La Repubblica, Dybala's condition is improving, although overload persists in the calf area. Last Tuesday, during a sprint in training, he felt a new discomfort in the exact spot where he had been injured against Real Madrid on 14 October. Initial checks had raised hopes of a quick return, but later examinations revealed a small tear in the right calf, initially concealed by oedema. That discovery changed the recovery timetable and called for greater caution. The medical staff continue to monitor the situation and urge prudence, judging the trip to Manchester inadvisable. Dybala could return to the matchday squad on 7 November against Sassuolo, possibly for a cameo of around fifteen minutes. A more concrete alternative is that he returns directly after the international break, the same scenario that applies to Svilar, who is still recovering from an injury to the fifth toe of his left foot.

Roma head to Udinese today, 31 October, at the Bluenergy Stadium with Gian Piero Gasperini relying on a front three of Donyell Malen, Matías Soulé and Rodrigo Mora. The fixture comes before Roma's Champions League trip to Manchester and their match against Sassuolo, and the squad faces the run without its most important players returning from injury. As La Repubblica reports, while the team is in Friuli fighting to hold its place in the top positions of the table, the group left in Trigoria is reduced by a long list of injuries. The medical staff has chosen caution. Paulo Dybala, who stayed in Rome for a personalised programme, is targeting the trip to Old Trafford, but a calf problem demands care. A return from the bench against Sassuolo, or directly after the international break, is considered more realistic, a situation similar to that of goalkeeper Mile Svilar. Without its most experienced men but with a solid squad, Gasperini has entrusted the attack to the trio of Malen, Soulé and Mora, who are charged with leading Roma through this delicate stage of the season. The match is one of several close-together fixtures in a demanding run, with the club continuing to juggle its selection while the infirmary remains full.

Gian Piero Gasperini has named a 23-man squad for Udinese vs Roma, Serie A matchday 10, tomorrow, Saturday 31 October, at 18:00 at the Bluenergy Stadium. Paulo Dybala remains sidelined, while Mile Svilar, Manu Koné and Lorenzo Pellegrini are also out. There is no change from the Cagliari game. Dybala has not yet fully recovered from calf discomfort. Belgian goalkeeper Mile Svilar will only return after the November international break. Pierluigi Gollini keeps his place in goal, and the young players Di Nunzio and Camara are included in the squad. Hermoso and Balerdi are available again after overcoming recent physical knocks. The full Roma squad is: Goalkeepers: Vásquez, De Marzi, Gollini. Defenders: Rensch, Koulierakis, N'Dicka, Molina, Hermoso, Mancini, Balerdi, Wesley, Lulli, Ghilardi. Midfielders: Cristante, De Roon, Pisilli, Di Nunzio, Mora. Forwards: Castro, Malen, Soulé, Camara.

Roma are being urged to exploit Udinese's current form, with Nando Orsi calling the visitors the weakest Udinese side in recent years after five straight defeats. Orsi said: 'Udinese come into this on five defeats, lost deservedly: this is the worst Udinese of recent years. Roma must take advantage. I'm sorry, because Udinese are a tough side, but Roma cannot waste this game.' Roberto Pruzzo noted that Inter have not won a derby in seven matches, saying Roma could move a little closer to the top of the table. He warned that the match should not become too physical, as that could make things complicated against Udinese, and said Roma should rely on technique and quality. Pruzzo also suggested playing Niccolò Pisilli, saying: 'He adapts to everything, he has to play.' Ugo Trani expects Gasperini to rotate mainly in defence, noting that the coach can only change those players. Ghilardi and Hermoso will play for certain, as will Wesley and Cristante. Trani believes Roma will line up with two attacking midfielders today. On the transfer market, he said Njie has shots and incredible pace but lacks the head for the game, adding that Roma followed him last summer before Fiorentina signed him. He described Lang as someone who 'breaks games' open. On Endrick, Trani said Roma will try to bring him in one way or another, though Arsenal's interest would make it more complicated, while he would certainly find more space in Rome. Trani also highlighted that Balde earns 5.5 million at Barcelona, and that Roma could try in January, paying less than two million in wages for six months. He added that Roma will take two strikers regardless. On the Udinese game, he said: 'The match against Udinese is very heavy, which is why I don't trust it. I wouldn't feel comfortable even at 11 against 9... Dybala is missing in these games.'

Gian Piero Gasperini's Roma are planning to attack Udinese's vulnerability from dead-ball situations, with the aim of winning the match at Udine and catching out coach Runjaic. Roma need points as Inter and Lazio keep up the pressure at the top, and the article says the Giallorossi cannot afford to fall behind in the chase. Gasperini has reportedly passed on the message that it is no time to give up. Udine will not be easy. Udinese have taken less from their results than they deserved, and against Parma they faced a real siege, with twenty shots and no goals. Runjaic is looking for a turnaround and wants to find it precisely against Roma. The Friulani have already shown they can trouble the Giallorossi, and last season Gasperini's side suffered badly against their physicality. Roma's plan starts with taking the game onto technical ground and quality, avoiding a contest of duels and tackles where Udinese can use all their strength. With the ball at their feet, Roma believe they have the quality to make the difference. Udinese have won one of their last seven matches, scoring few goals and conceding many. Since Monza, they have conceded the most goals from set pieces, five in total, with an average of 0.57 xG conceded per match from these situations. Roma, meanwhile, have been less effective from set pieces this season: they are ninth for goals from dead-ball situations with three, compared with fifteen in 2025-26, when they finished fourth in Serie A. Gasperini has the men and the options to hurt Udinese. Hermoso is a guarantee in the air, Cristante knows how to attack the near post, and Balerdi can also be a resource. Bryan Cristante has already shown he can be decisive from these situations: with De Rossi on the bench, his header decided a nerve-shredding match. The match kicks off at 18:00, and the article suggests set pieces could be the key to taking the game.

Former Roma director Walter Sabatini has continued to praise Gian Piero Gasperini's side, focusing on the spirit within the group. Sabatini said: "The spiritual cohesion is a superior factor. Roma are going through this collective state of mind." He added: "Gasperini teaches the orthodoxy of winning, he is a coach who makes you take giant strides." On the 3-3 draw in Naples, Sabatini said: "It is a tonic for Italian football. Both sides played very well." Roma open their final week before the international break in Udine, and the fixture will be followed by matches against Manchester United and Sassuolo. Gasperini does not plan to rotate and wants to field the best possible Roma side in Udine. Gollini will be confirmed in goal, while Ghilardi is named by all the newspapers among the starters in defence. The other two central defensive places remain a contest between Balerdi, N'Dicka and Hermoso. Lulli and Wesley are favoured on the flanks, while Cristante, De Roon and Pisilli rotate in midfield. Up front, Soulé and Malen are certain to start, with Pisilli and Mora in contention to complete the attack. Roma have 21 points after nine matches, the same total as after nine matchdays last season, but they have collected four more points than in the same fixtures last year. Gasperini is close to his 30th Serie A win as Roma coach and could reach it in his 48th game in charge, ahead of Spalletti (54), Capello (55) and Mourinho (59).