Gasperini's final lineup decisions ahead of Verona clash: Ghilardi, Rensch, and Koné in focus

AS Roma face Hellas Verona on 23 May 2026 at 20:35 in the final match of the Serie A season. The Giallorossi remain in contention for Champions League qualification and enter the game level on points, needing a result to secure a European spot with 90 minutes remaining in the campaign. Verona, already relegated from Serie A, have shown they can compete against top sides after taking points from both Juventus and Inter this season and are expected to provide a stern test for Gasperini's side. Gasperini has injury concerns to manage ahead of the fixture. Midfielder Koné is available for selection but may not start, while Paulo Dybala is set to be reintroduced to the lineup. Verona will likely field Bowie in their starting XI. The match marks a crucial final day where Roma's European ambitions hang in the balance, with the team needing to deliver a strong performance against opponents with little left to play for in their final game before the drop.

Roma face Hellas Verona in a make-or-break match for Champions League qualification, with head coach Gasperini fielding a squad affected by several absences. Wesley is suspended, Ndicka is injured, and Koné—though fit—will start on the bench, with El Aynaoui taking his place in midfield. Rensch will replace the unavailable right-back, and Ghilardi features in defence. Up front, the Argentine pairing of Paulo Dybala and Matías Soulé will operate behind Donyell Malen. Three points at Verona would secure fourth place and Champions League football for Roma, an achievement the club has not reached in seven years. The fixture represents a pivotal moment for the team's immediate future. Multiple Italian newspapers—Gazzetta dello Sport, Il Messaggero, Corriere dello Sport, Corriere della Sera, and Il Tempo—have outlined near-identical expected lineups, with Mile Svilar in goal, a defensive line of Ghilardi, Gianluca Mancini, and Hermoso, and a midfield anchored by Bryan Cristante and El Aynaoui alongside full-backs Celik and Rensch. The consensus across Italian media reflects widespread agreement on Gasperini's tactical approach for this decisive encounter.

AS Roma defender Hermoso has galvanized the squad ahead of the crucial away fixture against Verona. The Spanish defender, once sidelined and later loaned to Germany, has emerged as a key leader in Roma's rearguard this season under head coach Gasperini. Hermoso has earned the confidence of both the coach and supporters through his performance and attitude throughout the campaign. Hermoso's journey at Roma over the past year has been transformative. He began the season separated from the squad, followed by a period on loan abroad, before establishing himself as a defensive cornerstone and motivational force for the club. His resilience and leadership have been instrumental in shaping Roma's season. The defender understands the significance of the Verona match and has sent a clear message to teammates: "Fino alla fine" (Until the end), emphasizing the need for full concentration and mental focus for the full 90 minutes ahead. With the season nearing its conclusion, Hermoso's rallying cry reflects Roma's determination to secure a vital result. The club departed for Verona backed by supporter backing at Fiumicino, setting the stage for what could be a decisive moment in their campaign.

Paulo Dybala and AS Roma are moving closer to a contract renewal after negotiations that initially appeared headed toward a departure. This week is set to be decisive, with the Argentine forward's agent returning to Rome in the coming days to meet with Ryan Friedkin. Roma has tabled an offer worth 2 million euros plus performance-based bonuses tied to appearances and goals, with a contract extension through 2027. However, Dybala is hoping to secure terms slightly higher than what has been proposed, and Roma's qualification for the Champions League could prove instrumental in bridging that gap. Despite the difference in positions, there is optimism surrounding the renewal's chances of completion. The talks represent a dramatic shift from recent months when Dybala's exit from the club seemed nearly inevitable.

Former Roma and Verona striker Maurizio Iorio has expressed confidence in head coach Gian Piero Gasperini's ability to lead the club to sustained success. Speaking ahead of Roma's crucial match against Verona, Iorio praised Gasperini's impact in his first season, saying: "The coach has made a strong impression, has shaped an important group in his first year, offered attractive football: the Champions League is well deserved. That would allow the club to have more economic strength for new investments. I see a rosy future. Roma is ready to open a new horizon, a winning cycle, and has fantastic supporters alongside it, for me the first in Italy." Iorio highlighted Donyell Malen as a powerful attacking threat, noting his ability to create danger from wide positions and comparing him to Vialli for the way defenders react to his movement. On the prospect of pairing him with another striker, Iorio suggested the solution already exists within the squad. He commented on Paulo Dybala: "Dybala doesn't need any introduction. If I were him, I would stay at Roma. Paulo is not greedy and the club has a future and will bring home a trophy with Gasperini." Roma's performance under Gasperini this season has reportedly earned them qualification to European competition. The upcoming Verona fixture is seen as decisive for the club's final standing.

AS Roma face Hellas Verona on 23 May 2026 at 20:35 in the final match of the Serie A season. The Giallorossi remain in contention for Champions League qualification and enter the game level on points, needing a result to secure a European spot with 90 minutes remaining in the campaign. Verona, already relegated from Serie A, have shown they can compete against top sides after taking points from both Juventus and Inter this season and are expected to provide a stern test for Gasperini's side. Gasperini has injury concerns to manage ahead of the fixture. Midfielder Koné is available for selection but may not start, while Paulo Dybala is set to be reintroduced to the lineup. Verona will likely field Bowie in their starting XI. The match marks a crucial final day where Roma's European ambitions hang in the balance, with the team needing to deliver a strong performance against opponents with little left to play for in their final game before the drop.

Former Roma and Verona striker Maurizio Iorio has expressed confidence in head coach Gian Piero Gasperini's ability to lead the club to sustained success. Speaking ahead of Roma's crucial match against Verona, Iorio praised Gasperini's impact in his first season, saying: "The coach has made a strong impression, has shaped an important group in his first year, offered attractive football: the Champions League is well deserved. That would allow the club to have more economic strength for new investments. I see a rosy future. Roma is ready to open a new horizon, a winning cycle, and has fantastic supporters alongside it, for me the first in Italy." Iorio highlighted Donyell Malen as a powerful attacking threat, noting his ability to create danger from wide positions and comparing him to Vialli for the way defenders react to his movement. On the prospect of pairing him with another striker, Iorio suggested the solution already exists within the squad. He commented on Paulo Dybala: "Dybala doesn't need any introduction. If I were him, I would stay at Roma. Paulo is not greedy and the club has a future and will bring home a trophy with Gasperini." Roma's performance under Gasperini this season has reportedly earned them qualification to European competition. The upcoming Verona fixture is seen as decisive for the club's final standing.

Roma face Hellas Verona in a make-or-break match for Champions League qualification, with head coach Gasperini fielding a squad affected by several absences. Wesley is suspended, Ndicka is injured, and Koné—though fit—will start on the bench, with El Aynaoui taking his place in midfield. Rensch will replace the unavailable right-back, and Ghilardi features in defence. Up front, the Argentine pairing of Paulo Dybala and Matías Soulé will operate behind Donyell Malen. Three points at Verona would secure fourth place and Champions League football for Roma, an achievement the club has not reached in seven years. The fixture represents a pivotal moment for the team's immediate future. Multiple Italian newspapers—Gazzetta dello Sport, Il Messaggero, Corriere dello Sport, Corriere della Sera, and Il Tempo—have outlined near-identical expected lineups, with Mile Svilar in goal, a defensive line of Ghilardi, Gianluca Mancini, and Hermoso, and a midfield anchored by Bryan Cristante and El Aynaoui alongside full-backs Celik and Rensch. The consensus across Italian media reflects widespread agreement on Gasperini's tactical approach for this decisive encounter.

René de Kort, one of Donyell Malen's earliest coaches at VV Succes, has shared memories of the Roma winger's exceptional early development. De Kort recalled that Malen stood out from a very young age, demonstrating qualities that set him apart from his peers even in youth football. De Kort explained Malen's impact on his teams: "When he started playing matches his team never stopped winning. And he did the same in other categories: he'd get the ball, start dribbling past all the players on the pitch and score. Opponents tall, short, bigger – it didn't matter: he hid the ball from everyone." The coach highlighted the importance of Malen's grandfather Joop, noting that he was his closest companion and regularly played football with him during his formative years. Raymond Leever, president of VV Succes, also paid tribute to Malen, stating that the Roma forward "occupies a special place within the club" and represents inspiration that dreams can become reality even from a small amateur club. Leever noted that Malen recently supported the club with a generous donation to fund a new LED lighting project for their pitches, demonstrating his continued connection to his roots.

Roma face Hellas Verona in a make-or-break match for Champions League qualification, with head coach Gasperini fielding a squad affected by several absences. Wesley is suspended, Ndicka is injured, and Koné—though fit—will start on the bench, with El Aynaoui taking his place in midfield. Rensch will replace the unavailable right-back, and Ghilardi features in defence. Up front, the Argentine pairing of Paulo Dybala and Matías Soulé will operate behind Donyell Malen. Three points at Verona would secure fourth place and Champions League football for Roma, an achievement the club has not reached in seven years. The fixture represents a pivotal moment for the team's immediate future. Multiple Italian newspapers—Gazzetta dello Sport, Il Messaggero, Corriere dello Sport, Corriere della Sera, and Il Tempo—have outlined near-identical expected lineups, with Mile Svilar in goal, a defensive line of Ghilardi, Gianluca Mancini, and Hermoso, and a midfield anchored by Bryan Cristante and El Aynaoui alongside full-backs Celik and Rensch. The consensus across Italian media reflects widespread agreement on Gasperini's tactical approach for this decisive encounter.

Roma's first-team players Niccolò Pisilli and Daniele Ghilardi attended the Primavera playoff match at the Tre Fontane stadium on Sunday to support the club's youth side. The Roma youth team faced Bologna in a single-leg first-round playoff match for the Scudetto, with the young giallorossi needing one of two results to advance to the semi-finals. Pisilli and Ghilardi were present in the stands, demonstrating unity within the club ahead of their own crucial match later that evening. Both players were due to travel to Verona on Sunday night with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini's first team to face Hellas Verona in a decisive fixture. The Primavera competition remains a key focus for Roma's development pathway, and the visible support from established squad members underscores the club's commitment to nurturing young talent. The gesture highlights the interconnected nature of Roma's structure, where senior professionals maintain ties to the academy system.

AS Roma face mounting injury and suspension concerns ahead of their match at Verona. Ndicka has suffered a second-degree right hamstring injury with a recovery timeline of approximately one month, ruling him out of the Verona fixture and raising doubts about his participation in the World Cup. Wesley is suspended and risks a two-match ban following the derby, forcing head coach Gasperini to restructure the defence. Celik will cover the right flank while Rensch operates on the opposite side, with Ghilardi—recently returned from a season at Hellas Verona—competing to replace Ndicka alongside Mancini and Hermoso. The injury toll extends further into Roma's midfield. Koné missed the derby due to a muscular problem and trained separately as the squad resumed work, with low odds of starting at Bentegodi. Pellegrini remained sidelined from the derby because of inflammation around his biceps scar and is listed as doubtful, though he is determined to feature given World Cup considerations. Venturino also carries injury risk with knee inflammation. Paulo Dybala is confirmed to lead the attack alongside Malen, with Bryan Cristante and Niccolò Pisilli providing midfield stability. If Koné cannot feature, either El Aynaoui or Matías Soulé will step into the lineup.