El Shaarawy returns to the Olimpico as a Genoa player in Roma fixture

Aleandro Rosi, a former Roma defender who trained under Gian Piero Gasperini at Genoa, has said Roma have the credentials to fight Inter for the Serie A title despite their Champions League loss to Real Madrid. Rosi told Retesport that Roma dominated the match but Real Madrid exploited a collapse to score three goals with ease. He drew a parallel to last season's defeats against Inter and Juventus, describing the capitulation as unacceptable at Champions League level. Rosi identified defensive substitutions as a critical issue. "I would not have removed the centre-backs, Mancini and Hermoso, as happened against Inter," he said. "Central defenders should only come off when they are dying on the pitch." He also highlighted set-piece vulnerability, noting that zonal marking proved ineffective and suggesting Gollini, at 190cm tall, could have taken greater command of the area with his fists or a punch clear to support his teammates. Rosi observed that Roma played a "sensational" 70 minutes, similar to the Inter fixture, but changes in personnel made the difference. On Wesley, Rosi suggested the right-back "expresses himself better on the left side alongside Molina on the opposite flank," though he acknowledged Roma lack Mancini currently. Rosi praised Gasperini's tactical approach, saying: "He is a field animal. Perhaps he has gained more awareness of his work. I like this coaching style very much; as a coach I will draw inspiration from him since I am studying to begin a new career." Asked whether Roma can be Inter's main challengers, Rosi replied: "Roma have all the cards to fight to the end. Gasperini is not afraid of anyone. Inter have something more but Roma will be able to trouble them—they are candidates to compete for the title."

Roma face Genoa at the Olimpico on the day after their Champions League defeat to Real Madrid, with the focus turning to how quickly Gian Piero Gasperini's side can respond to a surreal collapse in the final twenty minutes of that European match. Genoa arrive in Rome on the back of a victory over Fiorentina that has stabilised Daniele De Rossi's position on their bench, where he has struggled with just one point from five matches until that win. Legend Roberto Pruzzo, speaking ahead of the fixture, offered perspective on both sides' circumstances. On Genoa's revival, he said: "I'd say so, because it was shaky—with one point in five matches it's tough, even though he [De Rossi] has integrated completely at Genoa and the whole environment respects him. Results can't elude you for too long, regardless of the name you carry and the appeal you have with the supporters. My friends in Genoa are convinced the win over Fiorentina has unblocked the team's mind, so even with the limits Genoa has, they will put up a fight." On Roma's immediate recovery task, Pruzzo noted that while quick returns after psychological blows are generally beneficial, the combined toll of athletic and mental exertion from the Real Madrid match would linger. "Beating Genoa would mean getting back on track straight away," he said. Addressing the collapse itself—seventy minutes of acclaim followed by a "surreal" finale—Pruzzo observed: "Roma put on a show for over an hour, we all agree on that, but matches last ninety minutes, so when the fatigue alarm goes off, sometimes you have to... throw the ball in the Tiber!" Gasperini is set to make two key changes: Lorenzo Pellegrini will move into midfield in place of Manu Koné, and Santiago Castro will start in attack because Donyell Malen is unavailable. Pruzzo backed the latter adaptation, saying: "Castro is a centre-forward—if not now, when? It's his chance."

Gian Piero Gasperini has few selection dilemmas for Roma's match against Genoa, with absences forcing his hand in midfield and attack. Leonardo Balerdi is set to start in defence, while Matías Soulé and Rodrigo Mora will operate behind Santiago Castro in the forward line. The Roma manager is without Mile Svilar, Bryan Cristante, Manu Koné and Paulo Dybala through injury or unavailability, and Donyell Malen serves a suspension. Emanuele Lulli is also in line for a starting berth as Roma manage their personnel constraints.

Roma face Genoa on Sunday aiming to bounce back from a 4-3 Champions League defeat to Real Madrid that ended their 14-game unbeaten run this season. Donyell Malen scored twice in the second half to give Roma a 3-1 lead against Real Madrid on Wednesday, but conceding three goals in seven minutes proved costly and cost Roma their perfect Serie A home record. Genoa arrive at the Olimpico in high spirits after beating Fiorentina 2-1 last weekend with two goals in the opening 15 minutes, securing their first league win of the season after one draw and four losses. De Rossi, who managed Roma from 2024 to 2025 and again in 2019, now leads Genoa, the club where he played before retiring. Genoa have suffered just one defeat in their last 40 Serie A home matches, but have not won at the Olimpico since 1990. Roma's defensive solidity will be under scrutiny after conceding multiple goals in two of their last three competitive outings. A victory would bring Roma to 17 points from seven Serie A rounds for the first time since 2014–15. The Giallorossi have not lost any of their last 15 league matches at home, with 11 wins and four draws, and have been historically dominant against Genoa on home turf, losing just once in their last 40 top-flight clashes at the Olimpico (33 wins, 6 draws). However, a 3-1 loss at the Marassi in their last Serie A meeting should serve as a warning. Malen's absence is significant: the Dutch forward has scored six of Roma's 14 league goals this season, accounting for nearly 43% of their total. Genoa summer signing Milutin Osmajic continued his strong start with a goal against Fiorentina, his third of the season, and has scored 60% of Genoa's Serie A goals in 2026–27. Former Roma forward Stephan El Shaarawy poses an additional threat. Genoa have conceded at least once in their last six top-flight encounters and failed to keep a clean sheet across their last three Serie A away trips, including a 2–1 defeat at Parma. Roma will be without Malen, who must serve a one-game suspension, goalkeeper Mile Svilar, and midfielder Manu Koné, who suffered a muscle strain against Real Madrid. Niccolò Pisilli, who replaced Koné in that match, could return to the starting lineup in place of Bryan Cristante. Paulo Dybala is also a doubt. Genoa must manage without Lorenzo Colombo, Djibril Sow, Elias Havel, Ethan Meichtry, and Lorenzo Venturino, though Junior Messias, who scored in last season's home win over Roma, will join Osmajic in attack after netting against Fiorentina. Roma are predicted to extend their proud home record and secure victory, though a universe exists in which De Rossi leads Genoa to their first Serie A win at the Olimpico since the early 1990s.

José Mourinho will field Trent Alexander-Arnold in Real Madrid's match this evening, deploying the English right-back in place of Dumfries on the right flank, with Cucurella on the left. The decision stirs difficult memories for Roma supporters. In 2018, Roma faced Liverpool in a Champions League semi-final when Alexander-Arnold was involved in a pivotal moment: he handled the ball during El Shaarawy's shot into an empty net, a clear handball that went unpunished by the referee. That refereeing error proved decisive as Roma were subsequently eliminated from the competition. Eight years later, Alexander-Arnold will start again at the Olimpico for another Champions League night.

Roma's radio stations have focused heavily on the upcoming Como fixture and squad selection as Gasperini's side prepares for a demanding period. Checco Oddo Casano argued that Devyne Rensch, bought for €5 million, could be sold in January for a profit to bring in a stronger left-back in the style of Moreira. "Rensch is a little player who can fit in Roma's squad, but he'll hardly become a new Gosens, a new Zappacosta or a new Wesley," Casano said. "You bought him at a good price and you can make a profit—maybe in January you can sell him and get a stronger player to improve in that area of the pitch." David Rossi noted that Roma's last league defeat came in April when they lost to Inter at San Siro, despite playing a strong first half. He questioned whether Roma are genuinely weaker than Como or whether the psychological pressure of the fixture is one-sided. Gianluca Piacentini acknowledged Como's strength—demonstrating a solid project over the past season and a half—but emphasised that Roma are equally capable, with both teams among the three strongest in the league. Fabio Petruzzi said Roma and Como have shown significant growth over the last 18 months and play the best football in Italy, even better than Inter, though Inter's superior squad makes them favourites. Piero Torri predicted De Roon will start against Como, saying "he seems made specifically to play with Gasperini." Torri noted Lorenzo Pellegrini could play as a midfielder but has never featured in that role under Gasperini and hasn't played a match since April, making an immediate start unlikely. Torri stated: "I'll be called mad, but for me the Como match is harder than the Real Madrid one." Marco Valerio Corsi reported that Bryan Cristante appears to have a lateral knee ligament problem and will miss both Como and Real Madrid, with the length of the absence still unclear. Roberto Pruzzo called De Roon "a proven reliable player" and "a solid used buy," saying he cannot be ignored as an option despite potential fitness concerns over a run of ten consecutive matches. Nando Orsi said De Roon will "challenge the titularity of one of the two sacred monsters of midfield" if he is physically fit, having praised the signing in advance. Stephan El Shaarawy was not mentioned. Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso featured prominently in defenders' debate, with Carina suggesting N'Dicka was sidelined too easily and forming the best back three with Balerdi and Hermoso. Pruzzo still favoured Mancini, N'Dicka and Hermoso as the core defensive line, while Mattioli predicted Balerdi will become immovable once fully integrated into Italian football and Roma's system.