El Shaarawy takes in the Olimpico as Roma prepare for Genoa

D'Amico spoke to DAZN minutes before Roma's match against Genoa, reflecting on the squad's recent Champions League campaign and their preparations for the fixture ahead. On Roma's performance against Real Madrid, D'Amico said: "It left us with the awareness of having played a really great match for 82 minutes, of having expressed good football, we were truly proud. The last ten minutes teach you lessons, because the Champions League does this — it makes you stronger even in defeat." Regarding Santiago Castro's arrival at the club, he added: "Santi came with great enthusiasm. We wanted him strongly for these moments. As the manager says, opportunities come, and we are convinced he will do well because he has everyone's confidence." D'Amico emphasized that squad depth remains a priority as Roma balance multiple competitions. "We expect something beautiful from the whole squad," he explained. "For us, the group is the driving element of the work. We are coming from a particular evening and tonight's will be even more difficult. The theme of squad depth exists when you face these competitions, but it is a step to reach if we want to maintain and play in the Champions League."

Roma's sporting director D'Amico has confirmed the club will look to strengthen the squad in the January transfer window. Speaking on the occasion of Roma's seventh Serie A match against Genia, D'Amico acknowledged the need for additions to compete across multiple competitions. He stated: "Certainly, as the manager said yesterday, to face certain competitions, to compete as we do on Wednesday and to have an excellent league campaign, we will need to add something. We tried this summer, we didn't succeed for various reasons, but we work every day, we know what our objectives are and we will do everything we can to improve ourselves." D'Amico's comments reflect Roma's pursuit of reinforcements during the 2026 summer window, which did not yield the desired signings. The club remains committed to identifying targets ahead of the winter transfer market to bolster their chances in the Champions League and Serie A title race.

Tony D'Amico has signalled Roma's intention to strengthen the squad in the January transfer window, acknowledging that the current roster requires reinforcement to compete at the highest level. Speaking to Sky Sport ahead of the Genoa match, D'Amico addressed the gap between Gasperini's ambition and the squad's current capacity. "To face certain competitions and compete in matches like Wednesday's and hold our position in the league, we will need another step, to add something," he said. "We tried in summer and didn't manage it, but we work every day to improve ourselves." D'Amico defended Roma's summer recruitment strategy despite the failed attempts to strengthen further. The club pursued a youth-led overhaul while retaining an important core group, a balance D'Amico described as the intended formula. He praised the young players set to feature against Genoa—specifically Mora and Castro—as quality signings on whom the club invested heavily. "We expect them to confirm what we've seen in training. They are quality lads we invested a lot in over summer. The green line began in summer while maintaining an important historic group—it's the mix we wanted at the start of the market and we got it." When asked about loan moves for surplus stars from larger clubs, D'Amico outlined Roma's transfer philosophy: "Our policy is to take strong players, that comes first. Then, when you take players on loan there are options you can insert. We as Roma would always want the possibility of keeping whoever we take on loan—that's the line." The comments suggest Roma will pursue permanent options or loans with purchase clauses rather than simple temporary deals in January.

Roma host Genoa at Stadio Olimpico this evening in Serie A's seventh matchday, seeking to end a run without a league win stretching back to their trip to Turin. The match carries extra weight with Daniele De Rossi returning to the stadium as Genoa's manager, having previously led Roma. Genoa arrive in Rome boosted by their recent victory over Fiorentina. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini faces significant absences: Svilar, Cristante, Koné and Dybala are all unavailable, while Malen is suspended. These enforced changes have prompted a reshuffle across the side. Leonardo Balerdi replaces Gianluca Mancini in defence, while Rodrigo Mora starts in attack alongside Matías Soulé and Santiago Castro. Marten de Roon and Niccolò Pisilli form the midfield pairing, with Emanuele Lulli deployed at full-back and Wesley in the backline. Roma line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation: Pierluigi Gollini; Balerdi, Evan N'Dicka, Mario Hermoso; Lulli, Pisilli, De Roon, Wesley; Soulé, Mora; Castro. Substitutes include Mancini. Genoa field a 4-4-1-1 under De Rossi: Bijlow; Ehizibue, Otoa, Ostigard, Vasquez; Ellertsson, Traoré, Frendrup, El Shaarawy; Messias; Osmajic. Referee: Abisso.

Roma face Genoa at the Stadio Olimpico on 17 October at 20:45, with former Roma manager Daniele De Rossi in charge of the visitors. The fixture comes immediately after Roma's Champions League outing against Real Madrid, and represents a significant test for both sides. Genoa arrive buoyed by their first Serie A victory of the season, a 2–1 defeat of Fiorentina in their last match, in which Milutin Osmajic scored and provided an assist. That win broke a ten-match winless run stretching back to the end of the 2025–26 season and lifted Genoa clear of the relegation zone; across their last five league games they have recorded one win, one draw and three defeats. De Rossi's return to the Olimpico carries symbolic weight. The Genoa manager built his entire playing career at Roma, making 616 official appearances and scoring 63 goals—the second-highest appearance tally in the club's history behind Francesco Totti alone. He managed Roma's first team between January and September 2024, overseeing 30 matches before his dismissal, and this will be his second visit back as Genoa's coach. In last season's Serie A meetings between the clubs, Roma won 3–1 at home on 29 December 2025, with Matías Soulé, Manu Koné and Evan Ferguson among the scorers, before Genoa took the return 2–1 at the Ferraris on 8 March 2026, a result that remains their last victory over Roma. Roma have not lost at home to Genoa for 23 consecutive Serie A matches, a run stretching back to 17 January 1990. Osmajic has emerged as Genoa's principal attacking threat, scoring three goals in five Serie A appearances for the club. De Rossi is expected to deploy a 4–4–1–1 formation, with Junior Messias operating behind Osmajic and Stephan El Shaarawy on the left wing—another former Roma player. The midfield will centre on Morten Frendrup for intensity and ball recovery, alongside Hamed Traorè for build-up play. Genoa's last two consecutive Serie A victories over Roma came in 2011; De Rossi's side will hope to extend their momentum after a turbulent start to the season. Roma, managed by Gian Piero Gasperini, will be looking to restore their dominance at home. Genoa have won only once in their last five games and remain fragile defensively—the foundation on which Gasperini will build his approach to contain De Rossi's compact, counter-attacking setup.

Medical tests have cleared Manu Koné and Paulo Dybala of serious injury ahead of Roma's Serie A fixture against Genoa. Koné sustained a minor first-degree strain to his right hamstring and is expected to miss approximately 20 days, with a possible return between the Manchester United match on 3 November and Sassuolo five days later. Dybala has no muscle damage, only calf fatigue, and will sit out the Genoa game while targeting a return against Slovan Bratislava and Napoli. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini will be without five players for Genoa: Svilar, Dybala, Koné, Cristante and Malen. He is preparing to give playing time to squad depth. The expected lineup includes Lulli at right-back ahead of Molina, with Wesley on the opposite flank and De Roon partnered with Pisilli in midfield. Attack duties will fall to Soulé, Mora and Castro. The main uncertainty centres on defence, where N'Dicka and Hermoso appear most likely, with Balerdi, Ghilardi and Mancini competing for the third centre-back spot. Daniele De Rossi, now Genoa's manager, will return to the Olimpico carrying significant emotional weight. He acknowledged he must be "emotionally colder" against Roma and reaffirmed his bond with the giallorossi: "Fundamentally they will never be adversaries." El Shaarawy and Baldanzi will also return to Rome with Genoa. De Rossi praised Roma's display against Real Madrid, calling them a "frightening" side.