Gasperini calls for squad depth as Roma prepare for Genoa

Serie A's seventh matchday runs from Friday 16 to Monday 19 October, headlined by several high-profile fixtures. Frosinone lead Sassuolo in the opening match, while Roma face Genoa on Saturday 17 October at 20:45 at the Stadio Olimpico. The fixture marks the return of former manager Daniele De Rossi to the capital as an opponent. Other standout matches this round include Bologna versus Inter, Milan against Atalanta, and Juventus hosting Lazio, with each carrying significance in the title race. The full matchday schedule includes dates, kickoff times, results and goalscorers across all fixtures.

Roma will face Genoa at the Stadio Olimpico on 17 October in Serie A matchday 8, with Daniele De Rossi in charge of the visiting side. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has named his squad, with Rodrigo Mora returning to the starting lineup after providing an assist in the Champions League against Real Madrid. Matías Soulé will play alongside the Portuguese midfielder, while Emanuele Lulli is expected to replace Nahuel Molina at left-back, with Wesley confirmed on the opposite flank. Pierluigi Gollini will start in goal behind a three-man defence of Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso, with Leonardo Balerdi pressing for a place. Niccolò Pisilli and Marten de Roon complete the midfield four. Santiago Castro leads the attack. Roma's expected formation: 3-4-2-1.

Broadcaster Pardo has defended the standing ovation given to former manager José Mourinho at the Olimpico, dismissing criticism of the tribute as unfounded. Speaking on Radio Romanista, Pardo said he was not at the stadium but heard the roar from his nearby home. He argued that the recognition was entirely appropriate: "I find it absurd that there can be any controversy over the acknowledgement Mourinho received from the fans. He was an important figure. If the fans behave respectfully, they must be respected. Journalists should not decide who supports well and who doesn't." Pardo emphasised that the ovation did not undermine Roma's performance on the pitch. The atmosphere at the ground was excellent and directly contributed to the team's quality display, he said. He highlighted a 80-minute spell in which Roma proved superior to Real Madrid, though he acknowledged the final ten minutes warrant review. Despite that closing period, Pardo believes the performance deserves to be viewed with pride by the squad rather than forgotten. Pardo noted he was following the match from home while simultaneously watching Virtus Bologna play in Paris on a split screen. "The crowd supported the team, the atmosphere was beautiful, and it helped the squad to put on a tremendous performance," he said. He added that while the closing stages require analysis, "there are margins for improvement" and the overall display showcased what Roma is capable of delivering.

An exhibition dedicated to Giorgio Rossi, AS Roma's historic masseur who died in 2018, was inaugurated today at Centro Culturale Espositivo 'La Vaccheria' by Roma Club Eur Torrino on the occasion of the club's 25th anniversary. Rossi spent 55 years at Roma, from 1957 to 2012, working with generations of the club's greatest players including Agostino Di Bartolomei, Bruno Conti, Giuseppe Giannini, Francesco Totti and Daniele De Rossi. He remains the only person to appear in photographs of both Roma's 1983 Serie A title and their third Scudetto in 2001, eighteen years later. During his career Rossi witnessed 12 AS Roma presidents, 26 managers, 15 captains and over one thousand players. He accumulated 18 trophies across Serie A titles, cups and supercups — more than any other Roma player in the club's history. The exhibition traces his life through photographs, newspaper articles and memorabilia, with the upper floor housing a dedicated section featuring signed shirts, pennants from the Scudetto-winning seasons, his historic tracksuit and a banner that hung in the Tribuna Tevere during his final match at the Olimpico on 5 May 2012. Former Roma defender Ubaldo Righetti, speaking on behalf of Mayor Gualtieri, said: "It has been the greatest honour, deeply moved that I cannot be here. Being here today is an immense emotion, I wear two roles and both speak of affection, esteem and gratitude — and perhaps in this too I must thank Giorgio. He was the historic and unforgettable masseur of Roma. A man who for years with his hands, his commitment, his smile and above all his love for Roma accompanied moments of our sporting and human history. He did not cure us only physically but also mentally. To his family goes our closeness and the most sincere thanks of the entire community for what Giorgio gave to each of us." Righetti recalled his first encounter with Rossi: "Once the changing rooms between youth and first team were divided by the massage room. Giorgio gave massages there, sometimes I would pass by and look in and he would tell me 'it is not yet time, go go'... my greatest objective was to get on that bed. When I succeeded for the first time it was the most beautiful day of my life." Former Roma athletic trainer Vito Scala said: "He was a master for me, every day I stole with my eyes what he did and how he conducted himself. If I became Vito Scala it is thanks to him. Not only in the professional aspect, but in the human and protective aspect, he treated all the boys the same way." Bruno Conti concluded with a wish: "Giorgio was a great man, always smiling and never angry. My hope, even if I am no one to make this happen, is that we might name the physiotherapy centre at Trigoria after Giorgio Rossi." A film documenting Rossi's life, featuring testimonies from Giuseppe Giannini, Daniele De Rossi and Francesco Totti, is available for viewing during the exhibition.

Roma will face Genoa at the Stadio Olimpico on 17 October in Serie A matchday 8, with Daniele De Rossi in charge of the visiting side. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has named his squad, with Rodrigo Mora returning to the starting lineup after providing an assist in the Champions League against Real Madrid. Matías Soulé will play alongside the Portuguese midfielder, while Emanuele Lulli is expected to replace Nahuel Molina at left-back, with Wesley confirmed on the opposite flank. Pierluigi Gollini will start in goal behind a three-man defence of Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso, with Leonardo Balerdi pressing for a place. Niccolò Pisilli and Marten de Roon complete the midfield four. Santiago Castro leads the attack. Roma's expected formation: 3-4-2-1.

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.

Gian Piero Gasperini has flagged Roma's squad depth as a major concern ahead of the match against Genoa, with four key players unavailable. Donyell Malen is suspended, while Manu Koné, Paulo Dybala and Bryan Cristante are all sidelined through injury. Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Gasperini said: "Tomorrow I am worried about the fact that we have few substitutes and we will have to face the match in some positions with someone from the Primavera." The coach emphasised that European football demands a larger squad: "Whoever plays in the cups cannot have the squad of five years ago, numerically." Koné is sidelined by a first-degree muscle injury sustained against Real Madrid, with recovery targeted for the Sassuolo fixture. Dybala, dealing with fatigue in his calf, is closer to fitness; Gasperini said: "We hope to get him back next week." Cristante, troubled by inflammation of the knee, is aiming for the Napoli match but the coach is cautious: "I don't want to put his recovery at risk." Goalkeeper Mile Svilar faces a longer layoff due to a stress fracture of the finger and is expected back after the international break. Roberto Pruzzo, speaking exclusively to Romanews, framed the fixture from Genoa's perspective, noting their confidence after a win over Fiorentina: "The victory has unblocked the team's mind, so, despite the limits it has, Genoa will give battle." For Roma, Pruzzo stressed the importance of a response: "Beating Genoa would mean immediately starting to march again." He praised Gasperini's tactical choices, highlighting Lorenzo Pellegrini's deployment in midfield and Santiago Castro's opportunity to replace Malen: "He is a centre-forward—if not now, when?" The article also reflected on José Mourinho's return to the Olimpico as an opponent during the Real Madrid match, describing the warmth shown by Roma's supporters. Mourinho thanked the crowd on Instagram: "When the finest moments of a long career are not goals or victories, but rather emotions for which I can only humbly express my gratitude. Thank you Roma, thank you Roma fans. Emotions and eternal gratitude to you."

Roma will face Genoa at the Stadio Olimpico on 17 October in Serie A matchday 8, with Daniele De Rossi in charge of the visiting side. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has named his squad, with Rodrigo Mora returning to the starting lineup after providing an assist in the Champions League against Real Madrid. Matías Soulé will play alongside the Portuguese midfielder, while Emanuele Lulli is expected to replace Nahuel Molina at left-back, with Wesley confirmed on the opposite flank. Pierluigi Gollini will start in goal behind a three-man defence of Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso, with Leonardo Balerdi pressing for a place. Niccolò Pisilli and Marten de Roon complete the midfield four. Santiago Castro leads the attack. Roma's expected formation: 3-4-2-1.

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."

Roma will face Genoa at the Stadio Olimpico on 17 October in Serie A matchday 8, with Daniele De Rossi in charge of the visiting side. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has named his squad, with Rodrigo Mora returning to the starting lineup after providing an assist in the Champions League against Real Madrid. Matías Soulé will play alongside the Portuguese midfielder, while Emanuele Lulli is expected to replace Nahuel Molina at left-back, with Wesley confirmed on the opposite flank. Pierluigi Gollini will start in goal behind a three-man defence of Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso, with Leonardo Balerdi pressing for a place. Niccolò Pisilli and Marten de Roon complete the midfield four. Santiago Castro leads the attack. Roma's expected formation: 3-4-2-1.

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.

Rome's radio stations offered their verdict on Roma's 3–2 loss to Real Madrid in the Champions League, with analysis focused on the team's physical and mental state, defensive instability, and the depth of Gasperini's squad for the coming fixture against Genoa. Ugo Trani pointed to Bryan Cristante's absence from set-piece duties and a collective loss of focus after conceding the 3–2 goal. He noted that Mario Hermoso was withdrawn after struggling against Endrick's attacks and recovering from a first-half error, and predicted that one of Evan N'Dicka, Gianluca Mancini or Hermoso would rest against Genoa, with Leonardo Balerdi in line to feature. Trani also suggested Lorenzo Pellegrini could be used as a midfield change, with Niccolò Pisilli and Marten de Roon having shown they can form a functional partnership—the pair were on the pitch for three goals against Real. Roberto Pruzzo told Radio Radio that Roma exited the Real Madrid match in pieces, both physically and mentally. "Alla Roma mancano quei 2–3 giocatori che ti mandano la palla nel Tevere," he said—Rome lack those two or three players who take risks and put the ball where it matters. Mario Mattioli raised concerns over Konstantinos Koulierakis, who he said "was wandering in midfield like a lost soul, with no marking responsibility, nothing." Piero Torri described the squad depth as critical: Gasperini has 16 players of movement available, 11 starters and five substitutes—an emergency. Lorenzo Pes suggested Cristante would attempt to recover for the Napoli fixture. The coverage reflected wider concern about how Gasperini will manage Roma's limited resources in back-to-back domestic and European fixtures.