Gasperini names starting XI for Lecce trip: Malen leads with Dybala and Soulé in support

Antonio Cassano has criticized Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen while praising Gian Piero Gasperini in an appearance on Viva El Futbol. The former Roma striker was unsparing in his assessment of the squad: "Dybala has been dragging along for 2–3 years. Malen? I don't like him. If Malen scores more than 20 goals, Roma are in the top four — otherwise? But Dybala scored 3 goals last season." Cassano reserved high praise for the head coach, however. "For me Gasperini is a phenomenon — he and Sacchi changed football," he said. Yet he acknowledged the demands Gasperini places on his players: "But I would never want to be coached by him, not even in my prime, because he makes you run so much."

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 remain interested in Issa Doumbia, the midfielder now at Sporting Lisbon after his summer move from Venezia. Doumbia, born 2003, had already caught Roma's attention last summer, but Sporting's deal was already substantially agreed by then, and the Italian midfielder moved to Portugal directly from Serie B. He has recently made his debut for the Italian national team under coach Mancini. According to A Bola, Juventus, Newcastle and Brentford are also tracking Doumbia alongside Roma. Sporting Lisbon's intention, however, is clear: to secure the 2003-born player. The club has inserted a €80 million release clause into his contract to ward off interest.

Antonio Cassano has criticized Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen while praising Gian Piero Gasperini in an appearance on Viva El Futbol. The former Roma striker was unsparing in his assessment of the squad: "Dybala has been dragging along for 2–3 years. Malen? I don't like him. If Malen scores more than 20 goals, Roma are in the top four — otherwise? But Dybala scored 3 goals last season." Cassano reserved high praise for the head coach, however. "For me Gasperini is a phenomenon — he and Sacchi changed football," he said. Yet he acknowledged the demands Gasperini places on his players: "But I would never want to be coached by him, not even in my prime, because he makes you run so much."

Donyell Malen says his understanding with Paulo Dybala emerged almost immediately after arriving at Roma, crediting their quick connection to a mix of intelligent movement and quality playmaking from both players. In an interview with podcast Tutto in Piazza, Malen reflected on the partnership despite the language barrier—Malen does not speak Spanish and Dybala does not speak Dutch. "From the first or second training session together," he said when asked when the understanding was born. "I think it's a combination of the two things. Sometimes I move well, other times he plays excellent football. It's something we try to exploit to be dangerous during matches." Malen has impressed since joining Roma, and he attributes his goal-scoring form to maturity, squad cohesion, and the environment. "I naturally have played a lot of football in my career and I believe I'm in the right place, with the right people. I feel a lot of confidence from the coach and my teammates," he said. "I think all these factors together create the ideal conditions to perform at my best." Malen explained that he chose to leave Aston Villa because he wanted to play every weekend in a role where he felt important. On Italian football's tactical differences from England, he noted that Italian sides organize defensively with compactness, whereas English football favours more open play: "Here, some teams organise differently. For example, they know how to defend with five players and build a very compact defensive block, which becomes difficult to overcome. It's a big difference from England, where there is a greater tendency to play man-to-man and attack, with more open matches. Here it's not always like that." Malen praised Roma's squad depth, mentioning Niccolò Pisilli as very young but talented, alongside Matías Soulé and others. He highlighted Gasperini's demanding training methods as physically tough but beneficial: "They're really very hard. That's why I learned that word [for tired]. The training sessions are hard and Gasperini doesn't mess around, but it's a positive thing for the squad. Everyone is in shape and I feel very good physically." He confirmed his preferred position is central, where he feels most comfortable and dangerous. Reflecting on his youth career, Malen played for Ajax in the Netherlands from ages 9 to 16, then Arsenal until 18, before returning to PSV in the Dutch second and first divisions. "Having the chance to grow in different youth sectors was really important for me," he said. Malen also noted that summer heat in Italy affects the pace of play compared to England's cold and rain, and he dismissed claims he is a simulator or argues with referees, saying he prefers to stay focused. His standout moment this season came in the opening match, where he scored a hat-trick, though he emphasised the squad's strength and unity: "I think the first match went very well. Of course scoring a hat-trick was important, but I believe that, as a team, we are very strong and united on the pitch."

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."

Antonio Cassano has criticized Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen while praising Gian Piero Gasperini in an appearance on Viva El Futbol. The former Roma striker was unsparing in his assessment of the squad: "Dybala has been dragging along for 2–3 years. Malen? I don't like him. If Malen scores more than 20 goals, Roma are in the top four — otherwise? But Dybala scored 3 goals last season." Cassano reserved high praise for the head coach, however. "For me Gasperini is a phenomenon — he and Sacchi changed football," he said. Yet he acknowledged the demands Gasperini places on his players: "But I would never want to be coached by him, not even in my prime, because he makes you run so much."

Lautaro Martínez and Manu Koné will miss significant time after suffering injuries in their respective UEFA Champions League matches. Martínez sustained a flexor strain in his left thigh and will be sidelined until the next international break, unavailable for Inter's Derby versus Milan among other contests, according to Christian Chivu. Koné is nursing a low-grade thigh strain and could return at the earliest for the last game before the next break. Roma's midfield is now stretched thin without Koné, as Bryan Cristante is also on the mend. The injury crisis compounds the Giallorossi's problems ahead of the Serie A title race, with the club operating with limited elite reserves that could prove costly. Paulo Dybala suffered calf muscle fatigue but should return within a week. Inter face their own personnel issues, with Benjamin Pavard sidelined by an adductor problem on top of Martínez's absence. Martínez's injury record has deteriorated in recent seasons. He missed just 14 fixtures between 2018 and February 2026, but has sat out 18 matches and counting from that date onward. Inter have recorded 34 wins, 9 draws, and 8 losses without him. The Nerazzurri retain attacking options with Marcus Thuram, Francesco Pio Esposito, and Ange-Yoan Bonny all in form, whereas Roma lack comparable depth in midfield.

Donyell Malen says his understanding with Paulo Dybala emerged almost immediately after arriving at Roma, crediting their quick connection to a mix of intelligent movement and quality playmaking from both players. In an interview with podcast Tutto in Piazza, Malen reflected on the partnership despite the language barrier—Malen does not speak Spanish and Dybala does not speak Dutch. "From the first or second training session together," he said when asked when the understanding was born. "I think it's a combination of the two things. Sometimes I move well, other times he plays excellent football. It's something we try to exploit to be dangerous during matches." Malen has impressed since joining Roma, and he attributes his goal-scoring form to maturity, squad cohesion, and the environment. "I naturally have played a lot of football in my career and I believe I'm in the right place, with the right people. I feel a lot of confidence from the coach and my teammates," he said. "I think all these factors together create the ideal conditions to perform at my best." Malen explained that he chose to leave Aston Villa because he wanted to play every weekend in a role where he felt important. On Italian football's tactical differences from England, he noted that Italian sides organize defensively with compactness, whereas English football favours more open play: "Here, some teams organise differently. For example, they know how to defend with five players and build a very compact defensive block, which becomes difficult to overcome. It's a big difference from England, where there is a greater tendency to play man-to-man and attack, with more open matches. Here it's not always like that." Malen praised Roma's squad depth, mentioning Niccolò Pisilli as very young but talented, alongside Matías Soulé and others. He highlighted Gasperini's demanding training methods as physically tough but beneficial: "They're really very hard. That's why I learned that word [for tired]. The training sessions are hard and Gasperini doesn't mess around, but it's a positive thing for the squad. Everyone is in shape and I feel very good physically." He confirmed his preferred position is central, where he feels most comfortable and dangerous. Reflecting on his youth career, Malen played for Ajax in the Netherlands from ages 9 to 16, then Arsenal until 18, before returning to PSV in the Dutch second and first divisions. "Having the chance to grow in different youth sectors was really important for me," he said. Malen also noted that summer heat in Italy affects the pace of play compared to England's cold and rain, and he dismissed claims he is a simulator or argues with referees, saying he prefers to stay focused. His standout moment this season came in the opening match, where he scored a hat-trick, though he emphasised the squad's strength and unity: "I think the first match went very well. Of course scoring a hat-trick was important, but I believe that, as a team, we are very strong and united on the pitch."

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.

Gian Piero Gasperini provided an injury briefing on the eve of Roma's match against Genoa at the Stadio Olimpico on 17 October at 20:45, detailing the recovery timelines for three key midfielders sidelined in recent weeks. Manu Koné sustained a first-degree muscle lesion during the Champions League fixture against Real Madrid. Gasperini said: "Koné has had an MRI: it is a first-degree lesion, not particularly significant. The necessary time is needed for recovery and we hope to have him available for Sassuolo." Paulo Dybala, who left the Real Madrid match at half-time, has been diagnosed with calf fatigue rather than a serious injury. "For Dybala, there are no particular issues: it is fatigue in the soleus muscle. We hope to get him back next week," the coach explained. Bryan Cristante remains sidelined with knee inflammation sustained after the Roma-Inter fixture and will miss the Genoa match, though Gasperini expressed optimism about his availability for the Napoli game: "We are hoping he can be available for Napoli, that is the hope. He is a warrior and will do even more in this difficult situation. I do not, however, want to put his recovery at risk." Mile Svilar, the goalkeeper, fractured his finger in training and is undergoing recovery in Belgium with an initial expected absence of around one month. His return is anticipated after the next international break. Because stress fractures require complete bone consolidation before increased loads can be applied, and goalkeepers face particular demands from diving, landing and falling, the staff is not rushing his return. Svilar is currently expected to miss matches against Genoa, Slovan Bratislava, Napoli, Cagliari, Udinese, Manchester United and Sassuolo, pending any changes to his recovery plan.