Gasperini plans Balerdi and Mora starts as Roma rotate to face Genoa

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 face Genoa at Stadio Olimpico this evening in Serie A matchday 7, managing an injury crisis that has ruled out Svilar, Cristante, Koné and Dybala, while Malen is suspended. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has reshuffled his side significantly, deploying Leonardo Balerdi and Konstantinos Koulierakis in central defence with Emanuele Lulli on one flank and Devyne Rensch on the other. The attack pairs Santiago Castro with Matías Soulé and Rodrigo Mora in a 3-4-2-1 shape. Pierluigi Gollini starts in goal, with Niccolò Pisilli and Marten de Roon in midfield. Evan N'Dicka completes the defence. Roma seek their first league win since their away trip to Turin, while Genoa arrive in the capital buoyed by a recent victory over Fiorentina. The fixture carries particular significance with Daniele De Rossi returning to the Olimpico as opposing manager. De Rossi previously led Roma in 2009–11, 2019, and 2024–25. Genoa's XI features Bijlow in goal; Marcandalli, Østigård, Vasquez and Ellertsson in defence; Wiafe, Frendrup and Puczka in midfield; Messias in support; and El Shaarawy and Osmajic in attack, in a 4-3-1-1 formation. The match kicks off at 19:55, refereed by Abisso with Pairetto operating VAR.

Roma face Genoa at Stadio Olimpico this evening in Serie A matchday 7, managing an injury crisis that has ruled out Svilar, Cristante, Koné and Dybala, while Malen is suspended. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has reshuffled his side significantly, deploying Leonardo Balerdi and Konstantinos Koulierakis in central defence with Emanuele Lulli on one flank and Devyne Rensch on the other. The attack pairs Santiago Castro with Matías Soulé and Rodrigo Mora in a 3-4-2-1 shape. Pierluigi Gollini starts in goal, with Niccolò Pisilli and Marten de Roon in midfield. Evan N'Dicka completes the defence. Roma seek their first league win since their away trip to Turin, while Genoa arrive in the capital buoyed by a recent victory over Fiorentina. The fixture carries particular significance with Daniele De Rossi returning to the Olimpico as opposing manager. De Rossi previously led Roma in 2009–11, 2019, and 2024–25. Genoa's XI features Bijlow in goal; Marcandalli, Østigård, Vasquez and Ellertsson in defence; Wiafe, Frendrup and Puczka in midfield; Messias in support; and El Shaarawy and Osmajic in attack, in a 4-3-1-1 formation. The match kicks off at 19:55, refereed by Abisso with Pairetto operating VAR.

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.

Gian Piero Gasperini has named his Roma squad for the match against Genoa, with five significant absences due to injury and suspension. Mile Svilar and Bryan Cristante remain sidelined through injury, while Paulo Dybala, Manu Koné and Donyell Malen are unavailable—Malen through suspension and the other two through injury. The fixture comes two days after Roma's defeat to Real Madrid in midweek. Gasperini has called up four academy players to bolster the squad list: Di Nunzio, Camara, Paratici and Arena. The 24-man squad includes goalkeepers Devis Vásquez, Giorgio De Marzi and Pierluigi Gollini; defenders Devyne Rensch, Konstantinos Koulierakis, Evan N'Dicka, Nahuel Molina, Mario Hermoso, Gianluca Mancini, Leonardo Balerdi, Wesley, Emanuele Lulli and Daniele Ghilardi; midfielders Lorenzo Pellegrini, Marten de Roon, Niccolò Pisilli, Di Nunzio and Rodrigo Mora; and forwards Santiago Castro, Matías Soulé, Arena, Paratici and Camara.

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.

Gian Piero Gasperini has named his Roma squad for the match against Genoa, with five significant absences due to injury and suspension. Mile Svilar and Bryan Cristante remain sidelined through injury, while Paulo Dybala, Manu Koné and Donyell Malen are unavailable—Malen through suspension and the other two through injury. The fixture comes two days after Roma's defeat to Real Madrid in midweek. Gasperini has called up four academy players to bolster the squad list: Di Nunzio, Camara, Paratici and Arena. The 24-man squad includes goalkeepers Devis Vásquez, Giorgio De Marzi and Pierluigi Gollini; defenders Devyne Rensch, Konstantinos Koulierakis, Evan N'Dicka, Nahuel Molina, Mario Hermoso, Gianluca Mancini, Leonardo Balerdi, Wesley, Emanuele Lulli and Daniele Ghilardi; midfielders Lorenzo Pellegrini, Marten de Roon, Niccolò Pisilli, Di Nunzio and Rodrigo Mora; and forwards Santiago Castro, Matías Soulé, Arena, Paratici and Camara.

Gian Piero Gasperini has announced his squad for Roma's Serie A fixture against Genoa on matchday seven, with four Primavera players called up to bolster a squad depleted by absences. Di Nunzio, Arena, Paratici and Camara have been aggregated to the first-team group, a decision that underlines the scale of Roma's injury crisis heading into the match. Gasperini signalled before the fixture that he would be prepared to draw on academy talent if needed, and the depth of rotation required for this encounter has now forced his hand. Arena provides a natural alternative in the centre-forward role behind Santiago Castro, while the inclusion of the other three academy prospects reflects an emergency situation rather than a developmental choice. The youth contingent is present out of immediate necessity rather than long-term planning. Gasperini had flagged the likelihood of such a move at the pre-match press conference, when he opened the door to calling upon younger players from the academy as the injury toll mounted. The full squad list reads as follows: Goalkeepers Vásquez, De Marzi and Gollini; defenders Rensch, Koulierakis, N'Dicka, Molina, Hermoso, Mancini, Balerdi, Wesley, Lulli and Ghilardi; midfielders Pellegrini, De Roon, Pisilli, Di Nunzio and Mora; forwards Castro, Soulé, Arena, Paratici and Camara.

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 face Genoa at Stadio Olimpico this evening in Serie A matchday 7, managing an injury crisis that has ruled out Svilar, Cristante, Koné and Dybala, while Malen is suspended. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has reshuffled his side significantly, deploying Leonardo Balerdi and Konstantinos Koulierakis in central defence with Emanuele Lulli on one flank and Devyne Rensch on the other. The attack pairs Santiago Castro with Matías Soulé and Rodrigo Mora in a 3-4-2-1 shape. Pierluigi Gollini starts in goal, with Niccolò Pisilli and Marten de Roon in midfield. Evan N'Dicka completes the defence. Roma seek their first league win since their away trip to Turin, while Genoa arrive in the capital buoyed by a recent victory over Fiorentina. The fixture carries particular significance with Daniele De Rossi returning to the Olimpico as opposing manager. De Rossi previously led Roma in 2009–11, 2019, and 2024–25. Genoa's XI features Bijlow in goal; Marcandalli, Østigård, Vasquez and Ellertsson in defence; Wiafe, Frendrup and Puczka in midfield; Messias in support; and El Shaarawy and Osmajic in attack, in a 4-3-1-1 formation. The match kicks off at 19:55, refereed by Abisso with Pairetto operating VAR.

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.