Gasperini works to lift Roma's spirits after Real Madrid collapse and mounting injury crisis

Rafa Benítez has analysed Roma's defeat to Real Madrid in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport, attributing the loss to defensive lapses rather than overall performance. 'Against a heavyweight like Real Madrid it can happen,' Benítez said. 'But I must say everything was linked exclusively to episodes in set-piece situations. Roma was superior—Real Madrid never managed to get down the wings. The risk was in man-to-man marking and that's what happened. But from an evening like that you can still take positives, knowing you must learn from the lapses.' Roma's collapse in the closing stages proved decisive despite their dominance for large periods. Benítez stressed that Roma showed resilience against the Spanish giants but were ultimately undone by momentary inattention on dead balls. He acknowledged the difficulty of competing with such elite opposition but emphasized that the team's overall display offered grounds for optimism moving forward.

Endrick put on a devastating performance against Roma on Wednesday evening at the Olimpico, dismantling the defence and extinguishing the enthusiasm of 60,000 supporters. The Brazilian winger spent half an hour terrorising the flanks with pace and dribbling that exhausted the energy of Hermoso and Molina before leaving Koulierakis in disarray. Roma had pursued Endrick intensely throughout the summer transfer window before Real Madrid blocked the move. The club remained in contact with the player, aware that a January opportunity might yet arise. That calculation may now have shifted. Endrick had played only four minutes all season before facing Roma and had made his frustration public. His standout display at the Olimpico was made all the more striking by the return to Rome of Mourinho.

Roma lost 3–4 to Real Madrid in a Champions League fixture at the Olimpico, but the scoreline alone does not tell the story that divided the fanbase. The club led 3–1 with approximately eighty minutes played before the Spanish side mounted a late comeback to snatch victory. Among Roma's players and supporters, the overwhelming sentiment was pride rather than anger at the performance itself. Fans acknowledged that Roma had competed on level terms with one of Europe's strongest teams and had earned praise for their display. Bar-room and social media conversation centred on a sense of misfortune: many supporters felt that a collapse of this kind could only have befallen their club. The real flashpoint came with José Mourinho, Roma's former manager. He was warmly received before kickoff but his celebration of Rüdiger's decisive goal, combined with subsequent remarks, alienated a section of the support. Harsh comments circulated online, with one sentiment recurring: "Don't call him a Roma man, he is ungrateful." Yet those close to Mourinho note that he remained fundamentally true to his competitive nature throughout the evening. In fact, he held back from celebrating as extravagantly as he might have done in other circumstances—a gesture that underscored the emotional weight of his return to the Olimpico. The fixture crystallised an overriding message for the Roma faithful: Mourinho belongs to the past, while the club's future must be built with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. Although the pain of the defeat was real and deep, the night reinforced the bond between the team and its supporters.

Roma's injury troubles deepened Wednesday when two key squad members went down with muscle injuries. Manu Koné limped off in the sixteenth minute, while Paulo Dybala did not return after half-time. Both players underwent instrumental examinations on 16 October, with early indications suggesting a longer absence for Koné. The French midfielder felt pain in the biceps femoris — the same area that troubled him twice last year — and risks missing matches against Genoa, Slovan, Napoli, Cagliari, Udinese, Manchester United and Sassuolo before the international break. Roma expect to deploy the partnership of Niccolò Pisilli and Marten de Roon against Genoa. Dybala, who had already undergone initial checks on 15 October, remained under observation, though the club was more optimistic about his prospects; he would not have played against Genoa regardless. Donyell Malen is unavailable through suspension, and Mile Svilar continues his absence from the squad.

Roma will be without five regulars for the visit to Genoa on 17 October following injuries sustained in the Champions League defeat to Real Madrid. Manu Koné and Paulo Dybala both left the Olimpico match with injuries and underwent instrumental tests. While Dybala's condition is not a major concern, there is significant anxiety over Koné, who left the pitch in tears. Gasperini will be unable to call on Svilar in goal, Cristante and Koné in midfield, and Dybala and Malen in attack — absences he plans to counter with Pisilli, Mora and Castro. The scale of these absences is substantial given Gasperini's reliance on this group early in the season, though the coach has previously stated publicly that he does not like to distinguish sharply between starters and reserves. The immediate priority is the results of Koné and Dybala's medical examinations. Dybala is expected to miss the Genoa fixture and return for the next Champions League match against Slovan, which Roma must win at all costs. Koné's situation is more serious. The risk is a right biceps femoris injury — if first-degree, it would sideline him for two weeks; if second-degree, three to four weeks. Almost certainly, the French midfielder will not return until after the international break, with hope of having him available for Roma's visit to Parma on 21 November.

Roma face Genoa on tomorrow evening at 20:45 at the Olimpico seeking an immediate response after a devastating 3–4 defeat at Real Madrid, having led 3–1 before conceding four goals in seven minutes. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini must rebuild morale in a squad that dominated proceedings for 70 minutes against Europe's most decorated club before collapsing dramatically in the closing stages following three corner kicks. The setback echoes a painful precedent from last season. After Roma squandered a 3–1 lead to draw 3–3 with Juventus in identical circumstances late in the match, the team suffered an immediate loss to Como and defeat by Genoa, subsequently exiting the UEFA Europa League in favour of Bologna. Gasperini will lean on the squad's demonstrated self-awareness and greater conviction this season to avoid a similar spiral. However, an injury crisis compounds the challenge: Svilar and Cristante were already sidelined, and both Koné and Dybala have now joined them on the treatment table. Koné departed in tears after 15 minutes with a hamstring strain raising fears of a muscle tear, while Dybala sustained only a calf complaint but will rest against Genoa before the upcoming fixtures against Slovan and Napoli. Instrumental examinations are scheduled today for both players. Donyell Malen is also unavailable through suspension, adding to Gasperini's squad depth issues.

Roma will be without five regulars for the visit to Genoa on 17 October following injuries sustained in the Champions League defeat to Real Madrid. Manu Koné and Paulo Dybala both left the Olimpico match with injuries and underwent instrumental tests. While Dybala's condition is not a major concern, there is significant anxiety over Koné, who left the pitch in tears. Gasperini will be unable to call on Svilar in goal, Cristante and Koné in midfield, and Dybala and Malen in attack — absences he plans to counter with Pisilli, Mora and Castro. The scale of these absences is substantial given Gasperini's reliance on this group early in the season, though the coach has previously stated publicly that he does not like to distinguish sharply between starters and reserves. The immediate priority is the results of Koné and Dybala's medical examinations. Dybala is expected to miss the Genoa fixture and return for the next Champions League match against Slovan, which Roma must win at all costs. Koné's situation is more serious. The risk is a right biceps femoris injury — if first-degree, it would sideline him for two weeks; if second-degree, three to four weeks. Almost certainly, the French midfielder will not return until after the international break, with hope of having him available for Roma's visit to Parma on 21 November.

Roma face Genoa on tomorrow evening at 20:45 at the Olimpico seeking an immediate response after a devastating 3–4 defeat at Real Madrid, having led 3–1 before conceding four goals in seven minutes. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini must rebuild morale in a squad that dominated proceedings for 70 minutes against Europe's most decorated club before collapsing dramatically in the closing stages following three corner kicks. The setback echoes a painful precedent from last season. After Roma squandered a 3–1 lead to draw 3–3 with Juventus in identical circumstances late in the match, the team suffered an immediate loss to Como and defeat by Genoa, subsequently exiting the UEFA Europa League in favour of Bologna. Gasperini will lean on the squad's demonstrated self-awareness and greater conviction this season to avoid a similar spiral. However, an injury crisis compounds the challenge: Svilar and Cristante were already sidelined, and both Koné and Dybala have now joined them on the treatment table. Koné departed in tears after 15 minutes with a hamstring strain raising fears of a muscle tear, while Dybala sustained only a calf complaint but will rest against Genoa before the upcoming fixtures against Slovan and Napoli. Instrumental examinations are scheduled today for both players. Donyell Malen is also unavailable through suspension, adding to Gasperini's squad depth issues.

Roma will face Genoa on 17 October without five key players, leaving Gasperini to blood young squad members in what amounts to a depleted side. The coach will be without Mile Svilar in goal, Bryan Cristante and Manu Koné in midfield, and Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen in attack. Niccolò Pisilli, Rodrigo Mora and Santiago Castro are set to feature as Gasperini manages a squad stretched by fixture congestion and injury. The French midfielder Koné left the field in tears, covering his face with his shirt, raising immediate concern about a potential hamstring injury to his right biceps femoris. If graded as first-degree, the injury would sideline him for two weeks; a second-degree tear would mean three to four weeks out. Gasperini hopes to have Koné available after the international break for Roma's trip to Parma on 21 November. Dybala is expected to miss the Genoa fixture but return for Roma's next Champions League match against Slovan, which the team must win. Cristante remains a target for recovery by that point. Marten de Roon faces his third consecutive match in six days, covering fixtures against Como, Real Madrid and Genoa—a demanding schedule for a 35-year-old. Castro has featured in only four of Roma's eight matches so far, accumulating just 105 minutes of action. The young striker and his teammates Pisilli and Mora will have a rare opportunity to prove themselves in what Gasperini views as a chance to give confidence to players awaiting their real breakthrough.

Roma's injury troubles deepened Wednesday when two key squad members went down with muscle injuries. Manu Koné limped off in the sixteenth minute, while Paulo Dybala did not return after half-time. Both players underwent instrumental examinations on 16 October, with early indications suggesting a longer absence for Koné. The French midfielder felt pain in the biceps femoris — the same area that troubled him twice last year — and risks missing matches against Genoa, Slovan, Napoli, Cagliari, Udinese, Manchester United and Sassuolo before the international break. Roma expect to deploy the partnership of Niccolò Pisilli and Marten de Roon against Genoa. Dybala, who had already undergone initial checks on 15 October, remained under observation, though the club was more optimistic about his prospects; he would not have played against Genoa regardless. Donyell Malen is unavailable through suspension, and Mile Svilar continues his absence from the squad.

Roma will be without five regulars for the visit to Genoa on 17 October following injuries sustained in the Champions League defeat to Real Madrid. Manu Koné and Paulo Dybala both left the Olimpico match with injuries and underwent instrumental tests. While Dybala's condition is not a major concern, there is significant anxiety over Koné, who left the pitch in tears. Gasperini will be unable to call on Svilar in goal, Cristante and Koné in midfield, and Dybala and Malen in attack — absences he plans to counter with Pisilli, Mora and Castro. The scale of these absences is substantial given Gasperini's reliance on this group early in the season, though the coach has previously stated publicly that he does not like to distinguish sharply between starters and reserves. The immediate priority is the results of Koné and Dybala's medical examinations. Dybala is expected to miss the Genoa fixture and return for the next Champions League match against Slovan, which Roma must win at all costs. Koné's situation is more serious. The risk is a right biceps femoris injury — if first-degree, it would sideline him for two weeks; if second-degree, three to four weeks. Almost certainly, the French midfielder will not return until after the international break, with hope of having him available for Roma's visit to Parma on 21 November.

Roma face Genoa on tomorrow evening at 20:45 at the Olimpico seeking an immediate response after a devastating 3–4 defeat at Real Madrid, having led 3–1 before conceding four goals in seven minutes. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini must rebuild morale in a squad that dominated proceedings for 70 minutes against Europe's most decorated club before collapsing dramatically in the closing stages following three corner kicks. The setback echoes a painful precedent from last season. After Roma squandered a 3–1 lead to draw 3–3 with Juventus in identical circumstances late in the match, the team suffered an immediate loss to Como and defeat by Genoa, subsequently exiting the UEFA Europa League in favour of Bologna. Gasperini will lean on the squad's demonstrated self-awareness and greater conviction this season to avoid a similar spiral. However, an injury crisis compounds the challenge: Svilar and Cristante were already sidelined, and both Koné and Dybala have now joined them on the treatment table. Koné departed in tears after 15 minutes with a hamstring strain raising fears of a muscle tear, while Dybala sustained only a calf complaint but will rest against Genoa before the upcoming fixtures against Slovan and Napoli. Instrumental examinations are scheduled today for both players. Donyell Malen is also unavailable through suspension, adding to Gasperini's squad depth issues.