Injury crisis forces Gasperini to call Primavera players for Genoa clash

Roma pundits weighed in on the club's performance and transfer strategy following the Real Madrid loss, with sharp debate over Gasperini's public criticism of the ownership and Nahuel Molina's contribution. Roberto Pruzzo said Roma's reserves are stronger than Genoa's starting XI and predicted a draw, citing midweek fatigue. He expressed doubt about Molina's recent form: "Molina, for what I've seen in the last few matches, maybe it would have been better to look in another direction. You have to understand and accept a market where certain roles seem questionable." Pruzzo added that Santiago Castro deserves more playing time and noted that Genoa had won only one match in six months. Sabatini said Roma must mentally move past the final ten minutes against Real Madrid, warning that "otherwise every corner kick becomes a problem." He flagged five missing regular starters and expressed curiosity about Castro's performance. Carina noted that Mancini and Hermoso are not fully fit, forcing Gasperini to field Balerdi instead of his preferred back line. Carina observed that Gasperini has now directed three substantial criticisms at ownership: first at Como–Roma on the importance of the club's presence, then in the Real Madrid pre-match with a comment about wanting the ability to buy champions, and most recently a heavyweight attack. Carina questioned the €16 million plus bonuses spent on a sixth centre-back who never plays. He highlighted Roma's lack of mobile players and expressed concern about Rodrigo Mora's physical performance against Real Madrid's attacks, though acknowledged Mora could make a difference in Serie A. Luis Orsi pushed back, saying: "Gasperini, when he loses a match, starts saying they didn't buy him a player." He argued that while Gasperini bears no responsibility for the Real loss, Roma has conducted strong business and is performing well. Orsi stressed that the market was shaped by Gasperini too: "It seems he was satisfied for 80%. It's hard to think a coach gets 100% satisfaction unless he's at Real Madrid, PSG, or even bigger clubs." He noted Roma has eleven players, nine of whom could start, and that Castro faces competition from Donyell Malen, who scores regularly.

Gian Piero Gasperini has demanded energy, courage and an immediate victory as Roma prepare to face Genoa on the back of a 3–4 defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League. Speaking at his pre-match press conference, the Roma head coach made clear his intention to shield the group and chart a swift course back to winning ways, acknowledging the emotional toll of the heavy loss but insisting the objective is to continue playing with courage and freedom rather than chase the Champions League or the Scudetto. The squad faces a significant injury crisis. Manu Koné is sidelined with a muscle injury, Paulo Dybala is recovering from fatigue, and five other key players are unavailable, forcing Gasperini to draw on Roma's youth academy. The squad of outfield players has been reduced to sixteen, prompting the head coach to send a message to the club: modern football demands at least twenty players of similar calibre to withstand the pace of cup competition. Santiago Castro, Rodrigo Mora and other academy graduates are ready to turn the difficult moment into a chance for their futures. Gasperini highlighted Roma's ability to compete with anyone—evidenced by recent matches against Inter, Como and Real Madrid—but stressed the need to eliminate the lapses in concentration that have cost them. He also noted Genoa's greater tactical organisation compared to Real Madrid's approach.

Roma host Genoa at the Stadio Olimpico at 20:45 in Serie A Matchday 7, looking to bounce back from a 3–4 Champions League defeat to Real Madrid. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini plans to field a youthful lineup, handing starting places to Emanuele Lulli, Niccolò Pisilli, Rodrigo Mora and Santiago Castro as Roma aim to recover from that difficult European night. The tactical approach represents a deliberate shift towards freshness and intensity. Gasperini has chosen to deploy the young squad members to inject energy and courage into the team following the disappointment in Europe. All four are expected to feature prominently in the club's bid to maintain momentum in the domestic campaign. Five major Italian outlets have predicted broadly similar 3–4–2–1 formations. La Gazzetta's forecast includes Gollini in goal; a defence of Hermoso, N'Dicka and Ghilardi; Lulli, Pisilli, De Roon and Wesley across the midfield; and Soulé and Mora supporting Castro in attack. Corriere della Sport and Il Romanista predict Balerdi in place of Ghilardi in defence. Il Messaggero reverses the positioning of Balerdi and Hermoso on the back line. Il Tempo and Romanews.eu both include Mancini in the defensive unit instead of Ghilardi or Balerdi, with Hermoso retained. All predictions maintain Soulé, Mora and Castro in the attacking positions.

Gian Piero Gasperini has demanded energy, courage and an immediate victory as Roma prepare to face Genoa on the back of a 3–4 defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League. Speaking at his pre-match press conference, the Roma head coach made clear his intention to shield the group and chart a swift course back to winning ways, acknowledging the emotional toll of the heavy loss but insisting the objective is to continue playing with courage and freedom rather than chase the Champions League or the Scudetto. The squad faces a significant injury crisis. Manu Koné is sidelined with a muscle injury, Paulo Dybala is recovering from fatigue, and five other key players are unavailable, forcing Gasperini to draw on Roma's youth academy. The squad of outfield players has been reduced to sixteen, prompting the head coach to send a message to the club: modern football demands at least twenty players of similar calibre to withstand the pace of cup competition. Santiago Castro, Rodrigo Mora and other academy graduates are ready to turn the difficult moment into a chance for their futures. Gasperini highlighted Roma's ability to compete with anyone—evidenced by recent matches against Inter, Como and Real Madrid—but stressed the need to eliminate the lapses in concentration that have cost them. He also noted Genoa's greater tactical organisation compared to Real Madrid's approach.

Gasperini arrives at Roma's match against Genoa unbowed by Real Madrid's late defeat and unmoved by media noise, insisting his squad's direction is correct. Speaking at his pre-match conference, he defended the group and the dressing room, reaffirming his conviction that the tactical path is sound. Roma sit third in the table behind Inter and Lazio, a position Gasperini does not regard as accidental, though a fixture pile-up—three matches in seven days—combined with an injury list threatens to test his resolve. Absences of Koné, Cristante, Dybala and the suspended Malen force Gasperini to rebuild his starting eleven around youth and invention. De Roon and Pisilli will form a new midfield pairing, with Mora and Soulé deployed in support of Santiago Castro, set for his first start. Lulli takes a wing berth to rest Molina, and Wesley shifts to the left side; the back three remains unchanged. Beyond the tactical reshuffling, Gasperini uses the constraint to signal to the board that the modern game demands longer, more competitive squads to withstand congested calendars. No excuses, he emphasizes—Genoa, managed by De Rossi, will face a Roma side intent on immediate answers through courageous, personality-driven football that reflects the club's identity.

Roma host Genoa at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday 17 October at 20:45 in Serie A's seventh round, looking to recover after a 4–3 Champions League defeat to Real Madrid this week. The Giallorossi led 3–1 until the 83rd minute before the Spanish side staged a dramatic comeback. In league play, Roma are unbeaten on 14 points from six matches and sit third, having won four games and drawn with Inter and Como. Genoa arrive 18th on four points but travel to Rome buoyed by their first Serie A victory of the season, a 2–1 win over Fiorentina. The fixture carries special significance as Genoa are managed by Daniele De Rossi, who faces the club he served as both a player and later as coach. Roma face a severe injury crisis ahead of the match. Manu Koné suffered a first-degree biceps femoris strain in tests today and will be absent for several weeks, with recovery targeted before the next international break. Paulo Dybala is also unavailable—not through injury, but due to calf fatigue that has prompted Gasperini's medical staff to avoid taking risks against Genoa. Mile Svilar and Bryan Cristante remain sidelined, with Cristante still completing recovery from a knee problem and available for the following Serie A match against Napoli. Donyell Malen is suspended following his dismissal against Como. Pierluigi Gollini will continue in goal, with Leonardo Balerdi pushing Mario Hermoso for a place in the three-person defence alongside Gianluca Mancini and Evan N'Dicka. On the right wing, Emanuele Lulli and Nahuel Molina are competing for selection, while Wesley will operate on the left. Marten de Roon and Niccolò Pisilli are expected to start in midfield. Gasperini confirmed that Santiago Castro will start up front, with Rodrigo Mora and Matías Soulé favoured as options behind him on current indications, though Lorenzo Pellegrini is available in the attacking midfield role. Genoa will largely field the team that beat Fiorentina. Justin Bijlow starts in goal, with Otoa competing with Marcandalli to complete the back four alongside Jens Petter Østigard and Devis Vásquez. Ola Aina and Morten Frendrup operate as full-backs, with Morten Frendrup and Hamed Traorè in central midfield. Junior Messias will provide creative support, and Stephan El Shaarawy is expected to start after featuring prominently in the Fiorentina victory. Milutin Osmajić leads the Grifone attack, having scored in that recent win and currently Genoa's leading league goalscorer this season. The match will be broadcast on DAZN and Sky Sport Uno, Sky Sport Calcio, Sky Sport 251 and Sky Sport 4K, with streaming available on DAZN, Sky Go and NOW. Maurizio Compagnoni will provide commentary for Sky with Massimo Gobbi as summariser. Bookmakers heavily favour Roma despite the absences. Odds on a Giallorossi victory range from 1.47 to 1.48, a draw from 4.35 to 4.60, and a Genoa win from 6.20 to 7.00. A 2–0 Roma victory is among the most likely correct scorelines, offered at 6.75 by Bwin and 7.50 by Sisal. Roma have gone unbeaten in 39 of their last 40 home Serie A matches against Genoa.

Gasperini arrives at Roma's match against Genoa unbowed by Real Madrid's late defeat and unmoved by media noise, insisting his squad's direction is correct. Speaking at his pre-match conference, he defended the group and the dressing room, reaffirming his conviction that the tactical path is sound. Roma sit third in the table behind Inter and Lazio, a position Gasperini does not regard as accidental, though a fixture pile-up—three matches in seven days—combined with an injury list threatens to test his resolve. Absences of Koné, Cristante, Dybala and the suspended Malen force Gasperini to rebuild his starting eleven around youth and invention. De Roon and Pisilli will form a new midfield pairing, with Mora and Soulé deployed in support of Santiago Castro, set for his first start. Lulli takes a wing berth to rest Molina, and Wesley shifts to the left side; the back three remains unchanged. Beyond the tactical reshuffling, Gasperini uses the constraint to signal to the board that the modern game demands longer, more competitive squads to withstand congested calendars. No excuses, he emphasizes—Genoa, managed by De Rossi, will face a Roma side intent on immediate answers through courageous, personality-driven football that reflects the club's identity.

Roma host Genoa at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday 17 October at 20:45 in Serie A's seventh round, looking to recover after a 4–3 Champions League defeat to Real Madrid this week. The Giallorossi led 3–1 until the 83rd minute before the Spanish side staged a dramatic comeback. In league play, Roma are unbeaten on 14 points from six matches and sit third, having won four games and drawn with Inter and Como. Genoa arrive 18th on four points but travel to Rome buoyed by their first Serie A victory of the season, a 2–1 win over Fiorentina. The fixture carries special significance as Genoa are managed by Daniele De Rossi, who faces the club he served as both a player and later as coach. Roma face a severe injury crisis ahead of the match. Manu Koné suffered a first-degree biceps femoris strain in tests today and will be absent for several weeks, with recovery targeted before the next international break. Paulo Dybala is also unavailable—not through injury, but due to calf fatigue that has prompted Gasperini's medical staff to avoid taking risks against Genoa. Mile Svilar and Bryan Cristante remain sidelined, with Cristante still completing recovery from a knee problem and available for the following Serie A match against Napoli. Donyell Malen is suspended following his dismissal against Como. Pierluigi Gollini will continue in goal, with Leonardo Balerdi pushing Mario Hermoso for a place in the three-person defence alongside Gianluca Mancini and Evan N'Dicka. On the right wing, Emanuele Lulli and Nahuel Molina are competing for selection, while Wesley will operate on the left. Marten de Roon and Niccolò Pisilli are expected to start in midfield. Gasperini confirmed that Santiago Castro will start up front, with Rodrigo Mora and Matías Soulé favoured as options behind him on current indications, though Lorenzo Pellegrini is available in the attacking midfield role. Genoa will largely field the team that beat Fiorentina. Justin Bijlow starts in goal, with Otoa competing with Marcandalli to complete the back four alongside Jens Petter Østigard and Devis Vásquez. Ola Aina and Morten Frendrup operate as full-backs, with Morten Frendrup and Hamed Traorè in central midfield. Junior Messias will provide creative support, and Stephan El Shaarawy is expected to start after featuring prominently in the Fiorentina victory. Milutin Osmajić leads the Grifone attack, having scored in that recent win and currently Genoa's leading league goalscorer this season. The match will be broadcast on DAZN and Sky Sport Uno, Sky Sport Calcio, Sky Sport 251 and Sky Sport 4K, with streaming available on DAZN, Sky Go and NOW. Maurizio Compagnoni will provide commentary for Sky with Massimo Gobbi as summariser. Bookmakers heavily favour Roma despite the absences. Odds on a Giallorossi victory range from 1.47 to 1.48, a draw from 4.35 to 4.60, and a Genoa win from 6.20 to 7.00. A 2–0 Roma victory is among the most likely correct scorelines, offered at 6.75 by Bwin and 7.50 by Sisal. Roma have gone unbeaten in 39 of their last 40 home Serie A matches against Genoa.

Roma face Genoa tonight at the Olimpico without five key players, forcing Gasperini to field an unusually second-string side. Donyell Malen's absence is the heaviest blow—he was singled out unanimously by analysts reviewing Roma's midweek performance against Real Madrid as the only player to emerge with widespread approval. Beyond Malen, Pierluigi Gollini will start in goal with Mile Svilar injured, while Bryan Cristante and Manu Koné remain sidelined in midfield. Paulo Dybala and an unspecified centre-forward are also unavailable: Dybala through injury, the striker through suspension. Four of the five absences are injury-related with no confirmed return date yet. Gasperini's philosophy ordinarily rejects any split between first-team and reserve players, but tonight's circumstances demand simultaneous deployment of his least-used squad members. It will be a true test of maturity for them, with only 16 outfield players available from the bench. Roma will have just one substitute available from those, with only six players total spanning attack and midfield—three strikers and two midfielders—where squads traditionally rotate heavily. The imbalance is stark: Gasperini has six centre-backs competing for three defensive spots and four wide players for two flank positions. The coach has not ruled out an unconventional solution: deploying a defender into midfield if the emergency deepens. Genoa are managed by former Roma manager Daniele De Rossi.

Santiago Castro starts as Roma's number nine for the first time in nearly a year, with Donyell Malen sidelined through suspension. The last Roma striker to hold that role as a starter was Artem Dovbyk in November against Udinese; Malen claimed the position in January. Castro has not scored since a Europa League match against Roma at the Olimpico, a performance that impressed both Gasperini and Francesco Totti, who recommended him to the coach. He has spent the last three matches on the bench, though in the period before the international break he came off the bench regularly and earned applause despite his goal drought. Castro's selection comes after a string of solid performances that earned him a call-up to his national team. The forward comes into the match having hit the woodwork twice against Atalanta. His task today is to end his dry spell while filling the gap left by Malen's absence. Last season, after three matches without a goal, he broke his duck against the same Atalanta side, then managed by Vieira. Castro arrived as the first signing of the most recent transfer window and also the most expensive. He carries heavy expectation to deliver immediately. Several Primavera players are in contention for a squad place. Panico, Arena, and Camara are hopeful of being called up, with the final selection to be confirmed this morning.

The Friedkin Group is considering selling its majority stake in Everton and welcoming new investors into the club, marking a shift in strategy from earlier plans to seek only minority partnerships. The Athletic reports that the family has expanded its options to include a possible exit from control of the English club, which they acquired at the end of 2024. The potential sale comes as The Friedkin Group pursues a separate expansion into the NHL with a franchise in Texas, an investment estimated at approximately $3.5 billion that would cover both the entry fee and construction of a new arena. The exploration of Everton's future does not signal any retreat from AS Roma. The club remains a central asset in the Friedkin sporting portfolio and continues to receive investment in technical, infrastructure and stadium projects. Roma's position is described as stable, with no indication of disengagement emerging at this stage. The NHL expansion process with the North American league is not yet concluded and requires further approval procedures. The article notes that it would be premature to assume the possible Everton sale is directly tied to financing the new hockey franchise, as some American reports lack sufficient evidence to establish a direct connection between the two plans. The Friedkin Group's broader strategy is becoming more complex, with the family now evaluating every available option for Everton, from simply opening the club to new partners through to a full sale of control, less than two years after entering Liverpool.

Antonio Arena, Roma's young striker, has been named among the 60 most promising players born in 2009 globally in a list compiled by The Guardian. The Primavera talent has already scored for the first team in the Coppa Italia and regularly features in Gasperini's matchday squads for Serie A fixtures, demonstrating qualities that set him apart from his peers. Arena's inclusion reflects his early impact at Roma, where he has attracted the attention of head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, who frequently calls him up for league matches. The recognition underscores the talent emerging from the club's academy and the confidence placed in him by the first-team staff. The Guardian's list also includes Riccardo Cassano of Como and Destiny Elimoghale of Juventus among the 60 young players identified as prospects.