Koné clears injury scare but faces doubt for Torino trip

Inter will have Federico Dimarco available for their match against Roma on Saturday, barring any setback. The Italian defender is recovering from an injury that forced him to miss Inter's Champions League trip to Real Madrid and trained partially with the squad this morning. He could also be included in Inter's lineup for their Monday fixture at Udine. Djed Spence, by contrast, remains unavailable — he is still training separately and is unlikely to feature against Roma. Roma travel to face Torino on Monday before hosting Inter on Saturday, two matches in five days that will provide early indicators of the teams' title ambitions. After three matches, Roma sit top of Serie A on a perfect record, level with Lazio and Inter, the defending Italian champions. Inter boss Chivu will have Dimarco in contention for the big match, but Spence's absence will limit his options in defence.

Inter expect to have Federico Dimarco available for their top-of-the-table clash with Roma on 19 September, though the left-back will miss their trip to Udinese this weekend. Dimarco completed half of Inter's training session today and is on course to be fit for the visit to Friuli, positioning him at full availability for the fixture at the Olimpico in eight days' time. Roma face Torino away on Monday at 18:30 before hosting Inter in what Inter manager Chivu is treating as a crucial contest. The meeting carries significant implications for both sides' title credentials, with squad fitness set to be a key factor. Djed Spence's situation is bleaker. According to Sky Sport, the English defender will be unavailable for Inter's Udinese match and is very likely to miss the Roma encounter as well.

Manu Koné was forced off in the 52nd minute of Roma's Champions League match against Fenerbahçe in Istanbul on 10 September with a knee problem, immediately raising concerns at the club. The French midfielder's early departure after just seven minutes of the second half has put the Roma medical staff on high alert as they assess whether he will be fit for the club's forthcoming fixtures. Koné is a central figure in Roma's midfield, making his early exit particularly worrying for head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. The initial indications suggest the injury may not be serious, however, with the club treating it with measured optimism. No instrumental tests have been scheduled, a decision that suggests the problem is not expected to be severe, though Roma will need to monitor the knee's response over the coming hours and during the resumption of training. The midfielder's condition will be assessed day by day by Roma's medical staff with no scans currently planned. The club will monitor the situation daily as Gasperini waits to confirm whether Koné can be available for Roma's next matches.

Roma travel to the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino on Monday 14 September at 18:30 for their fourth Serie A match of the season against Ignazio Abate's Torino, coming off the back of a 1–1 draw against Fenerbahce in the Champions League. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is weighing rotation options after the European fixture. Mile Svilar will start in goal. In defence, Leonardo Balerdi is favoured over Daniele Ghilardi following strong performances from the bench, with Emanuele Lulli set to earn a new start at right-back in place of Devyne Rensch. Manu Koné's fitness is being assessed after he left the Fenerbahce match with a knee issue; Niccolò Pisilli stands ready if the midfielder cannot play. Rodrigo Mora may return to the attacking midfield, replacing Matías Soulé alongside Paulo Dybala, while Donyell Malen is the favoured choice in attack over Santiago Castro. Roma arrive in strong form domestically. In their most recent league outing, they came from behind to beat Atalanta at the Olimpico, with goals from Mario Hermoso and Soulé. Torino beat Fiorentina 2–1 away in their last fixture, scoring through Mandragora and Che Adams, and will deploy a 3–4–2–1 formation with Perri in goal and Simeone as their lone striker. Roma's head-to-head record stands at 82 victories, 48 draws and 59 defeats from 189 meetings. The teams last met in the 2025–26 season, when Roma won 2–0 at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino through goals by Malen and Dybala. The match will be broadcast live on DAZN via app and website, and on Sky Sport with streaming available on NOW for Sky subscribers. Official team sheets will be confirmed approximately one hour before kickoff.

Roma's concern following the 1–1 draw against Fenerbahce in Istanbul centres on Manu Koné's condition. The French midfielder was withdrawn at half-time not for tactical reasons but due to a knee complaint sustained during the match. Roma's post-match statement offered little detail on the severity of the problem; only instrumental examinations that Koné will undergo in the coming hours will clarify whether he has a simple overload or an injury requiring longer recovery. The sensation is that his presence against Torino is strongly in doubt. Given the proximity of that fixture and the nature of the complaint, Gasperini is unlikely to take risks without a precise assessment first. The key objective will be establishing whether Koné can return quickly—his availability ahead of the Inter match before the international break is seen as fundamental—or whether he will face a prolonged absence. The anxiety reflects the weight Koné has assumed at Roma. Against Fenerbahce he was among the best performers in the first half, again demonstrating how his presence transforms the midfield. Strength, acceleration, quality in possession and the ability to win duels are characteristics that allow the squad to gain ground and sustain Gasperini's aggressive football more effectively. His absence exposes a deeper issue: Roma lack a true substitute for Koné. Niccolò Pisilli replaced him at Istanbul, a player with different characteristics, while Marten de Roon appears better suited as an alternative to Bryan Cristante than to the Frenchman. The problem is not finding an exact copy—which would be extremely difficult—but having a midfielder capable of delivering a similar level of strength, speed, aggression and ball-carrying. This is a question Roma will likely need to address in future transfer windows. Gasperini had opted to work with a tight midfield department and rotate the squad already available, yet a long season packed with fixtures inevitably exposes the group to moments like this. When Koné stops, his absence weighs more than that of almost anyone else.

Roma travel to Torino on Monday at 18:30 aiming to maintain their position at the top of Serie A after their Champions League fixture. Coach Gian Piero Gasperini plans several squad changes, with injury concerns and fatigue prompting rotation. Manu Koné exited yesterday with knee discomfort and faces a serious risk of missing the Piemonte match; Niccolò Pisilli is expected to replace him. Gianluca Mancini appeared off the pace and will likely be substituted, with Leonardo Balerdi (favoured) or Daniele Ghilardi replacing him. Balerdi made a positive impact when introduced yesterday and is now pushing for a starting berth. On the right flank, Devyne Rensch will make way, probably for Emanuele Lulli or Nahuel Molina. Paulo Dybala could start from the bench, while an attacking rotation between Donyell Malen and Santiago Castro is anticipated, though Malen is expected to begin the match. Lorenzo Pellegrini may receive his first call-up, though he would occupy a substitute place at best.