Koné injury update: first-degree lesion, Gasperini hopeful for Sassuolo

Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has criticised the fixture calendar ahead of Roma's match against Genoa, saying the schedule demands a broad squad or clubs will suffer the consequences. Roma are managing injuries with Manu Koné sidelined by a first-degree muscle strain and expected to return for the Sassuolo fixture, while Paulo Dybala is dealing with fatigue. Gasperini expressed hope to have Dybala available again the following week.

Roma face Genoa on 17 October at 20:45 at the Olimpico, two days after their Champions League defeat to Real Madrid. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini provided an injury update at his pre-match press conference, confirming that Manu Koné has a first-degree muscle strain. "Koné had an MRI scan, he has a first-degree lesion that is not particularly significant," Gasperini said. "Clearly it takes the necessary time, we hope to recover him perhaps with Sassuolo a bit before the break." Paulo Dybala is sidelined by calf fatigue but is expected to return within the week. "There is nothing particular with Dybala, it is fatigue on the calf muscle and we hope to recover him next week," the coach added. Gasperini confirmed that Santiago Castro will start in attack in place of the injured Donyell Malen, and indicated Lorenzo Pellegrini could drop into midfield to manage the fixture congestion. Bryan Cristante is also being assessed and could return against Napoli or shortly after. "Castro did not play in the last two matches—at Como because we were down to ten men and the other evening because of how the match unfolded," Gasperini explained. "But he is a player of value, he has already played our championship and done so very well. Tomorrow is a good opportunity for him." Gasperini reflected on Roma's recent form despite the Real Madrid loss, saying: "We come out of these three matches reinforced in the idea that, if nothing particular happens, we can compete with them." He acknowledged the psychological impact of conceding three goals in the comeback against Real but stressed it was not a physical issue. "The setback exists, there certainly was one after the 3-2," he said. "It is something to work on and remedy, especially because this squad should not feel the need to necessarily win the Champions League or the title." With four matches in ten days approaching, Gasperini warned that squad depth will be essential. "With this calendar we cannot always play without changing the squad or making substitutions," he said. "We must necessarily broaden the squad; someone like Castro, Rodrigo Mora or others who will play need to acquire the same confidence and strength." He also hinted that academy players may feature: "For us tomorrow is the third match in seven days and Tuesday will be the fourth in ten. Either we adapt or we suffer. What worries me is that we will have few substitutes; in the 90 minutes in some position a youth player could even make his debut."

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.

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.

Antonio Cassano has launched a blunt critique of Paulo Dybala's form and fitness, arguing the Argentine forward no longer possesses the physical strength to be Roma's primary attacking weapon. Speaking on the latest episode of Viva El Futbol, the former Roma striker said: "You can see how he runs, how much he struggles to run. He no longer has strength in his legs. In his prime, at Juventus, he often played in the attacking half and there were free kicks and so on. With 7-8 years less on him. Now he struggles, he's missing that bit of strength he had before. Sometimes he plays through balls, puts in decent performances, but I can't think Roma should rely solely on him and Malen. Sometimes even when he takes free kicks he no longer has that punch, perhaps also because of injuries. For 2-3 years now he's been dragging himself along." Cassano was equally dismissive of Donyell Malen, Roma's fellow forward. "I don't like Malen," he stated. "If Malen scores more than 20 goals Roma are in the top four, otherwise? But Dybala last season scored 3 goals." The former attacker also offered a contrasting assessment of head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, whom he holds in the highest regard. "For me Gasperini is a phenomenon, him and Sacchi have changed football. But I would never want to be coached by him, not even in my prime, because he makes you run really hard," Cassano said.