Pisilli on Roma: Every moment is a different emotion, we aim higher

Paulo Dybala was forced off at half-time during Roma's match against Real Madrid on 14 October after sustaining a muscle strain, compounding Gian Piero Gasperini's injury problems. The Argentine forward had featured prominently in the first half before the injury brought an early end to his involvement. Rodrigo Mora replaced him on the pitch, returning to action after exactly one month out; his last appearance had come on 14 September in Roma's fixture against Torino. Dybala's condition will be assessed ahead of Roma's forthcoming fixtures. The setback follows the earlier loss of Manu Koné to injury in the same competition.

Paulo Dybala sustained a muscular injury during Roma's match against Real Madrid at the Olimpico and was substituted at half-time by head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. The Argentine forward did not return for the second half, and his condition will be assessed in the coming hours. The extent of the problem and recovery timeline remain unclear pending medical examination. Roma's injury crisis deepened on the evening of 14 October as Dybala joined an expanding list of sidelined players. Manu Koné suffered an injury in the first half of the same match, while Svilar and Cristante were already unavailable. Gasperini must now wait for assessments to determine whether Dybala's issue is minor or a more significant injury that will keep him out for an extended period. The club faces a particularly demanding fixture schedule in the coming weeks.

Manu Koné was forced off after just 15 minutes of Roma's Champions League match against Real Madrid on 14 October with a muscular problem. The French midfielder realised immediately he could not continue and covered his face with his shirt to hide tears as he left the pitch, an image that sparked immediate concern about the severity of the injury. Gian Piero Gasperini brought Niccolò Pisilli on as his replacement. The timing of the injury compounds Roma's midfield troubles. Bryan Cristante is also unavailable, leaving Gasperini with severely limited options in the middle of the park at a moment when the squad faces a packed schedule combining Serie A and Champions League fixtures. The early loss of Koné represents a particularly heavy blow given the already stretched rotation options available to the head coach. The extent of the damage remains to be clarified by medical tests in the coming hours, though Koné's emotional reaction suggests the possibility of a lengthy absence. Only examination will determine the nature of the problem and establish potential recovery timescales.

Roma squandered a dominant display to lose 4–3 to Real Madrid in the second round of the UEFA Champions League League Phase at Stadio Olimpico on 14 October. The Giallorossi led 3–1 and controlled large stretches of the match but capitulated in the final stages, conceding three goals from corner kicks. Donyell Malen scored twice and created constant danger, earning an 8 rating, but his performance could not prevent Real's turnaround. Gian Piero Gasperini's side began brightly and took the lead through Marten de Roon before Malen and Matías Soulé extended the advantage. Real mounted a second-half comeback that proved fatal to Roma's hopes. The defensive substitutions—Leonardo Balerdi replacing Gianluca Mancini at 63 minutes and Konstantinos Koulierakis entering for Mario Hermoso at 80 minutes—failed to shore up the backline; both changes coincided with the collapse that allowed Real to turn the match around. Koné's early injury at 15 minutes proved costly to Roma's midfield stability, forcing Niccolò Pisilli into action. Wesley earned a 7 rating for tireless full-back play, while De Roon was judged indispensable given the midfield injuries and warranted 7 for both his goal and leadership. Rodrigo Mora came on for Paulo Dybala in the 46th minute after Dybala suffered a muscular problem, contributing 6.5 with an assist for Malen's second goal. Soulé, deployed wide on the right by Gasperini, scored 7 for his performance and the assist that made it 3–1. Lorenzo Pellegrini replaced Soulé at 63 minutes but could not affect the outcome, firing high from a good position. On the defending side, N'Dicka earned 6.5 despite conceding Rudiger's goal, while Hermoso was marked 5.5 for responsibility in Mbappé's opener. Pierluigi Gollini was rated 6, largely unburdened until the final collapse. Gasperini himself received 6, with the assessment noting that Roma's lack of experience and composure under pressure—particularly from set pieces—cost them dearly in the final twenty minutes.

Roma pushed Real Madrid hard for over an hour at the Olimpico, even taking the lead through Marten de Roon, but conceded four goals and lost the Champions League encounter. The Giallorossi produced attacking play that drew admiration from the home crowd, yet crumbled in the final quarter as Real's substitutes changed the match and corner kicks proved costly. Donyell Malen was outstanding, scoring twice and contributing an assist, while Matías Soulé added a goal and an assist in an attacking display that showcased Roma's creativity in the first half. The collapse overshadowed the performance, and injuries to Manu Koné—who left the field in tears after 16 minutes—and muscular issues for Paulo Dybala added to the frustration. Koné's early exit forced Niccolò Pisilli into a midfield equation that proved difficult to balance, particularly with Bryan Cristante also unavailable. The loss came despite Roma's dominance for long stretches. Pierluigi Gollini made several saves but was helpless against Real's finishing, notably on a Kylian Mbappé header that he failed to hold and left at the feet of Federico Chiesa. Leonardo Balerdi, introduced at the 62nd minute in place of Gianluca Mancini, could not shore up the defence as Real's second-half resurgence overwhelmed the backline. Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso worked hard throughout, but the final quarter unraveled. Malen's performance stood out as galactic—even the Dutch word "galactisch" means galactic. Frustrated by his recent expulsion against Como, he responded with ruthless finishing, bundling in a double and nearly adding a third when he got clear of the entire Real defence, only for a save on the line and fortune to intervene. Soulé opened the scoring inside a minute with intensity and precision, then created multiple openings in the first half before adding a second-half assist. Rodrigo Mora, brought on at the interval, added an assist on his arrival. De Roon fired a missile from deep that brought the Olimpico to its feet. Despite all this, head coach Gian Piero Gasperini's substitutions and Real's bench changes proved pivotal, and the Olimpico's collective hope evaporated under corner-kick pressure.

Roma lost 3–4 to Real Madrid at the Olimpico in a Champions League encounter that saw individual performances prove decisive in a tight contest. Pierluigi Gollini kept Roma competitive for 80 minutes before conceding four goals in a chaotic final stretch, while Donyell Malen emerged as the standout performer for the home side, delivering the kind of display that silences doubters about his form. Marten de Roon scored to level briefly at 3–3, and Rodrigo Mora provided an assist for Malen after replacing Paulo Dybala, who sustained an injury and did not return after half-time. Gianluca Mancini anchored Roma's defence with composure, playing close to Mourinho's influence and demonstrating the calibre expected of a Champions League defender, though he was unfortunate on Mbappé's opening goal. Evan N'Dicka faced a formidable test against Mbappé but stood firm with anticipation and personality, reading play high up the pitch as well as defending. Mario Hermoso made an early save-forcing contribution but read a rebound poorly to allow Mbappé's equaliser—a costly mistake at this level. The backline deteriorated in the closing stages; Konstantinos Koulierakis replaced Hermoso after 81 minutes but Roma conceded three goals after his arrival, with Endrick making a decisive impact once the Spanish defender departed. Manu Koné began as a driving force in midfield, probing Tchouameni's area and threatening Real's defence, but suffered a concerning fall after 15 minutes before being withdrawn. Niccolò Pisilli came on and proved unexpectedly assured, performing with the composure of a veteran despite the elevated intensity. Nahuel Molina showed aggression and attacking intent but committed too many errors, particularly in the final stages, and struggled to maintain defensive discipline. Dybala showcased his full range—combining finesse with grit and initiating Roma's opening-goal sequence with a crucial tackle—before a setback forced his withdrawal at half-time.