Roma call up academy prospects as injuries strike midfield and attack for Genoa clash

Rodrigo Mora is set to start for Roma against Genoa at the Stadio Olimpico on 17 October at 20:45, a significant change to the lineup as Gian Piero Gasperini rings alterations following Roma's Champions League defeat to Real Madrid. The Portuguese midfielder will operate on the attacking midfield, offering Gasperini a fresh solution after the demanding European fixture. This represents an important opportunity for Mora to make an impression from the opening minute. Gasperini is tasked with finding new tactical approaches following the exertions of the midweek European campaign, and the Genoa match offers Roma a chance to recover their Serie A form. The fixture pits Roma against a side managed by Daniele De Rossi, the club's former manager. Mora's selection underlines Gasperini's willingness to adapt his approach as Roma look to build momentum in the league.

Gian Piero Gasperini has named his Roma squad for the match against Genoa, with five significant absences due to injury and suspension. Mile Svilar and Bryan Cristante remain sidelined through injury, while Paulo Dybala, Manu Koné and Donyell Malen are unavailable—Malen through suspension and the other two through injury. The fixture comes two days after Roma's defeat to Real Madrid in midweek. Gasperini has called up four academy players to bolster the squad list: Di Nunzio, Camara, Paratici and Arena. The 24-man squad includes goalkeepers Devis Vásquez, Giorgio De Marzi and Pierluigi Gollini; defenders Devyne Rensch, Konstantinos Koulierakis, Evan N'Dicka, Nahuel Molina, Mario Hermoso, Gianluca Mancini, Leonardo Balerdi, Wesley, Emanuele Lulli and Daniele Ghilardi; midfielders Lorenzo Pellegrini, Marten de Roon, Niccolò Pisilli, Di Nunzio and Rodrigo Mora; and forwards Santiago Castro, Matías Soulé, Arena, Paratici and Camara.

Gian Piero Gasperini has announced his squad for Roma's Serie A fixture against Genoa on matchday seven, with four Primavera players called up to bolster a squad depleted by absences. Di Nunzio, Arena, Paratici and Camara have been aggregated to the first-team group, a decision that underlines the scale of Roma's injury crisis heading into the match. Gasperini signalled before the fixture that he would be prepared to draw on academy talent if needed, and the depth of rotation required for this encounter has now forced his hand. Arena provides a natural alternative in the centre-forward role behind Santiago Castro, while the inclusion of the other three academy prospects reflects an emergency situation rather than a developmental choice. The youth contingent is present out of immediate necessity rather than long-term planning. Gasperini had flagged the likelihood of such a move at the pre-match press conference, when he opened the door to calling upon younger players from the academy as the injury toll mounted. The full squad list reads as follows: Goalkeepers Vásquez, De Marzi and Gollini; defenders Rensch, Koulierakis, N'Dicka, Molina, Hermoso, Mancini, Balerdi, Wesley, Lulli and Ghilardi; midfielders Pellegrini, De Roon, Pisilli, Di Nunzio and Mora; forwards Castro, Soulé, Arena, Paratici and Camara.

Gian Piero Gasperini has named his Roma squad for the match against Genoa, with five significant absences due to injury and suspension. Mile Svilar and Bryan Cristante remain sidelined through injury, while Paulo Dybala, Manu Koné and Donyell Malen are unavailable—Malen through suspension and the other two through injury. The fixture comes two days after Roma's defeat to Real Madrid in midweek. Gasperini has called up four academy players to bolster the squad list: Di Nunzio, Camara, Paratici and Arena. The 24-man squad includes goalkeepers Devis Vásquez, Giorgio De Marzi and Pierluigi Gollini; defenders Devyne Rensch, Konstantinos Koulierakis, Evan N'Dicka, Nahuel Molina, Mario Hermoso, Gianluca Mancini, Leonardo Balerdi, Wesley, Emanuele Lulli and Daniele Ghilardi; midfielders Lorenzo Pellegrini, Marten de Roon, Niccolò Pisilli, Di Nunzio and Rodrigo Mora; and forwards Santiago Castro, Matías Soulé, Arena, Paratici and Camara.

Roma's injury crisis has deepened ahead of their attempt to bounce back from defeat to Real Madrid. Svilar and Cristante were the first to be sidelined, followed by a red card for Malen at Como and injuries to Dybala and Koné. The mounting absences mean Gasperini will field many young players, including Pisilli and Mora, across the pitch. In defence, one change is set to occur. Gianluca Mancini is not fully fit and may start on the bench rather than risk aggravation, prompting a tactical rethink. Balerdi is currently favoured to step in, though Ghilardi, the former Verona player, remains in contention for a starting berth. Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso will complete the defensive line.

Medical tests have cleared Manu Koné and Paulo Dybala of serious injury ahead of Roma's Serie A fixture against Genoa. Koné sustained a minor first-degree strain to his right hamstring and is expected to miss approximately 20 days, with a possible return between the Manchester United match on 3 November and Sassuolo five days later. Dybala has no muscle damage, only calf fatigue, and will sit out the Genoa game while targeting a return against Slovan Bratislava and Napoli. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini will be without five players for Genoa: Svilar, Dybala, Koné, Cristante and Malen. He is preparing to give playing time to squad depth. The expected lineup includes Lulli at right-back ahead of Molina, with Wesley on the opposite flank and De Roon partnered with Pisilli in midfield. Attack duties will fall to Soulé, Mora and Castro. The main uncertainty centres on defence, where N'Dicka and Hermoso appear most likely, with Balerdi, Ghilardi and Mancini competing for the third centre-back spot. Daniele De Rossi, now Genoa's manager, will return to the Olimpico carrying significant emotional weight. He acknowledged he must be "emotionally colder" against Roma and reaffirmed his bond with the giallorossi: "Fundamentally they will never be adversaries." El Shaarawy and Baldanzi will also return to Rome with Genoa. De Rossi praised Roma's display against Real Madrid, calling them a "frightening" side.

Gian Piero Gasperini has named his Roma squad for the match against Genoa, with five significant absences due to injury and suspension. Mile Svilar and Bryan Cristante remain sidelined through injury, while Paulo Dybala, Manu Koné and Donyell Malen are unavailable—Malen through suspension and the other two through injury. The fixture comes two days after Roma's defeat to Real Madrid in midweek. Gasperini has called up four academy players to bolster the squad list: Di Nunzio, Camara, Paratici and Arena. The 24-man squad includes goalkeepers Devis Vásquez, Giorgio De Marzi and Pierluigi Gollini; defenders Devyne Rensch, Konstantinos Koulierakis, Evan N'Dicka, Nahuel Molina, Mario Hermoso, Gianluca Mancini, Leonardo Balerdi, Wesley, Emanuele Lulli and Daniele Ghilardi; midfielders Lorenzo Pellegrini, Marten de Roon, Niccolò Pisilli, Di Nunzio and Rodrigo Mora; and forwards Santiago Castro, Matías Soulé, Arena, Paratici and Camara.

Roma's injury crisis has deepened ahead of their attempt to bounce back from defeat to Real Madrid. Svilar and Cristante were the first to be sidelined, followed by a red card for Malen at Como and injuries to Dybala and Koné. The mounting absences mean Gasperini will field many young players, including Pisilli and Mora, across the pitch. In defence, one change is set to occur. Gianluca Mancini is not fully fit and may start on the bench rather than risk aggravation, prompting a tactical rethink. Balerdi is currently favoured to step in, though Ghilardi, the former Verona player, remains in contention for a starting berth. Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso will complete the defensive line.

Medical tests have cleared Manu Koné and Paulo Dybala of serious injury ahead of Roma's Serie A fixture against Genoa. Koné sustained a minor first-degree strain to his right hamstring and is expected to miss approximately 20 days, with a possible return between the Manchester United match on 3 November and Sassuolo five days later. Dybala has no muscle damage, only calf fatigue, and will sit out the Genoa game while targeting a return against Slovan Bratislava and Napoli. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini will be without five players for Genoa: Svilar, Dybala, Koné, Cristante and Malen. He is preparing to give playing time to squad depth. The expected lineup includes Lulli at right-back ahead of Molina, with Wesley on the opposite flank and De Roon partnered with Pisilli in midfield. Attack duties will fall to Soulé, Mora and Castro. The main uncertainty centres on defence, where N'Dicka and Hermoso appear most likely, with Balerdi, Ghilardi and Mancini competing for the third centre-back spot. Daniele De Rossi, now Genoa's manager, will return to the Olimpico carrying significant emotional weight. He acknowledged he must be "emotionally colder" against Roma and reaffirmed his bond with the giallorossi: "Fundamentally they will never be adversaries." El Shaarawy and Baldanzi will also return to Rome with Genoa. De Rossi praised Roma's display against Real Madrid, calling them a "frightening" side.

Gian Piero Gasperini has named his Roma squad for the match against Genoa, with five significant absences due to injury and suspension. Mile Svilar and Bryan Cristante remain sidelined through injury, while Paulo Dybala, Manu Koné and Donyell Malen are unavailable—Malen through suspension and the other two through injury. The fixture comes two days after Roma's defeat to Real Madrid in midweek. Gasperini has called up four academy players to bolster the squad list: Di Nunzio, Camara, Paratici and Arena. The 24-man squad includes goalkeepers Devis Vásquez, Giorgio De Marzi and Pierluigi Gollini; defenders Devyne Rensch, Konstantinos Koulierakis, Evan N'Dicka, Nahuel Molina, Mario Hermoso, Gianluca Mancini, Leonardo Balerdi, Wesley, Emanuele Lulli and Daniele Ghilardi; midfielders Lorenzo Pellegrini, Marten de Roon, Niccolò Pisilli, Di Nunzio and Rodrigo Mora; and forwards Santiago Castro, Matías Soulé, Arena, Paratici and Camara.

Roma's radio pundits offered contrasting views ahead of the midweek fixture against Genoa. Roberto Pruzzo told Radio Radio Mattino that Roma's substitutes are stronger than Genoa's first team, predicting a draw driven by the fatigue of midweek football rather than any shortfall in quality. He expressed reservations about some of the summer market decisions, saying: "The reserves of Roma are superior to Genoa's starters. I expect a draw, not because Genoa are stronger, but because playing mid-week brings difficulties. Molina? From what I've seen in recent matches, perhaps it would have been better to look elsewhere. I didn't understand many of the market choices. You have to understand and accept a market where some decisions, for certain roles, seem questionable." Nando Orsi provided a fuller defence of both the transfer strategy and head coach Gian Piero Gasperini's squad management. Orsi argued that Gasperini cannot be blamed for Roma's loss to Real Madrid, and that the club has conducted strong recruitment. He noted the reality of transfer constraints: "If you have to spend too much to buy, then you don't buy. Gasperini shaped the market too: it seems he was satisfied 80%. It's hard for a manager to be satisfied 100%, unless you manage Real Madrid, PSG or even bigger clubs." Orsi highlighted Roma's attacking depth, stating: "Roma has 11 players, nine of whom can be starters. Ahead of Castro, Malen always scores: it's obvious there are difficulties, but there are no doubts about Castro's qualities. Mora reminds me of Zaragoza." Orsi also defended recent signings and Roma's overall market performance this summer.

Santiago Castro will make his first Roma start tonight against Genoa, with the club hoping the Argentine striker can finally break a goal drought lasting since March. Gasperini has selected Castro in attack in place of Malen, giving the 35-million-euro signing from Bologna the opportunity to justify the investment. Castro last scored in March when he netted against Roma itself in a Europa League match at the Olimpico. He will line up alongside fellow countryman Matías Soulé and Portuguese midfielder Rodrigo Mora, both of whom are also looking to impress in front of their new fans tonight. The fixture represents a watershed moment for Castro at Roma. Wearing number 9, he carries the weight of expectation that comes with joining a club with a storied tradition of great strikers—Batistuta's legacy hangs over the position—but the article notes that meaningful comparisons cannot yet be made. Castro and Mora are both summer investments from the transfer window, and tonight offers both men their chance to vindicate the faith Roma's recruitment has placed in them. The Olimpico is ready to celebrate, and Castro wants his first goal in giallorossi colours. The article notes that De Rossi—referenced as someone being put on notice—suggests broader scrutiny of Roma's attacking setup. Mora, in particular, is identified as one of two summer signings worthy of close attention, alongside Castro. Both players face the test of converting opportunity into tangible returns.