Roma face Genoa as Gasperini makes changes: Balerdi and Mora start, Mancini to the bench

Daniele De Rossi and Stephan El Shaarawy were both given standing ovations by the Stadio Olimpico crowd during the team-sheet reading before Roma's match against Genoa on 17 October. De Rossi, now Genoa's head coach, and El Shaarawy, returning to face his former club for the first time as an opponent, were applauded as their names were announced. El Shaarawy scored a crucial goal in May that secured Roma's place in the Champions League, and started in the match against the Giallorossi. Both men remain important figures in Roma's history. De Rossi managed the club until 2025, while El Shaarawy departed after six years in his second spell at the club. The reception underlined the affection Roma supporters hold for both players despite their current positions on opposing benches.

Roma face Genoa at Stadio Olimpico this evening in Serie A matchday 7, managing an injury crisis that has ruled out Svilar, Cristante, Koné and Dybala, while Malen is suspended. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has reshuffled his side significantly, deploying Leonardo Balerdi and Konstantinos Koulierakis in central defence with Emanuele Lulli on one flank and Devyne Rensch on the other. The attack pairs Santiago Castro with Matías Soulé and Rodrigo Mora in a 3-4-2-1 shape. Pierluigi Gollini starts in goal, with Niccolò Pisilli and Marten de Roon in midfield. Evan N'Dicka completes the defence. Roma seek their first league win since their away trip to Turin, while Genoa arrive in the capital buoyed by a recent victory over Fiorentina. The fixture carries particular significance with Daniele De Rossi returning to the Olimpico as opposing manager. De Rossi previously led Roma in 2009–11, 2019, and 2024–25. Genoa's XI features Bijlow in goal; Marcandalli, Østigård, Vasquez and Ellertsson in defence; Wiafe, Frendrup and Puczka in midfield; Messias in support; and El Shaarawy and Osmajic in attack, in a 4-3-1-1 formation. The match kicks off at 19:55, refereed by Abisso with Pairetto operating VAR.

Gian Piero Gasperini is preparing a partial rotation for Roma's Serie A match against Genoa at the Olimpico, managing the squad's energy following European commitments. The headline changes involve two defensive shifts: Leonardo Balerdi is set to start in place of Gianluca Mancini on the right side of the back line, while Rodrigo Mora is in line for his first competitive start, replacing Paulo Dybala in an attacking midfield role to bring quality and unpredictability to Roma's play. Gasperini's turnover strategy reflects the manager's effort to balance squad fitness after the midweek demands of European football. Both changes represent significant opportunities: Balerdi's promotion gives the Argentine defender a chance at the centre of Roma's defence, while Mora, the young Portuguese midfielder, will have the chance to demonstrate his capabilities at first-team level in place of the established Dybala.

Roma face Genoa at Stadio Olimpico this evening in Serie A matchday 7, managing an injury crisis that has ruled out Svilar, Cristante, Koné and Dybala, while Malen is suspended. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has reshuffled his side significantly, deploying Leonardo Balerdi and Konstantinos Koulierakis in central defence with Emanuele Lulli on one flank and Devyne Rensch on the other. The attack pairs Santiago Castro with Matías Soulé and Rodrigo Mora in a 3-4-2-1 shape. Pierluigi Gollini starts in goal, with Niccolò Pisilli and Marten de Roon in midfield. Evan N'Dicka completes the defence. Roma seek their first league win since their away trip to Turin, while Genoa arrive in the capital buoyed by a recent victory over Fiorentina. The fixture carries particular significance with Daniele De Rossi returning to the Olimpico as opposing manager. De Rossi previously led Roma in 2009–11, 2019, and 2024–25. Genoa's XI features Bijlow in goal; Marcandalli, Østigård, Vasquez and Ellertsson in defence; Wiafe, Frendrup and Puczka in midfield; Messias in support; and El Shaarawy and Osmajic in attack, in a 4-3-1-1 formation. The match kicks off at 19:55, refereed by Abisso with Pairetto operating VAR.

Gian Piero Gasperini has been forced to promote four Primavera players to the first-team squad for the first time this season after injuries and suspensions ravaged Roma's midfield and attacking ranks. Bryan Cristante and Manu Koné are both sidelined through injury in midfield, while Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen are unavailable through injury and suspension. Mile Svilar's absence means Pierluigi Gollini continues in goal, having already appeared twice this season. The academy contingent drafted in comprises Antonio Arena, Lorenzo Paratici, Mandjou Camara, and Alessandro Di Nunzio. Arena, born 2009, made his competitive debut last season and scored in the Coppa Italia against Torino. This season he has made 6 appearances in the league and Youth League, contributing 1 goal and 3 assists. Paratici (born 2008), on loan from Sampdoria since summer, has featured 5 times and scored against Fenerbahce. Camara, a 2009-born Guinea international, joined Roma's academy as the final signing by Alberto De Rossi and has impressed the youth coaching staff under Mattia Scala, netting against Empoli after two earlier goals with the Under-18s. Gasperini gave him a run-out in a summer friendly against Trastevere. Di Nunzio, a midfielder born in 2007 who has been at Trigoria for 10 years, won the European Under-17 Championship in 2024 and recently signed a contract extension through 2027. He has scored twice for the Primavera and can operate either as a midfielder or regista.

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 face Genoa at Stadio Olimpico this evening in Serie A matchday 7, managing an injury crisis that has ruled out Svilar, Cristante, Koné and Dybala, while Malen is suspended. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has reshuffled his side significantly, deploying Leonardo Balerdi and Konstantinos Koulierakis in central defence with Emanuele Lulli on one flank and Devyne Rensch on the other. The attack pairs Santiago Castro with Matías Soulé and Rodrigo Mora in a 3-4-2-1 shape. Pierluigi Gollini starts in goal, with Niccolò Pisilli and Marten de Roon in midfield. Evan N'Dicka completes the defence. Roma seek their first league win since their away trip to Turin, while Genoa arrive in the capital buoyed by a recent victory over Fiorentina. The fixture carries particular significance with Daniele De Rossi returning to the Olimpico as opposing manager. De Rossi previously led Roma in 2009–11, 2019, and 2024–25. Genoa's XI features Bijlow in goal; Marcandalli, Østigård, Vasquez and Ellertsson in defence; Wiafe, Frendrup and Puczka in midfield; Messias in support; and El Shaarawy and Osmajic in attack, in a 4-3-1-1 formation. The match kicks off at 19:55, refereed by Abisso with Pairetto operating VAR.

Gian Piero Gasperini has been forced to promote four Primavera players to the first-team squad for the first time this season after injuries and suspensions ravaged Roma's midfield and attacking ranks. Bryan Cristante and Manu Koné are both sidelined through injury in midfield, while Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen are unavailable through injury and suspension. Mile Svilar's absence means Pierluigi Gollini continues in goal, having already appeared twice this season. The academy contingent drafted in comprises Antonio Arena, Lorenzo Paratici, Mandjou Camara, and Alessandro Di Nunzio. Arena, born 2009, made his competitive debut last season and scored in the Coppa Italia against Torino. This season he has made 6 appearances in the league and Youth League, contributing 1 goal and 3 assists. Paratici (born 2008), on loan from Sampdoria since summer, has featured 5 times and scored against Fenerbahce. Camara, a 2009-born Guinea international, joined Roma's academy as the final signing by Alberto De Rossi and has impressed the youth coaching staff under Mattia Scala, netting against Empoli after two earlier goals with the Under-18s. Gasperini gave him a run-out in a summer friendly against Trastevere. Di Nunzio, a midfielder born in 2007 who has been at Trigoria for 10 years, won the European Under-17 Championship in 2024 and recently signed a contract extension through 2027. He has scored twice for the Primavera and can operate either as a midfielder or regista.

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 face Genoa at Stadio Olimpico this evening in Serie A matchday 7, managing an injury crisis that has ruled out Svilar, Cristante, Koné and Dybala, while Malen is suspended. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has reshuffled his side significantly, deploying Leonardo Balerdi and Konstantinos Koulierakis in central defence with Emanuele Lulli on one flank and Devyne Rensch on the other. The attack pairs Santiago Castro with Matías Soulé and Rodrigo Mora in a 3-4-2-1 shape. Pierluigi Gollini starts in goal, with Niccolò Pisilli and Marten de Roon in midfield. Evan N'Dicka completes the defence. Roma seek their first league win since their away trip to Turin, while Genoa arrive in the capital buoyed by a recent victory over Fiorentina. The fixture carries particular significance with Daniele De Rossi returning to the Olimpico as opposing manager. De Rossi previously led Roma in 2009–11, 2019, and 2024–25. Genoa's XI features Bijlow in goal; Marcandalli, Østigård, Vasquez and Ellertsson in defence; Wiafe, Frendrup and Puczka in midfield; Messias in support; and El Shaarawy and Osmajic in attack, in a 4-3-1-1 formation. The match kicks off at 19:55, refereed by Abisso with Pairetto operating VAR.

Gian Piero Gasperini is preparing a partial rotation for Roma's Serie A match against Genoa at the Olimpico, managing the squad's energy following European commitments. The headline changes involve two defensive shifts: Leonardo Balerdi is set to start in place of Gianluca Mancini on the right side of the back line, while Rodrigo Mora is in line for his first competitive start, replacing Paulo Dybala in an attacking midfield role to bring quality and unpredictability to Roma's play. Gasperini's turnover strategy reflects the manager's effort to balance squad fitness after the midweek demands of European football. Both changes represent significant opportunities: Balerdi's promotion gives the Argentine defender a chance at the centre of Roma's defence, while Mora, the young Portuguese midfielder, will have the chance to demonstrate his capabilities at first-team level in place of the established Dybala.

Gian Piero Gasperini has been forced to promote four Primavera players to the first-team squad for the first time this season after injuries and suspensions ravaged Roma's midfield and attacking ranks. Bryan Cristante and Manu Koné are both sidelined through injury in midfield, while Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen are unavailable through injury and suspension. Mile Svilar's absence means Pierluigi Gollini continues in goal, having already appeared twice this season. The academy contingent drafted in comprises Antonio Arena, Lorenzo Paratici, Mandjou Camara, and Alessandro Di Nunzio. Arena, born 2009, made his competitive debut last season and scored in the Coppa Italia against Torino. This season he has made 6 appearances in the league and Youth League, contributing 1 goal and 3 assists. Paratici (born 2008), on loan from Sampdoria since summer, has featured 5 times and scored against Fenerbahce. Camara, a 2009-born Guinea international, joined Roma's academy as the final signing by Alberto De Rossi and has impressed the youth coaching staff under Mattia Scala, netting against Empoli after two earlier goals with the Under-18s. Gasperini gave him a run-out in a summer friendly against Trastevere. Di Nunzio, a midfielder born in 2007 who has been at Trigoria for 10 years, won the European Under-17 Championship in 2024 and recently signed a contract extension through 2027. He has scored twice for the Primavera and can operate either as a midfielder or regista.