Mile Svilar

Lorenzo Pellegrini faces at least two months on the sidelines after tests revealed a high-grade lesion at the distal musculotendinous junction of the semitendinosus in his right thigh, sustained against Slovan Bratislava. Recovery times will be assessed as the clinical picture evolves, but the midfielder could return in the first days of 2027. The setback adds to Roma's injury problems, following those of Svilar, Koné and Dybala. Roma continue preparations for their Serie A clash with Napoli on Saturday at 6pm at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. Training took place at Trigoria, and there is positive news from Bryan Cristante, who has returned to regular group work despite visible strapping around his knee. The captain will be available to Gasperini for the match against the Partenopei and could even start from the first minute. Fans of both Napoli and Roma will be able to watch Saturday's match, valid for the eighth round of Serie A, free of charge on DAZN, including non-subscribers. Under the TV rights tender, five matches this season are being broadcast in free mode, and the Maradona fixture is among them. Supporters of both clubs need only log in following the instructions provided by DAZN to access the live stream. With the winter transfer window approaching, Roma have already begun identifying possible reinforcements for Gasperini. According to the English outlet Sport Witness, on Tuesday evening, while Roma beat Slovan Bratislava 4-0 at the Olimpico, several Roma scouts were at the Porto against PSV match. The fixture, won 1-0 by the Dutch side, also drew the attention of several Premier League clubs. Under observation are left-winger Esmir Bajraktarević, born 2005, and midfielder Sven Mijnans, born 2000, who had already been followed in the summer. On Rome radio, the Roma-Napoli fixture has been widely discussed. Luigi Ferrajolo told Radio Radio: "The absences of Koné and Dybala are heavy: Koné is the engine of the midfield and Dybala the inspiration. If Cristante can play, he can push Pisilli a bit further forward. Or Mora plays, hoping he wakes up a bit and makes a greater contribution." Alessandro Vocalelli added: "Roma have already passed some tests: not every match can be an exam. It is a stage in a journey in which the team must perform well, because it can help distance a direct Champions League rival. Physically he seems to be better, but Napoli have resources that make the match anything but simple."

Roma's injury crisis deepened as Lorenzo Pellegrini was lost against Slovan Bratislava, adding to a growing list of absentees ahead of the trip to Napoli. Gasperini is working through his options for the Maradona fixture, with Malen and Soulé almost certain to start, but the final place in the attacking midfield remains open. The Pellegrini injury is already the seventh muscular injury of the season, on top of a bone-related problem suffered by Svilar. Dybala and Koné are also on the treatment list. Rodrigo Mora has not convinced, particularly in terms of attitude, in the recent games against Genoa and Slovan Bratislava, which has opened the door for Bryan Cristante, who has just returned from a knee problem. Cristante has not played since 19 September against Inter, just over a month ago, and his availability will be decisive. If he is not fit to start, Mora would almost certainly be given the nod from the first minute, as the pairing of Castro and Malen is not part of Gasperini's plans for a game of this importance. Gasperini has emergency alternatives. He could push Mancini or Hermoso into midfield, or use Wesley as an attacking winger, a solution already seen during a match last season, with Lulli and Molina then occupying the flanks. Napoli, who appear to have found a new balance in recent outings with De Bruyne dropping into the holding role, are just two days away from the clash at the Maradona, and Gasperini still has plenty of selection questions to resolve.

Bryan Cristante has returned to regular training with the group at Trigoria, boosting Roma's hopes ahead of their Serie A clash with Napoli on Saturday 24 October at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. The captain is training despite a visible bandage at the knee and is aiming to be available for coach Gian Piero Gasperini for the match. Roma continued their preparations at Trigoria as usual, with the squad working ahead of what is billed as a big league fixture. The news is a boost for Gasperini, who will be looking to strengthen his options for the trip to Naples. Cristante's return to the group comes at a time when the squad is missing several key players through injury. The injured players who remain unavailable are Paulo Dybala, Lorenzo Pellegrini, Manu Koné and Mile Svilar. Cristante, who has been working regularly with the group, is the main positive for Gasperini as the team prepares for the Napoli fixture.

Roma are flying high, but a growing injury crisis at Trigoria threatens to slow Gian Piero Gasperini's side, with muscle problems returning just two months into the season. According to Il Messaggero, Roma suffered 19 muscle injuries last season, while this campaign the count has already reached 7, including setbacks that forced several players to stop. The latest casualty is Lorenzo Pellegrini, who is reportedly facing around a month out. He joins Manu Koné, Paulo Dybala and Mile Svilar on the treatment table, at a time when the fixture list is becoming increasingly congested and Gasperini needs all his players. The comparison with last season is a worrying warning sign. It is not only the number of stops but the weight of the absences that concerns the club. Last season Koné, Pellegrini and Dybala were forced to miss 13, 15 and 19 matches respectively. Dybala is the case causing most concern: the injury to his biceps femoris is a problem already known to the club, the same one that forced him to stop twice during his last campaign. Gasperini will once again have to find solutions to the problem. The pattern of recurring injuries puts further pressure on a squad that has been asked to carry the team through a demanding run. With Pellegrini expected to be sidelined for roughly a month and Dybala's history of the same muscle problem in mind, Roma's medical staff and coach face a balancing act between managing fitness and maintaining momentum in the league.

Lorenzo Pellegrini has joined Roma's growing injury list, with a probable biceps femoris injury expected to keep the captain out for around a month, just as the club prepare for Saturday's big match against Napoli at the Maradona. The captain had to stop early in the second half, and first checks carried out yesterday offer little optimism. The official diagnosis will follow a magnetic resonance scan due today. The news comes after Roma emerged from their Champions League fixture with four goals scored, a result that has given the coaching staff plenty to build on. The squad is already severely depleted. Svilar, Koné and Dybala were already unavailable, and Cristante was ruled out before the Slovan Bratislava match. Cristante is now back, having trained with the group since yesterday, but he is not yet at full fitness. According to Il Tempo, Gian Piero Gasperini's biggest dilemma is in the attacking midfield. Dybala is still expected to start from the bench, having been dealing with a slight calf injury. He should be fully available next week against Udinese. Without Pellegrini, Rodrigo Mora's stock is rising sharply. The 2007-born Portuguese had a difficult spell after an excellent cameo against Real Madrid, struggling to make an impact in his two starts against Genoa and Slovan Bratislava. Even so, Roma badly need his talent and unpredictability, and Gasperini, a strong supporter of his arrival in the summer, could hand him a golden chance from the first minute on Saturday alongside Matías Soulé. The midfield set-up will also shape the team. Niccolò Pisilli looks almost certain to start, whichever system Gasperini chooses behind Donyell Malen. With Cristante available but not at his best, Gasperini is weighing up whether to pair the young Roman's exuberance alongside De Roon, or to push Cristante forward into the trequartista role to add density and physical presence against Napoli's midfield. Il Tempo describes a season in which Roma are picking up two injuries a week, and the club are in a state of crisis but refusing to stop. Roma will need another display of character at Napoli, from a squad that Gasperini is shaping in his own image.

Lorenzo Pellegrini has joined Roma's growing injury list after coming off against Slovan Bratislava. Initial checks suggest around a month on the sidelines, with an MRI scan due today to confirm the exact timescale. Pellegrini will not return until after the November international break. He follows Svilar, Koné and Dybala on the treatment table. Meanwhile, Malen continues his impressive form. He has 9 goals in 9 matches this season and 24 goals in 29 appearances since joining Roma. He scored again against Slovan Bratislava on Tuesday, confirming his status as Gasperini's main attacking reference. In Serie A, however, he has not scored since 14 September, a drought of 38 days. He will look to end it against Napoli. It has also been a good week for two graduates of the Roma academy. Emanuele Lulli scored his first Serie A goal on Saturday, while Niccolò Pisilli found the net on Tuesday in the Champions League while wearing the captain's armband. Both players are noted for their intensity. Lulli has impressed with his running and determination, while Pisilli continues to stand out for the distance he covers on the pitch.