Roma will go into Roma vs Genoa with a significantly changed look, after Gian Piero Gasperini confirmed that Konè, Dybala, Malen and Cristante will all miss Saturday’s match. That leaves Roma short in midfield and attack, and it means the coach will have to lean on different options than he would ideally like.
The update is not a disaster in medical terms, but it is still a major selection problem. Konè’s MRI scan showed a first-degree injury, while Dybala is dealing with fatigue in his calf muscle. Malen is suspended, Cristante is unavailable, and Mile Svilar is also out, so the shape of Roma’s XI will have to change.
Gasperini: Roma have enough bodies, but not many alternatives
Gasperini was clear that the concern is not simply the names missing, but where the gaps are. Roma, he said, have enough players in defence and out wide, but are short in midfield and attack. That is why he suggested the club may need to turn to academy kids, even if some of the available players have already been through this level before.
“At the moment, unless we turn to some of the academy kids – which I will anyway – we have [Mile] Svilar out, and the outfield players missing are Malen, who’s suspended, Kone, Dybala and Cristante,” Gasperini said. “We have enough players in defence and out wide but we’re short in midfield and attack. We don’t have many alternatives but we have players who can play. All of the guys we’re talking about have played before.”
That is the key point for Roma. This is not simply about filling spaces on a teamsheet. It is about whether the side can maintain its rhythm when several of the most important options in the central areas are unavailable at once. In a match like this, the balance of the XI matters almost as much as the names in it.
Opportunity for the next wave
One of the immediate consequences of those absences is that Roma may have to give more responsibility to younger or less-established players. Gasperini specifically pointed to Matías Soulé and Rodrigo Mora, saying both are improving and that there is no problem with their progress.
He also mentioned Santiago Castro, describing him as a good player and saying Saturday will be a good opportunity for him after the way recent games have unfolded. In other words, Roma’s shortage may also become an opening for others to step into the picture.
“They’re both improving for sure,” Gasperini said of Mora and Soulé. “Mora is very young and he’s playing more and more. Soule is 23, so he’s not the finished article yet but he’s already got several seasons under his belt and he’s a valuable player. So there’s no problem at all with these lads.”
That kind of message matters. If Roma are to get through this run with results intact, they will need more than just the established names. They will need players who can absorb responsibility and keep the team moving, even when the first-choice structure is not available.
What comes next for Roma
There is still some hope that Cristante could be back for Napoli next weekend, and Gasperini did not rule that out. He said the club will not risk harming his recovery, but believes the midfielder is a warrior and is making progress. For now, though, Saturday is about survival and adaptation rather than ideal selection.
Gasperini also gave a positive update on Lorenzo Pellegrini, saying he is getting back to full fitness after surgery and needs minutes to rebuild strength. That leaves Roma with a very clear task against Genoa: manage the absences, adjust the XI, and find a way to compete without the players they would normally count on most.
