Mon Dec 29 18:50:00 UTC 2025: ## Roma Faces Injury Crisis Ahead of Genoa Clash, Gasperini Forced to Improvise

Rome, Italy – AS Roma manager Gian Piero Gasperini is grappling with a significant injury crisis and international absences as his team prepares to face Genoa. Several key players will be unavailable for the match, forcing Gasperini to field a makeshift lineup.

Forward Artem Dovbyk remains sidelined with a foot injury and is not expected to return for at least another week. “Dovbyk is not ready yet, so he won’t be called up; hopefully he will be back the following week. He’s training, he’s getting ready, but he can’t kick the ball yet,” Gasperini confirmed.

Adding to the woes, defender Mario Hermoso is doubtful with a groin injury, leaving Gasperini with a difficult decision regarding his availability. Midfielder Lorenzo Pellegrini is also out injured, while Evan Ndicka and Neil El Aynaoui are on international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Gasperini acknowledged the challenges posed by the numerous absences. “Certainly not having Pellegrini is a problem for us. He’s been a player we’ve relied on a lot,” he stated. He also highlighted the congested fixture schedule ahead, with nine games in a month.

With Hermoso likely unavailable, Roma is expected to field a backline consisting of Gianluca Mancini, Jan Ziolkowski, and Devyne Rensch. Bryan Cristante and Manu Koné will likely form the central midfield partnership.

Up front, Paulo Dybala is expected to start, with Gasperini choosing between Stephan El Shaarawy and Tommaso Baldanzi to fill the attacking midfield role usually occupied by Pellegrini. Despite concerns about his physical condition, Gasperini expressed his belief in Dybala’s quality. “Dybala is a top-level player if in the right physical condition…My goal is for him to reach optimal physical condition because it’s hard to have another player with his quality,” he explained.

The projected lineup for Roma is: Svilar; Mancini, Ziolkowski, Rensch; Çelik, Cristante, Koné, Wesley; Soulé, El Shaarawy; Dybala.

Roma will need to overcome these challenges and find a way to secure a positive result against Genoa despite the depleted squad.

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