Roma will go into Saturday's match against Genoa without five players, and Gian Piero Gasperini said the absences will force changes across the side. Konè, Dybala, Malen, Cristante and Mile Svilar are all out, leaving Roma short in midfield and attack and likely needing adjustments in more than one area.
That is the reason Roma Vs Genoa has turned into a lineup watch. Gasperini said the squad still has enough depth in defence and out wide, but the gaps are central, where the team has fewer answers than he would like for a match that arrives now, not later.
Konè's case is the least alarming on paper and still unavailable in practice. Gasperini said an MRI showed a first-degree injury and described it as not particularly significant, but the player will still need time to recover. Dybala is also expected to sit out after calf muscle fatigue, which means Roma lose two of their most natural attacking outlets before the game has even begun.
Gasperini's comments point to a side that may need to lean on players who have already been used in tougher moments. He said academy kids could be brought in if needed, while Santiago Castro will start from the opening whistle because Malen and Dybala are absent. Matías Soulé and Rodrigo Mora are expected to support him, giving Roma a makeshift look in attack rather than a settled one.
There is also a wider fitness picture behind the selection problem. Cristante is out of the squad, though Gasperini said he hopes the midfielder can be available for Napoli next weekend. He was more direct about Lorenzo Pellegrini, saying he is getting back to full fitness after surgery and has been out for months, which leaves Roma trying to piece together a midfield while one senior option recovers and another is still weeks away from full rhythm.
The consequence is simple: Roma are not just missing names, they are missing structure. Gasperini said there are enough options in defence and on the flanks, but the shortage in the middle and in attack leaves the starting shape for Genoa unresolved. That is the gap that now matters most, because the next answer may not be a lineup card but whether Roma can get through Saturday without the absences swallowing the match before it starts.
