RomaSummary
Generated byRoma's Champions League night against Real Madrid summed up everything frustrating about this team right now. Leading 3-1 with seven minutes left at a packed Olimpico, they conceded three goals from set pieces to lose 3-4, a collapse that mirrors their earlier 2-2 draw with Inter in Serie A. The result left Gian Piero Gasperini's side with one point from two Champions League games, sitting 17th in the competition table, and contributed to a historic low for Italian clubs: all four Serie A sides lost in the same European round for the first time.
The scoreline alone does not capture the full damage. Manu Koné left the pitch in tears inside the first 20 minutes, and Paulo Dybala followed at half-time. Both picked up muscular injuries. Koné's scans, completed on Friday, confirmed the problem is serious but less severe than initially feared, with a potential return before the November international break. Dybala's timeline is also being assessed, though Gasperini has indicated his return is not far off.
With Malen also suspended, Roma head into Saturday's Serie A home game against Genoa significantly short in attack and midfield. The club sits third in Serie A with 14 points from six games, two behind Lazio, so domestic form remains a priority. Gasperini will need his squad depth to hold until his key players return.
Roma Overview
