AS Roma v Genoa: Malen suspended as Dybala and Koné remain doubtful
AS Roma must replace suspended Donyell Malen against Genoa, with Paulo Dybala, Manu Koné and Bryan Cristante also doubtful. Saturday’s Serie A fixture tests…
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Donyell Malen has started each of Roma’s last five matches, but suspension rules him out against Genoa just as Paulo Dybala and Manu Koné face fitness doubts. For Gian Piero Gasperini, Saturday’s task is to reshape his side while demanding a response to the late collapse against Real Madrid.
Malen’s red-card ban removes one regular starter; Dybala’s calf fatigue threatens to remove another. Dybala has also started five of the last five matches, while Koné, who has a muscle injury, has started four.
La Gazzetta dello Sport reported that an MRI showed a first-degree muscle lesion for Koné. Gasperini hopes both he and Dybala return soon, but neither is certain to face Genoa. Their availability leaves decisions unresolved in both midfield and attack.
Bryan Cristante is questionable with a knee injury, adding to the midfield concerns. M. Bah is out with a knee injury, while M. Svilar is unavailable because of a toe injury. Alongside Malen’s suspension, those absences put a premium on the players Gasperini can call upon.
The shortage of senior options may bring opportunities for younger players. La Gazzetta dello Sport identifies Niccolò Pisilli, Mora and Castro among the alternatives, with Castro having played 105 minutes across four of Roma’s eight matches so far. That is a limited workload before a fixture in which Roma may need more from their squad.
Genoa have a substantial injury list of their own. D. Sow, E. Havel, F. Meichtry, L. Colombo and L. Venturino are all out. Havel and Colombo have ankle injuries, Meichtry has a muscle injury and Venturino has a knee injury. Amorim is questionable with an ankle problem, as is S. Otoa with a thigh injury.
The visitors arrive with contrasting scoring and away records. Genoa have scored in each of their last five matches, but have gone five away games without a win and lost their last three on the road. Their listed league result was a 2-1 home victory over Fiorentina; Roma’s was a goalless draw away to Como.
Roma’s more immediate concern is how they recover from the 4-3 home defeat by Real Madrid. Gasperini’s assessment centred on the closing stages rather than a lack of energy, making concentration and organisation part of the challenge alongside the selection problems.
“We got stuck and stumbled at the finish line, in the most unexpected of ways, on corner kicks,” Gasperini told Prime after the Champions League match. He described his players as passive and said they seemed “paralysed” during the final ten minutes.
The coach’s message was that Roma must see games through even when they have played well for most of them. Against a Genoa side on a five-match scoring run, that demand gives the fixture a focus beyond simply replacing the missing starters.
Roma welcome Genoa on Saturday 17 October, with kickoff at 20:45 CEST in Week 7 of the 2026/27 Serie A season. Gasperini’s next selection must account for Malen’s confirmed absence and the fitness decisions surrounding three more regular starters.
Questions
Why is Donyell Malen unavailable against Genoa?
Malen is suspended for Roma’s next league match following a red card. He has started each of their last five matches.
Are Paulo Dybala and Manu Koné ruled out?
Both are doubtful rather than confirmed absentees. Dybala has calf fatigue, while Koné has a muscle injury. Bryan Cristante is also questionable with a knee injury.
How have Genoa performed away from home?
Genoa have not won in five away matches and have lost their last three on the road. They have nevertheless scored in each of their last five matches overall.
