Dybala Forced Off at Half-Time as Roma Suffer Second Injury Blow

Roma’s 1-1 Champions League draw with Real Madrid at half-time came with a second injury concern: Paulo Dybala was replaced during the interval after feeling a muscle problem in the first half. Manu Koné had already gone off injured, leaving Gian Piero Gasperini with two players to assess from the match.

Calciomercato, citing Amazon Prime, reported that Dybala felt the issue during the opening half. He had played well before Gasperini took him off and sent on Rodrigo Mora. The reports describe a muscle problem, but do not establish how serious it is.

Mora’s appearance was his first in a month. His previous outing was against Torino on September 14, according to ForzaRoma. His return gave Gasperini an option from the bench, but Dybala’s condition is the more pressing concern: Roma must assess him before their next Serie A fixture.

Roma sit third in the league with 14 points from six matches and are due to host Genoa on Saturday, October 17. The timing makes the assessment important, though there is not yet a confirmed update on whether Dybala will be available. Koné’s earlier exit adds to the uncertainty around Roma’s squad after a match in which the score was still level at the break.

For now, the clear change is that Roma lost Dybala before the second half against Real Madrid, with Koné also forced off. The club’s next assessment of both players will shape Gasperini’s options for Genoa.