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Injuries & Fitness AS Roma · Tuesday, 13 October 2026 at 09:03 CEST

AS Roma Grapples with Injuries and Suspensions Ahead of Champions League Clash

AS Roma faces significant squad challenges, including key injuries and a suspension, as they prepare for upcoming fixtures.

predict.game Sources: 8 ↓

In short

  • AS Roma secured a 0-0 draw against Como despite playing with 10 men for over 30 minutes after Donyell Malen's red card.
  • Key players Mile Svilar and Bryan Cristante are sidelined with injuries, with Svilar out for at least a month and Cristante a major doubt for the Champions League.
  • Donyell Malen will be suspended for AS Roma's next match following a straight red card for dangerous play.

Squad Challenges Mount for Roma

AS Roma is currently facing a significant test of its squad depth, with key players sidelined due to injury and suspension. The most recent Serie A fixture against Como saw the team play out the league’s first goalless draw of the season, a match heavily influenced by the early dismissal of Donyell Malen. Malen received a straight red card in the second half for dangerous play, a decision that frustrated Roma’s head coach Gian Piero Gasperini and will see the forward suspended for upcoming matches [1]. This incident forced Paulo Dybala to operate as a sole striker for much of the game [2]. The team was forced to defend with 10 men for approximately two-thirds of the match, highlighting the immediate impact of Malen’s absence [3].

Adding to the challenge, Roma is grappling with an injury crisis. Goalkeeper Mile Svilar has been ruled out for at least a month with a fractured toe, necessitating Pierluigi Gollini’s first Serie A appearance in two years [2]. Midfielder Bryan Cristante is also out with a knee injury that forced him to withdraw from international duty and remains a major doubt for the upcoming Champions League fixture against Real Madrid [4]. Lorenzo Pellegrini, however, made a return to the starting XI for the first time in six months, and Marten de Roon made his first start for Roma after transferring from Atalanta [5]. These personnel changes underscore the adaptability required from the squad as they navigate a demanding schedule.

Champions League Preparations Underway

Despite the recent setbacks, AS Roma is preparing for a challenging run of fixtures, including their return to the Champions League for the first time since the 2018-19 season [6]. Paulo Dybala emphasized the team’s commitment, stating that Roma had to give everything to qualify for the prestigious competition [6]. The upcoming Champions League schedule includes tough away tests against Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain, with their immediate focus on Real Madrid [6]. Real Madrid themselves are dealing with injuries, as Éder Militão and Ferland Mendy are training but not expected to travel for the match against Roma [7]. Roma’s coach Gian Piero Gasperini noted that the current Real Madrid side is significantly different from the Mourinho era, suggesting a different tactical approach will be required [2]. The team’s strong start to the campaign, characterized by an attack-minded approach, will be tested in these high-stakes European encounters [4].

What it means

AS Roma currently sits in 3rd place in Serie A with 14 points from 6 matches, boasting a record of 4 wins, 2 draws, and 0 losses, with 14 goals scored and 3 conceded. Their recent form shows a mixed bag of results, with two draws in their last two league games (0-0 away against Como and 2-2 at home against Inter), following a 2-0 away win against Torino. In the Champions League, they drew 1-1 away against Fenerbahçe. This consistent points accumulation has kept them near the top of the league, with Inter currently level at the top of the Serie A table [8]. The upcoming fixture against Real Madrid in the Champions League presents a significant challenge. The team’s ability to perform without key players like Malen, Svilar, and Cristante will be crucial in maintaining their strong start to the season and navigating the demands of European competition. The forecast for the Real Madrid match will be locked 24 hours before kick-off, indicating the anticipation surrounding this critical encounter.

Sources

  1. Football Italia: Roma annoyed by Malen red after seeing El Azzouzi cautioned for a similar challenge football-italia.net ↩
  2. Football Italia: Gasperini defends Malen, hits out at freeze-frames, says Roma ‘very different’ from Mourinho era football-italia.net ↩
  3. The Guardian: European football: Lazio join Inter at top of Serie A as Roma held at Como theguardian.com ↩
  4. Football Italia: D’Amico: ‘Como-Roma an advert for Italian football, faith in all players’ football-italia.net ↩
  5. Football Italia: Serie A official line-ups: Como vs. Roma football-italia.net ↩
  6. Football Italia: Dybala: ‘I hope my career has an Italian ending, Roma give even more at home’ football-italia.net ↩
  7. Marca: Militao y Mendy, un paso más marca.com ↩
  8. Football Italia: 54 matches for the first 0-0 draw of the Serie A season, first time in 77 years football-italia.net ↩

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