Roma’s Serie A campaign is already fraught with uncertainty, and tonight’s clash with Sassuolo at the Stadio Olimpico will test the resilience of a squad battered by injuries. Gianluca Mancini, the club’s captain and a mainstay in the defence, is ruled out with a flexor strain in his right thigh, a setback that extends beyond the immediate fixture. Despite training regularly, Mancini’s fitness remains questionable, and Roma have opted to keep him out of the squad entirely—even excluding him from the Italian national team’s upcoming Nations League campaign. The decision, made in consultation with head coach Paulo Gasperini, underscores the club’s cautious approach to recovery, particularly as Mancini’s injury lingers despite initial optimism.
The goalkeeper situation adds another layer of complexity. Mile Svilar, who has been out since early October with a broken toe, is still far from fit, and his understudy Pierluigi Gollini—who deputised in Roma’s recent defeat to Manchester United—is also sidelined with a back injury. With neither available, Roma will turn to Devis Vasquez, who made his club debut in the United game, or Giorgio De Marzi, the USA Under-20 international. The absence of Svilar, a key figure in Roma’s defensive structure, leaves the Giallorossi vulnerable, especially after a string of defensive lapses that have seen them concede goals in recent weeks.
The injury list extends deeper still. Paulo Dybala, Lorenzo Pellegrini, and Devyne Rensch are all out of action, while Manu Koné’s return to the squad offers a rare glimmer of stability in midfield. Gasperini’s tactical flexibility will be put to the test, but the challenge is compounded by the fact that this fixture falls just before the international break—a period typically used for recovery and preparation. The absence of Mancini, a leader both on and off the pitch, could further destabilise a team already grappling with form and confidence issues.
Despite the setbacks, Roma’s focus remains on the immediate task: securing three points against Sassuolo in a match that could be pivotal in their Serie A campaign. The club’s recent struggles in defence—highlighted by the defeat to Manchester United—mean that even a draw would be a step in the right direction. With knockout football on the horizon, Roma cannot afford to be sidelined by injuries. The question now is whether the remaining players can compensate for the absences, or if this will be another chapter in a season already defined by inconsistency.
