As Roma prepare to face Genoa in a crucial Serie A fixture, manager Claudio Ranieri finds himself in an enviable position with an almost fully fit squad at his disposal. The only notable absentee for Friday’s encounter is Bryan Cristante, who is in the final stages of recovery from an ankle injury.
The good news for Roma fans is that Cristante is expected to rejoin the squad next week, further strengthening Ranieri’s options. Given the team’s recent performances, the veteran coach is likely to maintain consistency in his selection, sticking with the lineup that featured in the matches against Bologna and Lazio.
Up front, the dynamic duo of Artem Dovbyk and Paulo Dybala is set to lead the attack. For Dybala, this game marks a significant milestone as he prepares to make his 100th appearance for Roma. The Argentine forward has hit a rich vein of form recently, contributing to four goals in his last four league outings.
In contrast, Genoa’s manager Patrick Vieira faces a more challenging situation with several key players unavailable. Captain Milan Badelj is the latest addition to a lengthy injury list, having suffered a hamstring issue during last week’s victory over Parma. Vieira will also be without Vitinha, Brooke Norton-Cuffy, Caleb Ekuban, Ruslan Malinovskyi, and Honest Ahanor.
However, there’s a glimmer of hope for Genoa as Junior Messias could make his long-awaited return to action. The Grifone’s offensive efforts will once again be led by their top scorer, Andrea Pinamonti, while the enigmatic Mario Balotelli is expected to start on the bench.
Roma (3-5-2): Svilar; Mancini, Hummels, Ndicka; Saelemaekers, Kone, Paredes, Pellegrini, Angelino; Dybala, Dovbyk
Genoa (3-5-2): Leali; De Winter, Bani, Vasquez, Martin; Kasa, Zanoli, Frendrup, Thorsby, Miretti; Pinamonti
