Roma received some painful news on Thursday when it was revealed that the thigh injury that forced Lorenzo Pellegrini to exit Tuesday’s Champions League match will require at least two months on the sidelines. Pellegrini joins Paulo Dybala, Manu Koné and Mile Svilar on the sidelines for Saturday’s trip to Naples.
Conversely, in a bit of good news, Bryan Cristante was called up for the match after a fairly lengthy absence of his own, and Dybala is expected to be back for Tuesday’s match with Cagliari.
The Italian is expected to slot right back into Roma’s midfield alongside Martin de Roon, given the shortage of bodies.
Cristante’s return to the starting XI will give Gasperini the option to move Niccoló Pisilli into attacking midfield to cover for the absences of Dybala and Pellegrini. Pisilli is favored to start ahead of Rodrigo Mora. That means the Italian would be deployed alongside Matías Soulé and tasked with helping Donyell Malen in Roma’s assault on Napoli’s goal.
Another area of uncertainty heading into Saturday’s match is who lines up at right wing back. Currently, publications on the peninsula favor the newly extended Emanuele Lulli over Nahuel Molina. Other than that, there doesn’t seem to be much uncertainty in defense, with the usual back three of Mancini, Ndicka, and Hermoso expected to start in front of Gollini.
ROMA (3-4-2-1): Gollini; Hermsono, Ndicka, Mancini; Wesley, De Roon, Cristante, Lulli; Pisilli, Soulé; Malen.
