Serie A returns after two weekends set aside for international duty, and Roma’s visit to Como offers Sunday’s lunchtime fixture a meeting between two sides who have brought energy to the opening weeks of the campaign. For Gian Piero Gasperini, however, the trip to Cesc Fabregas’ Como also arrives at the beginning of a demanding stretch, with a Champions League meeting against José Mourinho’s Real Madrid following three days later.
The immediate concern for Roma is in goal. Mile Svilar will be unavailable for at least a month after suffering a stress fracture to the lower part of his fifth toe during training. Gasperini explained that the injury followed a push which was not especially forceful, but still caused a non-displaced fracture.
“Unfortunately, we have lost him for several weeks,” Gasperini said. “It is a stress fracture after a push in training. It was not even a particularly heavy one, but he has a problem with the fifth toe, underneath. The fracture has not moved, but it will need at least a month to heal.”
Roma’s medical staff are considering whether Svilar should wear a protective boot, a decision which could move his likely return beyond the next international break. Gasperini described the setback as a significant blow, but sees an opportunity for Pierluigi Gollini to re-establish himself.
“We will prepare Gollini,” the Roma coach said. “He has the chance to become an important goalkeeper again, as he was for a period.”
Roma regain the group, but Como comes too soon for Koulierakis
There was better news elsewhere in the squad as the players returned from their national-team commitments. Gasperini said the full group trained together on the eve of the Como match, while those who remained in Rome had worked well during the break.
Not every absence has been resolved. Bryan Cristante’s situation was already known, while Konstantinos Koulierakis will not be ready for Sunday. The defender took a heavy knock while representing Greece against Germany and cannot be recovered in time for the league restart.
Roma therefore head to Como with a reshaped goalkeeping department and a reduced defensive pool, facing a side that has made its own early-season mark. The lunch match is the sixth round’s first test of whether Gasperini’s team can carry its momentum into a schedule that quickly turns from league business to Europe.
