Genoa Vs Roma reshapes lineups as Dybala sidelined, De Rossi seeks redemption

Home supporters can expect reshuffled attacks and a faster path for young players into the XI, with Paulo Dybala facing nearly two months out and Daniele De Rossi promising a response on home turf. As of Sunday at 9: 18 a. m. ET, genoa vs roma at Marassi is set up by absences, auditions, and a coach’s stated need for redemption.

Genoa Vs Roma: De Rossi targets response after December’s 3-1 defeat

For Genoa’s crowd at the Marassi, the most immediate change is intent: De Rossi framed the reverse fixture—a 3-1 defeat in December—as the lone performance he could not accept, putting supporters on notice that urgency, not caution, will define Sunday’s approach. That single game now serves as a measuring stick for progress.

De Rossi emphasized that Roma’s quality remains high even without Dybala, while stressing that a reaction has been his team’s hallmark in other tough games, turning one painful night into motivation. He also spoke of wanting to hug people he cares about on matchday, a reminder that this meeting carries personal stakes as well as competitive ones.

Roma’s Gasperini backs Venturino as Dybala’s stand-in, youth to feature

On the visitors’ side, Gian Piero Gasperini has elevated Venturino as a candidate to back up Dybala’s role in the attacking midfield, a single move that signals faith in youth and tactical flexibility. Alongside him, two more names—Ghilardi, recently signed from Verona, and Pisilli—are in line to play, giving Roma at least three emerging options.

Inside Roma’s camp, that trust has been reinforced with a promise to Pisilli that he could grow into a profile comparable to established midfield anchors, a one-to-one message meant to keep him from switching paths to Genoa. The approach mirrors earlier steps: Ziolkowski delivered a qualifying goal against Panathinaikos, and Arena was launched in the Coppa Italia, two concrete markers of a pathway being used in real matches.

Further up the pitch, Gasperini is also ready to introduce Vaz, a forward who arrived from Marseille for €25 million, adding one high-value signing to the mix at a time when finishing chances may swing a single-goal margin. The coach’s plan turns a setback—Dybala’s absence—into a platform for minutes that could accelerate development for more than one player.

Genoa injuries and Baldanzi absence set selection tests at Marassi

De Rossi’s pre-match update placed two players—Sebastian Otoa and Brooke Norton-Cuffy—in doubt, while flagging that both are doing much better, a dual boost that could widen late options by one or two slots. He confirmed that Baldanzi will not be available, a single absence he hopes will be short-lived.

Beyond the home bench, Dybala underwent arthroscopic surgery and is expected to remain out for nearly two months, a timeline that forces Roma to redistribute at least one creative role. De Rossi sent a public hug to the Argentine while repeating that Roma remain very strong, a two-part message that blends empathy with competitive realism ahead of kickoff.

The coach also pointed to the home crowd’s influence, saying the supporters “really push us, ” a one-line summary of why Genoa lean into energy at Marassi. He added that the team must be ready for anything on Sunday, a statement that underlines the narrow margins—often one moment or one duel—that decided the 3-1 reverse in December.

Final call-up decisions on Otoa and Norton-Cuffy are expected on Sunday; if late checks are positive, Genoa’s selection pool should expand by 1: 00 p. m. ET.