Roma is gearing up for their fourth match in just eleven days, a challenging schedule for any team. Reports from Il Tempo indicate that coach Gian Piero Gasperini is contemplating resting one of his two key defenders, Gianluca Mancini or Ibrahima Konaté. Mancini has played every minute of the season thus far, while Konaté was substituted only due to cramps late in the previous match against Verona.
The defensive lineup will be rounded out by Zeki Celik and Mario Hermoso. In the middle of the park, young talent El Aynaoui is expected to make his second start in the Europa League, following his debut against Nice. Bryan Cristante is competing with Lassine Koné for a starting position alongside him.
On the wings, Kostas Tsimikas is set to reclaim his role on the left side, while the right flank will see a competition between Remko Rensch and Wesley for the starting berth. Leading the attack, Samuele Soulé is poised to play alongside Stephan El Shaarawy, who appears to have the edge over Lorenzo Pellegrini for this match.
Striker Artem Dovbyk, boosted by his recent goal against Verona, hopes to make a significant impact against Lille in this upcoming fixture. In positive news for Roma, star player Paulo Dybala underwent an MRI check-up yesterday and could return to group training as early as tomorrow, providing a potential boost to the squad as they navigate this busy period. The team’s resilience will be tested, but there is optimism that they will rise to the occasion.