Paulo Dybala will miss Roma’s upcoming Serie A match against Udinese as he continues to recover from an injury, manager Gian Piero Gasperini confirmed following his team’s 4-2 victory over Cagliari. The win, which extended Roma’s unbeaten league streak to 17 matches, was secured through a late-game resurgence led by the club’s younger squad members.

Dybala and Koné recovery timeline

The absence of Paulo Dybala remains a concern for the Roma coaching staff. Gasperini stated that while he was optimistic about the forward’s availability following Monday’s training session, the recovery process has proven slower than anticipated. “Paulo will not be there on Saturday in Udine,” Gasperini said, as reported by La Gazzetta dello Sport. The manager indicated that the club is now targeting a potential return for Dybala and teammate Koné against Sassuolo, though he maintained that the timeline remains uncertain.

Gasperini noted that Paulo Dybala requires more time than expected to recover from injuries. The manager emphasized that the priority is for the player to recover completely rather than rushing him back to the pitch.

Young players drive late-game victory

Roma’s win against Cagliari was defined by the impact of younger players, particularly in the closing minutes. With the scoreline threatening to end in a draw, tactical changes proved decisive. Gasperini highlighted the performance of players such as Ghilardi, Malen, and Rodrigo Mora. “I am absolutely satisfied with this aspect,” the manager remarked to La Gazzetta dello Sport. He specifically noted that Ghilardi has shown significant growth since last season and is expected to see increased playing time moving forward.

The contribution of the youth sector was further emphasized by the performance of the Lulli-Pisilli duo. Reflecting on their chemistry, Gasperini joked about comparisons to historical Roma figures like Francesco Totti and Daniele De Rossi. “They are extraordinary boys,” he said, per Corriere dello Sport. “In the youth sector, there are always guys very attached to this team, and that leads them to have the dream of wearing the jersey.”

Gollini’s form under scrutiny

Goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini received praise from his manager for his performance against Cagliari. Gasperini noted that he has a long-standing professional history with the goalkeeper, acknowledging that while Gollini was more “exuberant” in his youth, he has matured significantly. The manager added that the two have worked to address previous lapses, specifically noting that while Gollini has always been strong at close range, they have focused on improving his consistency against long-distance shots.

Tactical challenges and squad depth

Despite the win, Gasperini acknowledged that the team faced significant difficulties during the match, largely due to fatigue and the unavailability of key personnel. In addition to Dybala and Koné, the manager pointed to the absence of Balerdi and Hermoso, who were not in physical condition to participate. “Indubbiamente, we had some elements in difficulty today due to tiredness,” Gasperini told La Gazzetta dello Sport, noting that Cagliari’s fresh attacking options created persistent problems for his side. Corriere dello Sport reported that the manager’s frustration was visible early in the first half when he threw his vest to the ground, reflecting the high-stakes nature of the match for Roma’s standing in the league table.