Serie A Line-ups Roma vs Genoa: De Rossi’s Emotional Olimpico Return as Castro and Mora Fill In for Injured Dybala

FolioPitch.com – 17 October 2026 | All eyes will be on the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday evening as Daniele De Rossi makes an emotional return to the club where he became a legend, with the official Serie A line-ups Roma vs Genoa confirming a heavily reshuffled Giallorossi side and a Genoa team eager to build on their first win of the campaign.

Roma coach Claudio Ranieri has been forced into major changes after a bruising 4-3 Champions League defeat to Real Madrid on Wednesday, a match in which the capital club surrendered a 3-1 lead by conceding three almost identical late goals from corner kicks. The fallout has been severe: Paulo Dybala and Manu Koné both picked up muscular injuries in that game, while Mile Svilar and Bryan Cristante were already unavailable. Donyell Malen is suspended following his red card in the 0-0 draw with Como, leaving Santiago Castro to lead the line supported by Rodrigo Mora and Matías Soulé.

The Serie A line-ups Roma vs Genoa reveal further adjustments in defence, where Gianluca Mancini is not fully fit and Nahuel Molina is rested. Pierluigi Gollini starts in goal against his former club, protected by a back three of Leonardo Balerdi, Evan Ndicka and Konstantinos Koulierakis. Emanuele Lulli and Devyne Rensch operate as wing-backs, with Marten de Roon anchoring the midfield alongside Niccolò Pisilli. Mora, Soulé and Castro form the attacking trident.

For Genoa, this is a night charged with nostalgia. De Rossi, who spent the majority of his playing career in the Roma midfield, returns to the Olimpico in the opposition dugout, while Stephan El Shaarawy—another former Giallorossi favourite—leads the line alongside Junior Messias and Milutin Osmajic. The Grifone had been in crisis with just one point from their opening five rounds, but a crucial 2-1 victory over Fiorentina before the international break has lifted the mood considerably.

De Rossi’s team selection, as reflected in the confirmed Serie A line-ups Roma vs Genoa, shows faith in youth. Italy Under-19 international Samuel Wiafe is handed his first Serie A start in midfield, joining Morten Frendrup, Mikael Ellertsson and David Puczka. Justin Bijlow takes his place in goal behind a back three of Alessandro Marcandalli, Leo Östigard and Johan Vásquez. Tommaso Baldanzi, on loan from Roma, is available from the bench against his parent club, while Alex Amorim, Lorenzo Venturino, Djibril Sow, Franz-Ethan Meichtry and Lorenzo Colombo are all sidelined.

The match carries significant weight for both sides. Roma sit third in the early standings and will be desperate to respond to their European heartbreak, but the absences of Dybala, Koné, Malen and Cristante leave the squad stretched. Genoa, meanwhile, will view this as a free hit against a wounded opponent, with De Rossi and El Shaarawy both desperate to impress against the club that shaped their careers.

Below is a summary of the confirmed starting line-ups for the Serie A line-ups Roma vs Genoa fixture:

With kick-off scheduled for 19.45 UK time (20.45 CEST), the tactical battle between Ranieri’s patched-up Roma and De Rossi’s motivated Genoa promises to be one of the most intriguing subplots of Matchday 7. The Serie A line-ups Roma vs Genoa suggest a home side reliant on youthful energy and improvisation, against a visitor determined to prove that their Fiorentina win was no fluke.

In conclusion, the confirmed Serie A line-ups Roma vs Genoa set the stage for a compelling encounter at the Olimpico. Roma must cope without several key figures and will look to Castro, Mora and Soulé for inspiration, while Genoa’s returning heroes De Rossi and El Shaarawy will be desperate to spoil the party. With both teams eager to build momentum, the tactical and emotional narratives make this a fixture that no Serie A follower should miss.