Roma are optimistic that Paulo Dybala has avoided a serious injury, but there is more concern over Manu Koné after both limped out of Wednesday’s 4-3 defeat to Real Madrid .

According to ANSA, via MilanNews , Dybala felt tightness in his right calf before being withdrawn at half-time. Gian Piero Gasperini put it down to fatigue after the game, and the forward’s entourage confirmed on Thursday morning that the problem should not be serious.

Roma may not even need to send him for further tests, although he remains a doubt for Saturday’s clash with Genoa.

ROME, ITALY – OCTOBER 14: Manu Kone of AS Roma receives medical attention after sustaining an injury during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD2 match between AS Roma and Real Madrid C.F. at Stadio Olimpico on October 14, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Tullio M. Puglia/Getty Images)

The bigger worry is Koné, who limped off with a problem in his right thigh after just 17 minutes , covering his face with his shirt as he left the pitch.

The France international is now awaiting tests, and his fitness record will add to Roma’s anxiety. He suffered a second-degree strain in his right thigh against Milan in January and a second-degree hamstring tear in the same leg against Bologna in March.

Gasperini is already without Mile Svilar and Bryan Cristante, and losing Koné for any length of time would be a major blow to his midfield.

From a tactical formation and squad depth perspective, "Roma optimistic over Dybala, but Koné a cause for concern" carries substantial tournament implications for international seeding and domestic campaign momentum. Coaching staffs are heavily weighing high-pressing efficiency (PPDA), defensive transition pace, and fixture fatigue management.

Tactical analysts monitoring Live Commentary metrics emphasize that squad adaptability and set-piece execution will likely dictate outcomes in high-leverage knockout environments. Real-time match telemetry and tracking data continue to inform managerial decision-making.

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