Roma are heading towards a defensive emergency forward of their journey to Lecce after Gianluca Mancini and Mario Hermoso have been each booked , triggering automated suspensions.
The incident occurred throughout a tense closing part of the opening interval, already marked by controversy following Giorgio Scalvini’s opener and a disallowed Atalanta purpose.
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Referee Fabbri’s choices got here below scrutiny once more when Mancini was proven a yellow card for a late problem from behind, .
SASSUOLO, ITALY – OCTOBER 26: Gianluca Mancini of AS Roma celebrates victory after the Serie A match between US Sassuolo Calcio and AS Roma at Mapei Stadium Citta del Tricolore on October 26, 2025 in Sassuolo, Italy. (Picture by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Photographs)
That element proved decisive. Mancini was already on a reserving warning, that means the warning guidelines him out of the following Serie A fixture, alongside Hermoso, who was additionally booked and can serve a one-match ban. Cristante, who was additionally strolling a disciplinary tightrope, finally averted punishment.
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Roma coach Gasperini faces defensive disaster for journey to Lecce
The suspensions considerably complicate issues for Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini, who’s already with out Evan Ndicka as a consequence of his involvement on the Africa Cup of Nations with the Ivory Coast.
Because of this, Roma will likely be compelled to face Lecce with out their total first-choice again three.
That leaves Gasperini with restricted alternate options.
ROME, ITALY – NOVEMBER 27: Jan Ziolkowski and his mate Niccolo Pisilli of AS Roma in motion through the heat up earlier than the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Part MD5 match between AS Roma and FC Midtjylland at Stadio Olimpico on November 27, 2025 in Rome, Italy. (Picture by Paolo Bruno/Getty Photographs)
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Younger defender Jan Ziolkowski is on the market, as is former Verona centre-back Daniele Ghilardi, who has performed simply 23 league minutes thus far this season.
Different choices embrace adapting gamers similar to Zeki Çelik, Rick Karsdorp or Cristante himself into central roles, regardless of none being pure centre-backs.