Dybala hasn't scored in eight months

Paulo Dybala hasn’t scored a goal in eight months — that’s how long he’s been searching for the 200th goal of his career. The Argentine has recovered successfully from his latest injury, even faster and better than expected, and tonight he will once again start for the Giallorossi. Dybala is expected to help drastically improve Roma’s performance at the Stadio Olimpico. The Romans have already lost three home games in Serie A and the Europa League — each time by the same shoreline, 0–1. This is yet another sign that Gasperini’s team struggles to score and, therefore, to turn matches around. They’ve managed to do so only once — away against Fiorentina.

The defeat to Lille in the previous round — remembered for three missed penalties (two by Dovbyk and one by Sule) — has pushed Roma into a difficult position and made a victory against Viktoria a must. Beyond the three points, Gasperini’s top priority is to improve his team’s scoring efficiency. Since the experienced coach arrived at the Olimpico, his side has never had such a poor attacking record after the first nine matches of a season — just nine goals. Dybala’s return to the pitch should help wake up Dovbyk and Ferguson (who have combined for only one goal — Dovbyk’s strike against Verona). The experiment of using Dybala as a false nine failed both against Inter and Torino, so Gasperini will have to play with a true striker — though the choice is very limited: Dovbyk or Ferguson. The Irishman last scored for his club almost a year ago — on October 26, 2024. Since then, he’s only found the net for his national team. Unlike Ferguson, who doesn’t even get into scoring positions, Dovbyk wasted several big chances against Inter. At Trigoria, they justify the Ukrainian’s poor focus and sharpness with the emotional toll of the ongoing war in his homeland, now in its third and a half year under Russian invasion.

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In recent weeks, Gasperini has been working individually with Dovbyk to improve his performances. If there’s no progress by January, the Ukrainian will end up on the transfer list. Tonight against the Czechs, Roma will have a full squad available except for Angelino, while the visitors have traveled without five players — Doski is suspended, and Hejda, Vydra, Valenta, and Panos are injured.

UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 3

Thursday

19.45: (1.90) Braga (3.50) Crvena Zvezda (4.10)

19.45: (2.25) Brann (3.45) Rangers (3.15)

19.45: (5.50) FCSB (3.70) Bologna (1.67)

19.45: (2.30) Fenerbahce (3.50) Stuttgart (3.00)

19.45: (1.63) Feyenoord (4.10) Panathinaikos (5.25)

19.45: (3.10) Genk (3.40) Betis (2.30)

19.45: (6.50) Go Ahead (4.30) Aston Villa (1.50)

19.45: (1.63) Olympique Lyon (3.90) Basel (5.50)

19.45: (1.98) Salzburg (3.50) Ferencvaros (3.80)

22.00: (2.00) Celta (3.50) Nice (3.80)

22.00: (1.55) Celtic (4.10) Sturm (6.00)

22.00: (1.57) Freiburg (4.00) Utrecht (6.00)

22.00: (1.62) Lille (3.80) PAOK (5.80)

22.00: (3.20) Maccabi T.A. (3.40) Midtjylland (2.25)

22.00: (3.15) Malmo (3.35) Dinamo Zagreb (2.30)

22.00: (2.50) Nott.Forest (3.35) Porto (2.85)

22.00: (1.38) Roma (4.80) Plzen (8.50)

22.00: (1.80) Young Boys (3.60) Ludogorets (4.60)

***odds are subject to change***