AS Roma Turn To Duo As Dybala Faces Derby Absence

Roma are expected to hand attacking responsibility to Evan Ferguson and Matías Soulé with Paulo Dybala sidelined ahead of the Derby della Capitale.

Gian Piero Gasperini’s side are reshaping the forward line after the Argentine suffered a thigh problem during the defeat to Torino.

Gasperini’s Options For A Midday Derby

Dybala’s latest setback has pushed focus onto the younger duo. Ferguson, on loan from Brighton and looking to reboot his trajectory in Serie A, offers a classic No 9 presence with penalty-box instincts and aerial threat. Soulé, a left-footed creator who has settled quickly in Rome since arriving from Juventus, provides dribbling, set-piece quality and the capacity to drift into central spaces to link play.

Gasperini, appointed in the summer, has already toggled between striker-less and more orthodox shapes as he imprints his high-tempo style. Without Dybala as the primary conduit between midfield and attack, the coach could lean into a 3-5-2 or 3-4-2-1: Soulé as the roaming technician off the right half-space, Ferguson leading the line and pressing centre-backs from the front. The schedule adds a twist, with a 12:30 kick-off in warm conditions demanding intensity and smart rotation across the front line.

Ferguson’s adaptation has been a key subplot of Roma’s early season. The Irish forward arrives with a sizeable reputation and an option to buy in his loan agreement, and his mobility across the width of the box dovetails with Gasperini’s preference for forwards who run channels and attack the near post. Soulé’s confidence on the ball and willingness to carry through pressure complements that profile, giving Roma verticality as well as a creative outlet on transition.

The absence of Dybala inevitably removes Roma’s most seasoned difference-maker, but it also clarifies roles for those around him. Lorenzo Pellegrini’s distribution, Bryan Cristante’s balance at the base and overlaps from the wing-backs will be crucial to feeding the front two quickly. With Artem Dovbyk another centre-forward option, Gasperini retains the flexibility to switch to a more direct approach if required late on.

Across town, Lazio will anticipate Roma’s emphasis on early crosses and underlaps to find Ferguson, while doubling Soulé on first reception to blunt his one-v-one threat. That contest on the flanks, and Roma’s ability to win second balls around the D, is likely to frame the derby’s decisive moments.

Site Opinion

Injuries to stars can distort a game plan, but Gasperini’s blueprint has always been system-first. Ferguson brings the penalty-area presence Roma have lacked in phases, and Soulé’s form suggests he is ready for a marquee occasion. If the supply line holds and the press functions in the heat, the pair have the attributes to turn Dybala’s absence from a problem into an opportunity.

The onus is on Roma to convert promising territory into high-value chances, and on Ferguson especially to be ruthless when they arrive.