Roma lose Mile Svilar ahead of Real Madrid visit

Roma have suffered a major setback before hosting Real Madrid in the Champions League: Gian Piero Gasperini announced that first-choice goalkeeper Mile Svilar would be unavailable for at least a month. The meeting with Real Madrid is scheduled for Wednesday, in the second round of the league phase.

If the month-long absence is confirmed, the Serbian goalkeeper would miss six Serie A matches and three Champions League fixtures, including the game against Real Madrid and the trip to Manchester United on November 3.

“He suffered a stress fracture in training, affecting the lower part of the fifth toe on his right foot,” Gasperini said. The fracture is not displaced, but recovery will take at least a month. The doctors will decide whether a support, such as a screw, is needed; that would extend the recovery beyond the next international break. “It is a blow, but unexpected problems like this can arise in such long seasons,” the coach added.

Svilar has played for Roma since 2022 and became the undisputed first choice at the start of the 2024-25 season. Pierluigi Gollini, 31, is expected to replace him. Since joining in January 2025, Gollini has guarded Roma’s goal only once, against Panathinaikos in the Europa League last January.

Before the start of Serie A’s sixth round, Roma shared top spot with Inter and Lazio, with all three teams on 13 points.