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Roma Suffers Blow: Koné Injured, Pellegrini Steps Up

The French midfielder was forced to leave the pitch in the first half of the second leg of the Europa League round of 16

Roma Suffers Blow: Koné Injured, Pellegrini Steps Up

The French midfielder was forced to leave the pitch in the first half of the second leg of the Europa League round of 16Bad news for Roma: the Giallorossi are at risk of losing Manu Koné to injury once again. The French midfielder was forced off during the first half of the Europa League round of 16 second leg against Bologna. In the 18th minute, the former Borussia Mönchengladbach player injured his right adductor, likely a muscle problem that forced him off the pitch two minutes later: Gasperini brought on Lorenzo Pellegrini in his place, who had scored in the first leg to equalise Bernardeschi’s opener (the match ended 1-1).Even before the match, Koné wasn’t in the best of shape; the midfielder made a last-minute recovery and managed to start the game in midfield alongside Cristante – up until then, Pisilli had been playing in the attacking midfield role alongside El Shaarawy, now Pellegrini will likely take up that position and the 2004-born player will drop back a few metres – but after just a few minutes he was forced to leave the pitch. In the coming hours, the Frenchman will undergo thorough examinations to assess the extent of the injury and, above all, the recovery time.Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

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Roma's Misfortune: Koné's Injury and Pellegrini's Replacement

Bad news for Roma: the Giallorossi are at risk of losing Manu Koné to injury once again. The French midfielder was forced off during the first half of the Europa League round of 16 second leg against Bologna. In the 18th minute, the former Borussia Mönchengladbach player injured his right adductor, likely a muscle problem that forced him off the pitch two minutes later. Coach Gasperini made a quick substitution, bringing on Lorenzo Pellegrini in his place. Pellegrini, who had scored in the first leg to equalise Bernardeschi’s opener (as the match ended 1-1), now has the task of filling Koné's void.

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Initial Fitness Concerns for Koné

Even before the match, Koné wasn’t in top condition; the midfielder made a last-minute recovery and managed to start the game in midfield alongside Cristante. Previously, Pisilli had been playing in the attacking midfield role beside El Shaarawy. Following Koné's injury, Pellegrini will likely take up the attacking midfield position, which will see the 2004-born player drop back a few metres to reinforce the midfield. In the coming hours, thorough examinations await Koné to determine the extent of the injury and the expected recovery timeline.

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Looking Ahead for Roma

Roma faces a challenging period ahead as they await updates on Koné's injury. Pellegrini's role in midfield will be crucial, and the team will need to adapt swiftly to maintain their momentum in both domestic and European competitions. Fans are hopeful for a swift recovery for Koné and are counting on Pellegrini and the rest of the squad to step up in his absence.

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Published on Mar 19, 2026