Dybala out for two more weeks with muscle strain

Roma faces a demanding stretch of fixtures without their main attacking reference. Paulo Dybala is set to spend around two more weeks on the sidelines with a muscle strain, an injury he picked up in the Champions League match against Real Madrid. He is expected to miss the games against Slovan Bratislava, Napoli, Cagliari and Udinese.

• Dybala is set to be out for around two more weeks with a muscle strain.
• He came off at half-time in Roma's Champions League clash with Real Madrid.
• He will miss the matches against Slovan Bratislava, Napoli, Cagliari and Udinese.
• His return is targeted for the trip to Manchester United on November 3.
• The absence comes at a key moment, with Roma third in Serie A and fighting in Europe.

The muscle injury stopping La Joya

The Argentine international already missed the last league fixture, a 2-0 win over Genoa, because of calf discomfort. That same issue forced him off before the start of the second half against Real Madrid, a game that ended in a dramatic comeback: from 3-1 to 3-4 with three goals in the final seven minutes.

The club expected a slightly faster recovery, but the tests changed the picture. The latest MRI showed a small additional injury, although minor, which will extend the process. The coaching staff prefers not to take risks with the most decisive player in the squad.

Which Roma matches Dybala will miss

The Argentine's absence hits hard during a congested run of matches. If the estimated timeline holds, the forward will be unavailable for the European meeting with Slovan Bratislava at the Olimpico and three Serie A games: Napoli, Cagliari and Udinese.

The return window points to the Champions League match against Manchester United in England on November 3. Even so, the club will reassess the player's progress week by week before confirming his comeback.

Dybala's importance in Gasperini's Roma

The absence comes at a delicate time because Dybala is the undisputed leader of the Roman side. In the first seven league rounds he provided four assists and kept the team competitive, currently third with 17 points.

Roma sit just two points behind the joint leaders, Lazio and Inter, and now face a rapid succession of European and domestic matches. Losing their main creative force forces Gasperini to adjust the attack in the middle of the battle for the top positions.

Target: being ready for Old Trafford

The clash with Manchester United is circled in red on Roma's calendar. The coaching staff's intention is for Dybala to be available for that European tie, without rushing deadlines that could lead to a setback.

In the meantime, the team will have to share attacking responsibilities to keep pace in the league and avoid dropping points in the Champions League group stage. Dybala's absence demands a step forward from the rest of Roma's forwards.