Roma Suffer Huge Injury Blow Ahead of Must-Win Verona Clash

Serie A strugglers Roma have reportedly suffered an injury setback in the build-up to Sunday’s must-win trip to Stadio Marc’Antonio Bentegodi. According to Corriere dello Sport, Mario Hermoso will miss the upcoming clash against Hellas Verona due to a muscle injury.

Hermoso slumped to a minor fitness issue during Friday’s training session and will have to skip the game against Verona. The 29-year-old wasn’t on the field on Thursday as Ivan Juric’s side squeaked past Torino 1-0 at the Stadio Olimpico to put a humiliating 5-1 defeat at Fiorentina behind them.

The former Atletico Madrid defender picked up a red card at Stadio Artemio Franchi, which ruled him out of contention for the first midweek round of the 2024/25 Serie A season. He was, nonetheless, primed to regain his place in the starting XI at the Bentegodi.

However, Roma will be without the Spaniard this weekend. Furthermore, Hermoso will skip the Europa League trip to Belgium next Thursday when Juric’s men take on Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, seeking redemption for a disheartening 1-0 defeat at Elfsborg last time out.

With Hermoso on the sidelines, another summer arrival could fill the gap. Roma signed Mats Hummels as a free agent in September. But the German veteran has barely featured for the Giallorossi this season, largely thanks to a lack of match fitness.

Now that Juric cannot count on Hermoso, it could be Hummels’ time to seize the moment. As for the Croatian manager, he can’t afford a slip-up against Verona. His future at Roma is already in doubt, with Claudio Ranieri emerging as a possible candidate to take his job.