Roma were dealt a midfield blow ahead of tonight’s Europa League quarter-final first leg against Bologna, with Manu Koné ruled out of the squad entirely after failing to recover from a muscle strain.

The French midfielder will not even make the bench, instead watching from the stands as Gian Piero Gasperini’s side look to establish an advantage in what promises to be a fiercely contested all-Italian tie.

Bologna vs Roma – Kone misses out with muscle strain

He was initially named by UEFA as being on the bench but that quickly changed, and he will sit the match out completely.

Koné has been an important figure in Roma’s midfield this season, and his absence will require Gasperini to reshuffle his options in the centre of the park for a match that carries enormous weight in the Europa League.

You can follow all the action, as it happens, on our Live Blog.

The coach will be hoping the setback is minor enough to allow the midfielder to return swiftly, with the second leg to follow and a potentially lengthy European run still ahead.

Lazio have two training sessions remaining before Sunday’s clash with Milan, and Maurizio Sarri still has several fitness questions to resolve before finalising his squad.

The most significant concern is Alessio Romagnoli, who has been absent from training but is expected to undergo a fitness test on Friday afternoon, according to LaLazioSiamoNoi reports.

If he passes, he could return to the starting lineup for the weekend, but if he does not, Danish defender Provstgaard is already on standby to partner Gila at the heart of defence.

Toma Basic has made a small step forward, rejoining the group for the initial activation phase and the customary rondo exercise, though he sat out the final practice match. The next two sessions will be decisive in determining whether he is available. Should he not make it, Patric is expected to fill the regista role.

Lazio continue to struggle through injury woes

The Romagnoli and Basic situations are compounded by the confirmed absence of Danilo Cataldi, who has suffered a minor calf injury and is unlikely to return until after the international break.

Elsewhere, the picture is clearer. Nuno Tavares holds the advantage over Luca Pellegrini at left back, with Marusic certain to start on the right.

In goal, youngster Edoardo Motta will continue between the posts following Ivan Provedel’s shoulder surgery.

Dele-Bashiru is ahead of Belahyane for a spot alongside Taylor in midfield, who was also tried in a deeper role during Thursday’s session. Up front, Sarri is not expected to make any changes, with Isaksen, Maldini and Zaccagni set to continue as the attacking trio.

Roberto D’Aversa has described Friday’s home fixture against Parma as “a first match point to move closer to safety,” with the Torino head coach facing a wealth of selection decisions ahead of what he considers a pivotal Serie A clash.

The most eagerly awaited update concerned Che Adams, with D’Aversa confirming the Scottish forward is in contention to start despite not yet being able to last a full 90 minutes.

“By his characteristics he is very technical and could be vital in a game like tomorrow’s,” D’Aversa said, with quotes via TuttoMercatoWeb.

“He doesn’t have 90 minutes in his legs, but that doesn’t mean he won’t start, within a match there are multiple phases, and my choice doesn’t depend solely on his fitness levels.”

Torino coach D’Aversa provides Adams & Nkounkou updates

D’Aversa was equally upbeat about Nkounkou, who has trained normally despite a minor complaint, and offered an interesting tactical distinction between two of his wider options.

“Njie is an attacking wide player who works best on the opposite flank,” he noted, suggesting the two are not direct rivals for the same position.

Cesare Casadei was identified as a player with enormous potential who has yet to fully harness it on a consistent basis.

“When he realises the quality he has, he will need to find consistency in his weekly work,” D’Aversa said, acknowledging that the midfielder has also been hampered by physical problems.

One particularly touching moment came in the coach’s assessment of Faustino Anjorin, who lost his grandmother this week but chose to remain with the squad and train throughout.

“In the space of two weeks he has grown enormously, I am starting to see the Anjorin from last season at Empoli,” D’Aversa said warmly.

With only Aboukhlal ruled out through injury, Torino go into the match with a near-fully fit squad — and a coach who, for once, has too many options rather than too few.

Giampaolo Pazzini has hailed Massimiliano Allegri’s tactical preparation after Milan’s derby victory over Inter, while insisting the title race remains firmly in Inter’s hands despite the gap narrowing to seven points.

The former Milan striker, who spent three seasons at San Siro between 2012 and 2015, spoke to Aura Sport, via PianetaMilan, in the aftermath of a result that has breathed new life into a Serie A campaign that had appeared all but settled.

Allegri himself was characteristically measured in his post-match assessment, describing the win as simply “one fewer victory needed to secure Champions League qualification,” but supporters could be forgiven for dreaming of something greater.

Pazzini hails Allegri preparation in Milan derby victories

Pazzini was generous in his praise for both sides. On Inter’s defeat, he acknowledged that Cristian Chivu had struggled tactically, something the Inter coach himself admitted in his post-match press conference.

“Inter’s last defeat before this was also in the derby against Milan, after which they went on a run of 14 wins and one draw,” Pazzini noted. “There is no doubt Chivu got the game wrong.”

The sharper focus of his analysis, however, was reserved for Allegri.

“You have to give credit to Milan, Allegri prepares matches perfectly,” he said. “It is no surprise that he has won both derbies this season.”

On the title race, Pazzini was clear-eyed. With Inter no longer competing in the Champions League and therefore able to dedicate full focus to the league, clawing back a seven-point deficit over the final ten matches would require something truly unexpected.

“I think the Scudetto conversation is still closed,” he said plainly.

Alessandro Bastoni could leave Inter Milan this summer, with Barcelona making initial contact over a potential move for the Italy international, according to reports in Spain and Italy.

Sporting director Deco has already held preliminary discussions with Bastoni’s entourage to sound out the possibility of a deal, according to Sport, with La Gazzetta dello Sport reporting that Inter are prepared to listen to offers, albeit only at a price they deem appropriate.

The Nerazzurri have set a minimum valuation of €70 million for the 25-year-old, who is contracted at San Siro until June 2028.

Inter open to selling key players like Bastoni in the summer

The broader context is important.

Inter’s hierarchy are understood to believe that a cycle has run its course and that a significant squad overhaul is required this summer, and that mentality extends even to key figures previously considered untouchable.

Bastoni, one of the finest left-sided centre-backs in European football and a cornerstone of Inter’s strong teams in recent years, falls into that category.

Any Barcelona move is closely tied to next week’s presidential election at the Catalan club, with current president Joan Laporta standing for re-election. Deco is a Laporta loyalist, meaning the viability of this pursuit depends heavily on the election outcome.

Bastoni is said to have not been entirely cold to the initial approach, though he remains strongly attached to Inter and has not ruled out extending his stay. Should no offer arrive that truly tests Oaktree’s resolve, the club may instead look to open contract extension talks with one of their most important players.

Moise Kean’s future at Fiorentina looks increasingly uncertain, and Milan are firmly positioned to take advantage, with Rossoneri coach Massimiliano Allegri understood to be the driving force behind the club’s renewed interest in the Italian striker.

The Italian signed a new contract with Fiorentina last summer through to 2029, rejecting several approaches in a show of commitment to the Viola project.

Seven months on, that project has faltered considerably, and with a likely restructuring ahead at the club, the suitors who were rebuffed last summer are circling once more.

According to Fabrizio Romano and Matteo Moretto, via CalcioMercato, Milan have never truly moved on from their interest, with Allegri personally requesting in January that the club make a move, a request that was ultimately impossible to fulfil at the time given squad constraints and Fiorentina’s precarious league position.

Three factors that could lead to Milan move for Kean

Three specific factors could prove decisive in convincing Kean to make the move to San Siro.

The first is personal, his close friendship with Rafael Leao, with whom he shares a passion for rap music and has even collaborated on tracks.

The second is Allegri himself, who has consistently rated Kean highly even during the striker’s most difficult periods at Juventus, and whose presence could be a significant pull. The third, and perhaps most compelling, is Champions League football, something Fiorentina simply cannot offer, with their only route to Europe running through the Conference League.

The obstacle, as ever, is financial.

Fiorentina are using a €62 million release clause as their opening valuation, a figure Milan currently consider excessive and have no intention of meeting in full. Bridging that gap will be the central challenge of what promises to be a complicated but fascinating summer negotiation.

Juventus put in a competent second half performance to beat Pisa 4-0 this evening, with goals from Andrea Cambiaso, Khephren Thuram, Kenan Yildiz and Jeremie Boga sealing the win.

Football Italia’s Man of the Match was Yildiz, however, for his electric performance, assist for Cambiaso’s opener and scoring the Bianconeri’s third goal.

You can relive all the action, as it happened, on our Live Blog.

Juventus 4-0 Pisa – Player Ratings

Juventus: Perin 6.5; Kalulu 6.5, Bremer 6, Gatti 6 (Kelly 6), Cambiaso 7; Thuram 7 (Koopmeiners N/A), Locatelli 6.5, Conceicao 7 (Miretti N/A); McKennie 6, Yildiz 7.5 (Kostic N/A), David 5 (Boga 7)

Best Juventus player: Kenan Yildiz – Once again very good tonight and proving truly talismanic in Juventus’ attack. Led the charge more than once, picking up a goal and an assist on the way to victory.

Lowest Juventus rating: Jonathan David – Taken off at half-time after a poor half of football, the Canadian is still yet to hit his best levels at Juventus.

Coach: Luciano Spalletti 7.5 – On his birthday, the coach picks up a confident victory and will be happy with the way his team reacted to a difficult first half. Bringing on Boga for David helped significantly as the coach unwraps three points to celebrate.

Pisa: Nicolas 6; Calabresi 5.5 (Iling Junior N/A), Caracciolo 6, Coppola 5; Leris 6 (Cuadrado 6), Aebischer 5.5, Marin 6 (Loyola 5.5), Hojholt 6 (Piccinini 6), Angori 5.5; Moreo 6, Durosinmi 5.5 (Stojilkovic N/A)

Best Pisa player: Stefano Moreo – To give credit to the Pisa forward, he gave it his best shot. Fashioned a couple of good chances and could have scored on another day. Was strong in the air, putting some of his teammates to shame.

Lowest Pisa rating: Francesco Coppola – Was poor today, beaten far too often by Juventus’ front line and completely ineffective in the build-up.

Coach: Oscar Hiljemark 5.5 – Was a game of two halves for the coach who is still fairly new to the club. He will be proud of his team’s display in the first half but perhaps let down by the second.

Juventus midfielder Khephren Thuram scored the club’s second goal in their match against Pisa in Serie A this evening, as the Bianconeri look to stroll to a comfortable victory to keep their top four hopes very much alive.

The French midfielder scored Juventus’ second in the second half, not long after Andrea Cambiaso’s opener.

You can follow the rest of the match, or relive all the action as it happened, on our Live Blog.

Celebrating his goal, the Frenchman ran over to head coach Luciano Spalletti, who celebrates his 66th birthday today.

The rest of the team followed Thuram in involving the coach with the celebrations.

Video: Thuram celebrates Juventus goal with Spalletti

Thuram doubles the lead! #JuvePisa 2-0 pic.twitter.com/3TVFvD0ohp

— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) March 7, 2026