Paulo Dybala is at a risk of missing the 2022 FIFA World Cup after injuring his left thigh when taking a penalty in Roma’s 2-1 victory over 10-man Lecce in Serie A on Sunday.
The Giallorossi needed a boost after a 2-1 home defeat to Real Betis in the Europa League, and the capital-based team entered Sunday’s game without injured Zeki Celik, with Andrea Belotti preferring over Tammy Abraham on the forward line.
Roma made a bright start just five minutes into the game when a floated cross found Chris Smalling who out-jumped his marker to head in.
Lecce’s situation went from bad to worse in the 22nd minute when Morten Hjulmand saw red after a mistimed tackle on Belotti.
But the away side got back on level terms in the 38th minute when Gabriel Strefezza swept in from close range.
Roma restored the lead straight after the break as Abraham went down in the box and Dybala stepped up to convert the penalty, but was subbed off immediately as he started hobbling after the spot-kick.
Roma coach Jose Mourinho noted it was likely that Dybala would sit out the remainder of 2022, meaning that the hitman could miss out on the World Cup in Qatar which begins in November.
Abraham thought he had got a third in the dying minutes, but it was chalked off for offside.
Elsewhere, Atalanta fumbled a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 with Udinese. Atalanta’s frustrated draw, coupled with Napoli’s 4-1 drubbing of Cremonese, sent the Partenopei two points clear at the top of the table.
Also on Sunday, Monza registered their third consecutive win after beating Spezia 2-0, Salernitana edged Hellas Verona 2-1, and Torino shared the spoils with Empoli in a 1-1 draw.