Roma found the European response they needed at the Olimpico, sweeping Slovan Bratislava aside 4-0 to claim their first Champions League league-phase win of the season. After the opening draw at Fenerbahce and the painful 4-3 home defeat to Real Madrid, Gian Piero Gasperini’s side approached this third match knowing that three points were essential, particularly against opponents who had already lost heavily to Paris Saint-Germain and Stuttgart.
The result reflected a night Roma controlled from the outset. More than 60,000 home supporters were inside the Olimpico, with around 2,000 travelling Slovak fans, while Francesco Totti offered encouragement in the tunnel before kick-off. Paulo Dybala, unavailable for selection, watched from the stands alongside the former Roma captain.
Gasperini selected Gollini behind Ghilardi, Balerdi and Mario Hermoso, with Nahuel Molina, Marten de Roon, Niccolò Pisilli and Wesley across midfield. Lorenzo Pellegrini and Rodrigo Mora supported Donyell Malen. Slovan, coached by Yaya Touré, arrived with Takac in goal and Marcelli leading their attack, but spent most of the evening resisting Roma pressure.
A necessary victory takes shape
Roma had possession early but initially struggled to find the decisive pass through a packed Slovan defence. Pellegrini sent one attempt over and Malen was unable to turn a promising delivery into a serious threat, before the hosts finally made their territorial advantage count in the 21st minute.
Pellegrini’s free-kick from deep was helped on by Ghilardi, allowing Hermoso to attack the ball and head beyond Takac. It was the start of a notable first half for Roma’s defenders: for the first time in their European Cup and Champions League history, two different defenders scored in the same match.
Molina added the second shortly before the interval. Malen’s effort from the left was not held by the Slovan goalkeeper, and the Argentine arrived from the opposite side to convert the loose ball. Roma went into the break 2-0 ahead, having kept Touré’s team at arm’s length throughout.
Pellegrini was forced to leave shortly after the restart after feeling unwell, with Matías Soulé coming on. The substitution brought a special responsibility for Pisilli, who inherited the captain’s armband for the first time. In the 52nd minute, he marked the occasion with a goal, arriving from Malen’s assist to make it 3-0 in front of the Curva Sud.
The fourth followed six minutes later. Wesley went past Sandro Cruz in the area and was pushed over, prompting referee Sandro Schärer to award a penalty. Malen drove the spot-kick low to Takac’s right for his contribution to a convincing scoreline.
Gasperini then managed his resources with Napoli ahead, replacing Malen with Castro in the 59th minute and bringing on Rensch for Wesley. Koulierakis and Mancini later entered for Hermoso and De Roon. Roma continued to create opportunities, with Balerdi testing Takac from a Pisilli cross and Molina sending a volley wide. Ghilardi also had a late effort ruled out because Castro was offside in the build-up.
Confidence restored before the next tests
For Roma, the clean sheet mattered as much as the four goals. Hermoso said the side had needed to win after the Madrid setback and stressed the importance of building a team capable of supplying its attacking players. He described Roma as a demanding side intent on playing at the intensity required by Gasperini, while praising the work being done by the coach and sporting director.
Pisilli called every minute wearing the armband “a huge honour”, acknowledging that several absent players might normally have been ahead of him in the captaincy order. The midfielder also underlined the progress made during Gasperini’s second season, saying the squad now understands the coach’s demands more fully and that he follows instructions both with and without the ball.
Gasperini welcomed the contribution from across his group but warned against satisfaction arriving too early. “The team is in a good place and has confidence, but it must not become too pleased with itself,” he said. “It has to continue doing the basic things well and play with the same calm shown tonight.” He added that the collective answer had strengthened confidence and widened the pool of players he can consider as starters.
The evening was not entirely without concern away from the pitch. Incidents occurred in the stands, where Slovan supporters reportedly sought confrontation, and one police officer was injured. On the field, however, Roma delivered the composed and emphatic performance that their Champions League campaign required: a first victory, a first clean sheet in the competition this season, and a timely lift before domestic commitments resume.
