Di Canio hails Santiago Castro's goal against Genoa as a sign of a superior player

Roma's Primavera side, coached by Scala, face Slovan Bratislava in a Youth League match at the Tre Fontane ahead of the first-team fixture against the same opponent tonight. The youth side are looking for their second win in three matchdays, having beaten Fenerbahçe and lost narrowly to Real Madrid. Club CEO John Galantic and sporting director Tony D'Amico are in the stands to watch the game. They are joined by Margiotta, the head of the youth sector, and Frara, the club's Loan Manager. The presence of the club's senior management underlines the importance the club places on its youth development programme in the Champions League-level competition. The Youth League match traditionally precedes the senior fixture as part of the usual matchday arrangement, with the two Roma sides playing at the same venue on the same night against Slovan Bratislava.

AS Roma host Slovan Bratislava at the Stadio Olimpico tonight, Tuesday 20 October, with kickoff at 21:00 in the third matchday of the Champions League league phase. Gian Piero Gasperini's side face the Slovak club after the spectacular match against Real Madrid, and more than 60,000 Roma supporters are expected to fill the stadium and push the team through an important stage of their European campaign. As communicated by AS Roma, the Olimpico gates open at 18:30, two and a half hours before kickoff. The club advises fans to arrive at least 90 minutes before the match to speed up entry and avoid queues at the turnstiles. Some hospitality tickets are still available through Roma's official channels. For any needs, the box 4 on Via Nigra will be operational until kickoff. Fans can also contact the club's assistance service on 06.89386000 or at [email protected]. Entry to the Olimpico requires digital tickets and season tickets only. Season tickets are available through the "Il Mio Posto" app. Supporters who have not yet activated their European competition season ticket must complete the procedure by entering their PNR and date of birth in the app. Tickets can be viewed in the same app or added to the smartphone Wallet, and tickets stored in the Wallet can also be used with NFC technology by bringing the device close to the turnstile reader. The club reminds fans that screenshots of tickets and season tickets will not be accepted for entry. Roma also reiterates its ban on resale through unofficial platforms and provides a form for reporting abuses linked to secondary ticketing. Three mobile merchandise stands selling official Giallorossi products will be active on matchday. They will be located on Via delle Olimpiadi, near the Pietrangeli stadium, in the Tribuna Monte Mario piazza and at the entrance to the Tribuna Tevere, on the obelisk side. The stands will remain open before, during and after the match, allowing fans to buy official merchandise at the final whistle.

Roma need a heavy win against Slovan Bratislava tomorrow, according to Lorenzo Pes of Teleradiostereo, who said a comfortable victory would be important for goal difference and that a goalfest is required. Roma face Slovan in tomorrow's match, and the Roman radio pundits gathered their views on the fixture and the wider table picture. Roberto Pruzzo, speaking on Radio Radio Mattino - 104,5, said: "The matches are very many. Roma will have to be careful, Slovan are stronger than Genoa. But Gasperini's team has already shown it can do well even with rotation." Piero Torri of Radio Manà Manà - 90,9 looked at the league table, saying: "I believe 10 points will be needed to reach the playoffs. Last year the last two teams qualified with 9. In any case, tomorrow it will be fundamental to win, so you can reach the last three with the chance of getting to ten." Pes expects Pellegrini to start from the first minute against Slovan, with Soulé alongside him. He described the opponents as modest and said: "It is impossible that Totti stays out of the celebrations for the centenary. It is difficult that he becomes a director." He added: "There will be absences, but Roma have the possibilities to score many goals."

Bryan Cristante is back in the Roma squad for Thursday's home clash with Slovan Bratislava, Gian Piero Gasperini's team news boost on the eve of the Champions League League Phase third matchday. The midfielder had missed the last few matches with physical problems, and his return gives Gasperini an important alternative in a department already without the injured Manu Koné. The call-up also includes Di Nunzio, who has been added to the group at a time when the emergency is forcing Gasperini to widen his rotations. Paulo Dybala remains out, sidelined by a lesion revealed by the latest tests, along with Koné. Cristante's return is therefore the main development ahead of tonight's fixture at the Olimpico, with Gasperini regaining an important option at the most delicate moment of the midfield crisis. The full squad list is as follows. Goalkeepers: Vasquez, De Marzi, Gollini. Defenders: Rensch, Koulierakis, N'Dicka, Molina, Hermoso, Mancini, Balerdi, Wesley, Lulli, Ghilardi. Midfielders: Cristante, Pellegrini, De Roon, Pisilli, Di Nunzio, Mora. Forwards: Castro, Malen, Soulé.

Roma have named their squad for tonight's Champions League clash with Slovan Bratislava at the Stadio Olimpico, and Bryan Cristante is back in contention for Gian Piero Gasperini. The club confirmed the list in an official statement published on its website. Cristante returns after a knee problem that forced him to miss around 20 days. Cristante's availability is good news for Gasperini ahead of a European night in Rome. Alessandro Di Nunzio is also included in the squad. Having made his Serie A debut, he now gets a fresh opportunity to show what he can do in European competition. The full squad is as follows. Goalkeepers: Vasquez, De Marzi, Gollini. Defenders: Rensch, Koulierakis, Ndicka, Molina, Hermoso, Mancini, Balerdi, Wesley, Lulli, Ghilardi. Midfielders: Cristante, Pellegrini, De Roon, Pisilli, Di Nunzio, Mora. Forwards: Castro, Malen, Soulé.

Roma host Slovan Bratislava tonight at 21:00 at the Stadio Olimpico in the third matchday of the Champions League league phase, and Bryan Cristante is back in Gian Piero Gasperini's squad. The midfielder had been out of the last few matches with a knee problem. His return gives Roma an extra option in midfield during a period of closely spaced fixtures. The match comes after Roma's defeat to Real Madrid, and Gasperini's side are looking to collect important points on their European campaign. Paulo Dybala is not in the squad. Gasperini confirmed at the eve-of-match press conference that the Argentine has a small muscle tear, and his recovery will take another couple of weeks. Manu Koné is also absent and does not feature in the list of players available for the European fixture. Mile Svilar is missing with a foot injury. The full squad list names Rensch, Koulierakis, N'Dicka, Molina, Hermoso, Mancini, Balerdi, Wesley, Lulli and Ghilardi in defence. The midfield selection is Cristante, Pellegrini, De Roon, Pisilli, Di Nunzio and Mora. Alessandro Di Nunzio is a young midfielder from the youth sector, and he was also called up for the league match against Genoa. Pierluigi Gollini, Devis Vásquez and De Marzi are the goalkeepers. In attack, Gasperini can call on Donyell Malen, Matías Soulé and Santiago Castro to lead the line. More than 60,000 fans are expected at the Olimpico for the game.