Roma host Slovan Bratislava at the Stadio Olimpico tomorrow at 21:00 in the third matchday of the Champions League, and the Giallorossi need the three points to climb the table. Gian Piero Gasperini addressed the press at Trigoria ahead of the afternoon training session. On the Slovak side, he said: "It is a dynamic team, prepared athletically, and they also have some excellent players. In the Champions League they are not among the top-seeded teams, but we certainly will not underestimate them, because tomorrow we need to win to keep alive our chances of going through."
The injury news is a concern. Paulo Dybala's recovery has been slower than hoped. A scan carried out yesterday, 18 October, revealed a minor tear and will keep him out for at least two weeks. Gasperini also addressed the absences of Bryan Cristante and Manu Koné in midfield. Asked whether Lorenzo Pellegrini or Mario Hermoso could fill that role, as happened in the summer, he said: "At that time Lorenzo and de Roon were not even available, so we were in even greater need. I hope Hermoso stays where he is and that this necessity does not arise. At the moment Pisilli and de Roon have played three matches in a week, then Lorenzo can be a more offensive player or also a midfielder, while we wait to recover at least one player like Cristante, who we hope can be available at least for Napoli."
On whether Malen and Castro could start together, Gasperini said: "Castro scored a great goal the other evening. In terms of characteristics it could be a match in which they can play together, I don't know if from the start. Possibly during the game. I do not want to distort the geometry and the patterns of a team that is scoring and creating so many chances just for the desire to show two players together. There is an attack that works, with different characteristics, and for now that is fine. I don't need to look for other situations. But it could also happen." Asked about the Genoa match and whether it had boosted the squad's confidence, he replied: "I never had doubts about anyone. It was a purely numerical question, but everyone has my trust. The other evening I also kept some other players fresh beyond the injured ones, giving space to those who have had less, with the conviction that we could still get a result. Winning matches in Serie A is always difficult." On defender Emanuele Lulli, he said: "I had already noticed him last year and I often included him in training. He has excellent physical qualities: his speed and endurance are truly top level, above the Serie A average. He is also humble and eager to improve. He has a lot to grow, but he has a couple of characteristics above the average. When these situations arise, they must be taken forward."
On Gollini and Mora, Gasperini said: "Gollini has always been an excellent goalkeeper. We had played the Champions League together. Over his career he lacked a bit of maturity, which he has reached now at a more advanced age. He always had excellent qualities but perhaps not the same desire to improve and apply himself that he has now." On Mora: "He is in the rotations, and whenever he has been available he has always played. He has a particular physique, he is slight but also very young. He has a talent that shows immediately. We need to help him grow. He needs to build himself up a bit, but technically and in quality he is of a high level." Asked about a points target for qualification, Gasperini said that across the three years of the new format the line has usually been around 10 points. "We need to win our home matches starting with tomorrow's, and there is also the chance to pick up points away, although all those grounds are difficult. The aim is certainly to get back into that bracket."
Roma's next fixture after Slovan Bratislava is Napoli, and Gasperini's hope is that Cristante can be available for that match.
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Roma host Slovan Bratislava at the Stadio Olimpico on Tuesday 20 October at 21:00 in the Champions League league phase, their third matchday and two days after a 2-0 Serie A win over Genoa. Roma have one point from two games and must win to keep their qualification hopes alive. Gian Piero Gasperini says the side needs around 10 points to reach the playoffs and will not underestimate Slovan, who are still on zero points.
Paulo Dybala is out for at least two weeks. Gasperini describes a small tear, while Corriere dello Sport reports a calf strain and says he could rejoin the group partially and be named on the bench, with the medical staff aiming for him to start against Napoli. Bryan Cristante is also targeting the Napoli trip, and Mile Svilar is out for around another month, so Pierluigi Gollini starts in goal. Forza Roma reports that Lulli is favoured over Nahuel Molina at right-back, and that Leonardo Balerdi is ahead of Evan N'Dicka for the central defensive place. Forza Roma, citing Gazzetta dello Sport, also reports that Gasperini is considering Santiago Castro and Donyell Malen together up front, though he has said this may come during the game rather than from the start.
Slovan coach Yaya Touré said "Great respect for Roma and for Gasp" and that Roma are favourites. Roma News describes Slovan's usual setup as a 4-2-3-1, while Forza Roma describes a 4-1-4-1 base. Swiss referee Sandro Schärer has refereed Roma twice before in the Europa League, and both matches were Roma wins. The match will be shown live on Sky Sport.
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