Malen in unstoppable form as Roma turn to Napoli

Roma beat Slovan Bratislava 4-0, a result that partially eases the disappointment of the defeat to Real Madrid. The Giallorossi overwhelmed their opponents and, according to the Italian press, showed they intend to make their mark in Europe as well. Italian newspaper reviews single out another strong performance from Hermoso, the return to his best form from Wesley, and praise for Pisilli's goal, scored while wearing the captain's armband. The match also drew credit for head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, who changed the players but not the way the team plays. He has repeatedly said there are no first-choice players and reserves, and the side keeps moving whoever takes the pitch. The Gazzetta dello Sport rated Roma as follows: Gollini 6, Ghilardi 7.5, Balerdi 7, Hermoso 7, Molina 7, De Roon 6.5, Pisilli 7, Wesley 7.5, Mora 5.5, Pellegrini 7.5, Malen 7.5, with Gasperini on 7.5. Hermoso was replaced by Koulierakis and De Roon by Mancini in the 77th minute. Wesley was replaced by Rensch in the 58th minute, Pellegrini by Soulé in the 52nd, and Malen by Castro in the 58th. Il Corriere dello Sport gave Pisilli 7.5, Hermoso 7.5 and Wesley 7.5, with Gasperini on 7.5. Il Corriere della Sera rated Pisilli 7.5 and Wesley 7, with Gasperini on 7. Across the Italian papers, Pisilli, Wesley and Hermoso were consistently among the highest-rated Roma players, while Mora received the lowest marks, ranging from 5.5 to 6. Gollini was rated 6 by every outlet.

Roma returned to winning ways in the Champions League with a comprehensive 4-0 victory over Slovan Bratislava, wrapping up the game in the first half and allowing Gian Piero Gasperini to manage his players' energy ahead of the big match against Napoli. The win ends a wait of 2,807 days since the last Champions League victory, a 2-1 success...

Mario Hermoso scored the goal that opened the way for Roma's Champions League win over Slovan Bratislava, ending a winless run in the competition that had lasted 2,807 days. The Spaniard's strike was his second goal of the season, following his effort against Atalanta. A year ago, Hermoso was not even expected to report to pre-season training, and the summer of 2025 saw him seemingly with one foot out of Trigoria. Fifteen months on, he is the player Gasperini cannot seem to do without. Hermoso has made 10 appearances this season, starting nine of them. His only rest came against Genoa. Marco Juric of La Repubblica notes that after two months he has played 752 minutes, more than any other Roma player. Last season he made 37 appearances as the club returned to the Champions League, and this season's workload is set to be even heavier. The Champions League win is Roma's first in the competition since 12 February 2019, when they beat Porto 2-1. Hermoso was then at Espanyol and had yet to have any connection with Roma. Juric observes that Hermoso's greatest Gasperini-style quality is that he has become indispensable almost without anyone having declared him so. Theoretically a defender who should live mainly on timing his interventions and covering, he has also scored two important goals: the one against Atalanta that started the comeback and the European strike against Slovan. Today he is Gasperini's praetorian guard.

Roma beat Slovan Bratislava 4-0, a result that partially eases the disappointment of the defeat to Real Madrid. The Giallorossi overwhelmed their opponents and, according to the Italian press, showed they intend to make their mark in Europe as well. Italian newspaper reviews single out another strong performance from Hermoso, the return to his best form from Wesley, and praise for Pisilli's goal, scored while wearing the captain's armband. The match also drew credit for head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, who changed the players but not the way the team plays. He has repeatedly said there are no first-choice players and reserves, and the side keeps moving whoever takes the pitch. The Gazzetta dello Sport rated Roma as follows: Gollini 6, Ghilardi 7.5, Balerdi 7, Hermoso 7, Molina 7, De Roon 6.5, Pisilli 7, Wesley 7.5, Mora 5.5, Pellegrini 7.5, Malen 7.5, with Gasperini on 7.5. Hermoso was replaced by Koulierakis and De Roon by Mancini in the 77th minute. Wesley was replaced by Rensch in the 58th minute, Pellegrini by Soulé in the 52nd, and Malen by Castro in the 58th. Il Corriere dello Sport gave Pisilli 7.5, Hermoso 7.5 and Wesley 7.5, with Gasperini on 7.5. Il Corriere della Sera rated Pisilli 7.5 and Wesley 7, with Gasperini on 7. Across the Italian papers, Pisilli, Wesley and Hermoso were consistently among the highest-rated Roma players, while Mora received the lowest marks, ranging from 5.5 to 6. Gollini was rated 6 by every outlet.

Roma secured their first win of the season in the Champions League, beating Slovan Bratislava 4-0 at the Stadio Olimpico, but Lorenzo Pellegrini had to be withdrawn with a problem to his hip flexor. Gian Piero Gasperini made changes to his starting eleven, with Ghilardi taking Mancini's place, Molina playing on the right and Mora and Pellegrini operating behind the striker. Roma dominated from the first minute, pinning Slovan back in their own half. Hermoso opened the scoring, rising to meet a Ghilardi header from a Pellegrini set piece. Pellegrini then slipped a perfect pass through to Malen, whose shot forced Takac into a short parry, and Molina followed up to make it 2-0. Roma controlled, created and pressed until the interval, and the gap between the sides was clear. The second half followed the same pattern, with Roma continuing to command possession. Pellegrini's injury, however, took some of the shine off the evening. Soulé came on and immediately made an impact, winning the ball on the byline and letting Malen tee up Pisilli for the 3-0. Minutes later Roma made it 4-0: Wesley won a penalty and Malen converted it coolly, his third goal of this Champions League campaign. With the result secure and rain falling on the Olimpico, Gasperini used his bench, bringing on Rensch, Castro, Koulierakis and Mancini, who finished the match in midfield in place of De Roon. Late on, Ghilardi struck a fine effort from outside the box, but it was ruled out for active offside. The win gives Roma a convincing, wide-margin result and plenty of positives. The concern is Pellegrini's hip flexor problem, a fresh setback on the physical front as the club prepares for an important Serie A clash in the coming days.

Roma secured their first Champions League win of the season with a convincing 4-0 victory over Slovan Bratislava at home, a result that gives them a clearer picture in the table and keeps the play-off target that Gian Piero Gasperini has set in sight. It came at the third attempt, following disappointing results against Fenerbahce and Real Madrid. Slovan arrived in Rome having conceded nine goals before the trip, so the scoreline was in many ways expected. Roma were dominant from start to finish. Gasperini has managed a squad he describes as small but built for the big targets, and he used his experience well. Hermoso and Molina opened the scoring, giving the veterans a central role in the win. Lorenzo Pellegrini's exit opened the captaincy to Niccolò Pisilli, who wore the armband for the first time and scored as captain. Donyell Malen's goal took his Champions League tally to three. Roma's athletic freshness and technical quality, along with the European-style ideas of their coach, proved too much for the visitors, and the result was achieved with minimal effort. The numbers underline the gulf between the sides. Roma had 73 per cent of possession in the first half against 27 per cent, and 10 shots to 1 in the same period, with 4-0 on target. The totals grew by the final whistle: 25 shots to 1 and 10-0 on target. Alessandro Angeloni, writing in Il Messaggero, said: "There is a desire to amaze and to enjoy themselves. There is the magic hand of Gasp, who commits the perfect crime: a win with minimal effort, making a match that could have presented dangers look easy. There is no story, you understand immediately: there is a team, Roma, that makes its athletic freshness and technical level count, as well as the very European ideas of its coach."

Roma beat Slovan Bratislava 4-0, a result that partially eases the disappointment of the defeat to Real Madrid. The Giallorossi overwhelmed their opponents and, according to the Italian press, showed they intend to make their mark in Europe as well. Italian newspaper reviews single out another strong performance from Hermoso, the return to his best form from Wesley, and praise for Pisilli's goal, scored while wearing the captain's armband. The match also drew credit for head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, who changed the players but not the way the team plays. He has repeatedly said there are no first-choice players and reserves, and the side keeps moving whoever takes the pitch. The Gazzetta dello Sport rated Roma as follows: Gollini 6, Ghilardi 7.5, Balerdi 7, Hermoso 7, Molina 7, De Roon 6.5, Pisilli 7, Wesley 7.5, Mora 5.5, Pellegrini 7.5, Malen 7.5, with Gasperini on 7.5. Hermoso was replaced by Koulierakis and De Roon by Mancini in the 77th minute. Wesley was replaced by Rensch in the 58th minute, Pellegrini by Soulé in the 52nd, and Malen by Castro in the 58th. Il Corriere dello Sport gave Pisilli 7.5, Hermoso 7.5 and Wesley 7.5, with Gasperini on 7.5. Il Corriere della Sera rated Pisilli 7.5 and Wesley 7, with Gasperini on 7. Across the Italian papers, Pisilli, Wesley and Hermoso were consistently among the highest-rated Roma players, while Mora received the lowest marks, ranging from 5.5 to 6. Gollini was rated 6 by every outlet.

Roma secured their first win of the season in the Champions League, beating Slovan Bratislava 4-0 at the Stadio Olimpico, but Lorenzo Pellegrini had to be withdrawn with a problem to his hip flexor. Gian Piero Gasperini made changes to his starting eleven, with Ghilardi taking Mancini's place, Molina playing on the right and Mora and Pellegrini operating behind the striker. Roma dominated from the first minute, pinning Slovan back in their own half. Hermoso opened the scoring, rising to meet a Ghilardi header from a Pellegrini set piece. Pellegrini then slipped a perfect pass through to Malen, whose shot forced Takac into a short parry, and Molina followed up to make it 2-0. Roma controlled, created and pressed until the interval, and the gap between the sides was clear. The second half followed the same pattern, with Roma continuing to command possession. Pellegrini's injury, however, took some of the shine off the evening. Soulé came on and immediately made an impact, winning the ball on the byline and letting Malen tee up Pisilli for the 3-0. Minutes later Roma made it 4-0: Wesley won a penalty and Malen converted it coolly, his third goal of this Champions League campaign. With the result secure and rain falling on the Olimpico, Gasperini used his bench, bringing on Rensch, Castro, Koulierakis and Mancini, who finished the match in midfield in place of De Roon. Late on, Ghilardi struck a fine effort from outside the box, but it was ruled out for active offside. The win gives Roma a convincing, wide-margin result and plenty of positives. The concern is Pellegrini's hip flexor problem, a fresh setback on the physical front as the club prepares for an important Serie A clash in the coming days.

Roma secured their first Champions League win of the season with a convincing 4-0 victory over Slovan Bratislava at home, a result that gives them a clearer picture in the table and keeps the play-off target that Gian Piero Gasperini has set in sight. It came at the third attempt, following disappointing results against Fenerbahce and Real Madrid. Slovan arrived in Rome having conceded nine goals before the trip, so the scoreline was in many ways expected. Roma were dominant from start to finish. Gasperini has managed a squad he describes as small but built for the big targets, and he used his experience well. Hermoso and Molina opened the scoring, giving the veterans a central role in the win. Lorenzo Pellegrini's exit opened the captaincy to Niccolò Pisilli, who wore the armband for the first time and scored as captain. Donyell Malen's goal took his Champions League tally to three. Roma's athletic freshness and technical quality, along with the European-style ideas of their coach, proved too much for the visitors, and the result was achieved with minimal effort. The numbers underline the gulf between the sides. Roma had 73 per cent of possession in the first half against 27 per cent, and 10 shots to 1 in the same period, with 4-0 on target. The totals grew by the final whistle: 25 shots to 1 and 10-0 on target. Alessandro Angeloni, writing in Il Messaggero, said: "There is a desire to amaze and to enjoy themselves. There is the magic hand of Gasp, who commits the perfect crime: a win with minimal effort, making a match that could have presented dangers look easy. There is no story, you understand immediately: there is a team, Roma, that makes its athletic freshness and technical level count, as well as the very European ideas of its coach."

Roma responded straight away to their dramatic defeat to Real Madrid, beating Slovan Bratislava 4-0 at the Stadio Olimpico to move up to 4 points in the Champions League. Gian Piero Gasperini made six changes from the side that played Genoa, yet the team kept its identity, intensity and competitiveness. The night was spoiled by a fresh blow from the treatment room: Lorenzo Pellegrini suffered a muscular problem that rekindled concern ahead of the big match against Napoli. The 4-0 win over Slovan Bratislava brought Roma confidence and breathing space, confirming the soundness of Gasperini's choices and his ability to manage the squad's energy without changing the tactical set-up. After the match the coach stressed how vital it is to have a squad ready to respond at all times, especially with a calendar that allows no pause. Pellegrini's injury is a problem to the right thigh flexor, and he will undergo tests and be sidelined for about twenty days. It is a heavy setback that adds to the absences of Dybala, Svilar and Koné, further complicating the management of the attacking department. Roma face a Champions League that promises fascinating challenges against Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain, but the squad is thin for the delicate trip to the Maradona. The club will have to grit its teeth and make a virtue of necessity.

Roma's rotated side bounced back from the chaotic 3-4 defeat to Real Madrid to move up to four points, and Gian Piero Gasperini's main worry now is the muscle problem suffered by Lorenzo Pellegrini. Gasperini changed six players from the Genoa match on Saturday, and the result still went Roma's way. Gasperini said: "We need everyone, when they play, to be equal to what Roma asks. These answers are important, they allow us to move forward with confidence and to widen the group of potential starters. Despite the rotations, the team was competitive." Pellegrini had to leave at the start of the second half with a muscle problem in his right hamstring. According to Daniele Aloisi in Il Messaggero, instrumental tests were carried out on Tuesday and he is at serious risk of missing the trip to Napoli and possibly more. The concern is compounded by the fact that the squad is already stretched in certain areas, with the attack a particular issue while Paulo Dybala is also needed back. Pellegrini himself offered a cautious view: "I'm worried because every time we lose a player. We got Cristante back and now Lorenzo is injured. I don't think it's serious, but even a small muscle problem can keep you out for twenty days. The attack is fundamental, and if we don't recover quickly Dybala, we will be short. We are thin in certain areas, and that is the only danger in these matches."

Lorenzo Pellegrini has been ruled out with a thigh injury just as Roma turn their attention to Napoli, the Giallorossi having eased to a 4-0 win over Slovan Bratislava in the Champions League. Pellegrini left the pitch in the 51st minute against Slovan with a problem in his right hamstring, and Gasperini has already indicated the layoff could last around twenty days, although the tests will determine the exact extent of the problem. The timing could hardly be worse, with Roma's Saturday trip to the Maradona coming against a Napoli side that were beaten 4-3 by Bodø/Glimt in Europe and then lost in Serie A at Venezia, and who will be keen to bounce back in front of their own fans. The absence adds to a growing list of concerns, as it comes on top of the loss of Paulo Dybala and further reduces Roma's attacking options. Gasperini must now find new solutions, particularly up front, and the squad is thin in midfield and attack. The coach will be relieved to welcome back Bryan Cristante, who has already returned to the bench in the Champions League, and his gradual return to full fitness will be key to managing a period when the squad is genuinely short. Roma reach the Maradona with enthusiasm but also with the need to dig in. Training at Trigoria is focused on preparing for another fundamental battle, with the Napoli match carrying significant weight for the Giallorossi's season.