Pellegrini injured in Roma's 4-0 win over Slovan Bratislava, around 20 days out

Roma defender Daniele Ghilardi said his Champions League debut was a huge emotional moment and that the squad also wants to win against Napoli. Ghilardi said: "Tanta emozione per l'esordio in Champions. Vogliamo vincere anche col Napoli", which translates as: "A lot of emotion for the Champions League debut. We want to win against Napoli too." The comments follow Roma's 4-0 win over Slovan Bratislava, which the Italian coverage rated in player ratings that picked out Ghilardi and Hermoso, with Malen also singled out. Roma's Champions League campaign has begun with that result, and the club now turns its attention to Napoli. Elsewhere in the club's news, Gian Piero Gasperini said of team selection: "Chi gioca deve essere all'altezza della Roma. Spero di riavere presto Dybala, davanti siamo pochi", meaning those who play must be up to the standard of Roma, and he hopes to have Dybala back soon as the attack is thin. Lorenzo Pellegrini has a muscle injury, and Gasperini said: "Nulla di grave, ma rischia di stare out 20 giorni", meaning it is nothing serious but he could be out for 20 days. Niccolò Pisilli said wearing the Roma captain's armband is an honour and that he has grown a lot under Gasperini.

Lorenzo Pellegrini produced an impressive display in Roma's recent match, despite leaving the pitch after a sharp pain that brought a grimace of frustration from him and the entire stadium. Playing from a position that was often fairly wide, he impressed with his influence on the attacking play and the quality of his touches, with his right-footed inside runs from the centre-left of the final third finding Malen's channel time after time. Malen ran into that space like a sprinter at the starter's gun. The move first produced an incredible miss by Mora in front of goal, with Malen showing too much generosity, and then the pattern repeated with a finish that went to Molina. Pellegrini's ability to pick out those passes was the standout feature of his evening, and it reinforced his importance to the team's attacking shape. The immediate concern is the nature of the problem. The hope is that his withdrawal was mainly a precaution after the first twinge he felt. Pellegrini can still offer Roma more in more than one role, and that could make the difference in the club's ambitions and season objectives. TUTTE LE NOTIZIE GRATIS SULLA ROMA SUL TUO TELEFONINO – TELEGRAM TUTTE LE NOTIZIE GRATIS SULLA ROMA SUL TUO TELEFONINO – WHATSAPP

Lorenzo Pellegrini was forced off with a muscle problem in his right thigh early in the second half of Roma's Champions League match against Slovan Bratislava at the Stadio Olimpico, with the score at 49 minutes. Soulé came on in his place, and the captain's armband passed to Niccolò Pisilli, who was captaining Roma for the first time. Further information on the injury was expected in the coming hours, pending instrumental tests. Pisilli made the most of his first time as captain, scoring Roma's third goal, the 3-0, a few minutes after coming on for the armband. Pellegrini, who wears the number 7 shirt, had returned to the starting line-up in European competition for the match. The setback arrives at a busy time for the club, with Roma facing Napoli soon after this European fixture. Gian Piero Gasperini spoke about the injury at his press conference: "I don't think it's a serious thing. Even though it's a small one, when it's muscular it takes 20 days, I think it's of that value. Now this week we have one extra day before Napoli, then we have a series of matches every 3 days. The forward line is fundamental now, in the substitutions, in quality, in numbers, so we find ourselves facing a series of matches where surely if we don't recover Dybala quickly we will become really few."

Roma defender Daniele Ghilardi said his Champions League debut was a huge emotional moment and that the squad also wants to win against Napoli. Ghilardi said: "Tanta emozione per l'esordio in Champions. Vogliamo vincere anche col Napoli", which translates as: "A lot of emotion for the Champions League debut. We want to win against Napoli too." The comments follow Roma's 4-0 win over Slovan Bratislava, which the Italian coverage rated in player ratings that picked out Ghilardi and Hermoso, with Malen also singled out. Roma's Champions League campaign has begun with that result, and the club now turns its attention to Napoli. Elsewhere in the club's news, Gian Piero Gasperini said of team selection: "Chi gioca deve essere all'altezza della Roma. Spero di riavere presto Dybala, davanti siamo pochi", meaning those who play must be up to the standard of Roma, and he hopes to have Dybala back soon as the attack is thin. Lorenzo Pellegrini has a muscle injury, and Gasperini said: "Nulla di grave, ma rischia di stare out 20 giorni", meaning it is nothing serious but he could be out for 20 days. Niccolò Pisilli said wearing the Roma captain's armband is an honour and that he has grown a lot under Gasperini.

Roma recorded their first four-goal haul of the Champions League season, routing Slovan Bratislava, who never got into the game. Hermoso opened the scoring, before Molina, Pisilli and Malen, from the penalty spot, completed the rout. The player ratings praised the whole side for being in good form and entering the match with the right mindset. The defence was the standout area. Ghilardi started strongly and got forward often, leaving the Gollini's penalty area regularly, and he won a fortunate deflection to set up Hermoso. Ghilardi also had a goal disallowed for an active offside by Castro, which the ratings described as a pity given how well he had played. Balerdi was rated calm, elegant and attentive, covering large areas of the pitch. Hermoso, rated 7.5, was described as the most accurate passer in the first half with a 90% pass accuracy, and he went on to score the opener with a header from a free kick. Wesley was rated 7, with the ratings saying he left a trail of scorched grass down his flank and that Slovan players barely saw him. Pellegrini was rated 6.5 but had to ask to be substituted, and the ratings expressed hope the problem was nothing serious. Mora, rated 6, struck the advertising boards near the net and was unlucky when his effort was ruled out for offside, while the ratings noted he had been running hard from both flanks. Gollini, rated 6, had little to do beyond a couple of catches. The ratings for Gasperini's side included several verdicts on the individual performances. Pisilli, who scored wearing the captain's armband, said: "Un sogno" ("A dream"). Molina, rated 6.5, pounced on a poor rebound from Takac to make it 2-0 and was applauded for sprinting to win a late corner. Malen, rated 7.5, was involved in the build-up to Molina's goal and Pisilli's, and finished the rout from the spot. Soulé, who came on for Pellegrini in the 51st minute, was rated 6.5 for an immediate steal in the box that set up Malen. Castro, who replaced Malen in the 58th minute, was rated 6. Gasperini was quoted in the ratings on Mora, saying he "deve strutturarsi" ("needs to find his structure"). The ratings noted Gasperini had a short squad again and rotated it, asking his players to focus on every detail, and that the side needed to score as many goals as possible, which he addressed with his usual rotations. Koulierakis replaced Hermoso in the 77th minute, and Mancini came on for De Roon at the same time.

Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini says his squad is in good spirits and fit, but warns it must not become complacent after a 3-0...

Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini has told his side not to become complacent, while warning that each big match carries the risk of losing a player, ahead of the Champions League clash with Slovan Bratislava. Gasperini spoke in a series of pre-match comments on the club's Champions League third matchday fixture against Slovan Bratislava. Gasperini said control of the game was total and that the squad is in good shape. "Yes, undoubtedly. The team has morale and is well, only it must not become too complacent. It must do the essential things, play with continuity, and in certain evenings like tonight it can afford to be a little less precise." He stressed that the principles remain in the group despite the changes made to the lineup. "These are very important answers, because the schedule is what it is and we need everyone, when they take part, to be equal to what Roma asks. These answers are important because they allow us to go forward with confidence and to widen the group of potential starters a little for everyone." Asked whether he was looking forward to the next two away matches, Gasperini replied that his one worry is that every time the team plays matches of this kind, it risks losing a player. "Now we have recovered Cristante, but we lose Pellegrini. In certain areas we are a little thin. This is the only danger of these matches, which for the rest are expected and exceptional, and for us are an incredible test. From these games you always take some information to grow, and the Champions League is extraordinary in this. We will face these two games with this spirit." On the risk of underestimating the fixture, which Roma did not do, Gasperini said: "It was important for us to play a serious match straight away, partly because of the need for three points and partly because there are no easy teams to face in the Champions League. We were undoubtedly good in how we approached the game. We are also rotating many players, and this gives us good freshness, or at least means we have no excuses of fatigue. Now it is a bit too much, but I believe that by playing this type of match you find your best condition. For now I have some players who are doing well, and as long as they stay that way it is right to let them play."

Roma head to Bratislava for their third Champions League match looking for a first win of the campaign, after a draw with Fenerbahce and a defeat to Real Madrid. Gian Piero Gasperini has left Evan N'Dicka and Gianluca Mancini out of the starting line-up, with Daniele Ghilardi and Leonardo Balerdi starting in defence. Donyell Malen leads the attack, with Rodrigo Mora and Lorenzo Pellegrini behind him. Roma line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation: Pierluigi Gollini in goal; Ghilardi, Balerdi and Mario Hermoso in the back three; Nahuel Molina, Marten de Roon, Niccolò Pisilli and Wesley in midfield; Mora and Pellegrini in the attacking pair; and Malen up front. On the bench are Giorgio De Marzi, Konstantinos Koulierakis, Mancini, N'Dicka, Devyne Rensch, Emanuele Lulli, Di Nunzio, Bryan Cristante, Matías Soulé and Santiago Castro. Slovan Bratislava, coached by Yaya Touré, set up in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Takac starts in goal, protected by Blackman, Bajric, Markovic and Sandro Cruz. Pokorny and Gajdos form the double pivot, with Barseghyan, Ibrahim and Suleman Camara behind Marcelli.

Former Roma midfielder Angelo Di Livio, speaking to Retesport a few hours before Roma's match against Slovan Bratislava, said the team must play with intelligence and without rushing, as they did against Genoa, which he called the model performance for today. He said there is only one result that matters, and that Bryan Cristante is back tonight, with Gasperini having guaranteed him around twenty minutes, which will be a test for Napoli. Di Livio said the win over Genoa was less attractive because many players had little playing time. He called it an important game and said De Rossi's side did not have a single shot on target in the second half. On Matías Soulé, he said he liked the flashes of quality against Genoa but that the forward had long spells of inactivity. He named Emanuele Lulli as the best player on the pitch against Genoa. On Paulo Dybala, Di Livio was blunt: "Non ci puoi fare affidamento, gioca 4-5 partite e poi rimane fuori." On Lulli, he urged caution, saying the defender could potentially become a star but should be allowed to grow calmly. He noted that against Genoa Lulli won back a lost ball, earned a corner, and showed grit and a fighting spirit. On Daniele Ghilardi, Di Livio said that when trained and prepared well he also has the legs to play as a fifth defender.

Roma defender Daniele Ghilardi said his Champions League debut was a huge emotional moment and that the squad also wants to win against Napoli. Ghilardi said: "Tanta emozione per l'esordio in Champions. Vogliamo vincere anche col Napoli", which translates as: "A lot of emotion for the Champions League debut. We want to win against Napoli too." The comments follow Roma's 4-0 win over Slovan Bratislava, which the Italian coverage rated in player ratings that picked out Ghilardi and Hermoso, with Malen also singled out. Roma's Champions League campaign has begun with that result, and the club now turns its attention to Napoli. Elsewhere in the club's news, Gian Piero Gasperini said of team selection: "Chi gioca deve essere all'altezza della Roma. Spero di riavere presto Dybala, davanti siamo pochi", meaning those who play must be up to the standard of Roma, and he hopes to have Dybala back soon as the attack is thin. Lorenzo Pellegrini has a muscle injury, and Gasperini said: "Nulla di grave, ma rischia di stare out 20 giorni", meaning it is nothing serious but he could be out for 20 days. Niccolò Pisilli said wearing the Roma captain's armband is an honour and that he has grown a lot under Gasperini.

Lorenzo Pellegrini was forced off with a muscle problem in his right thigh early in the second half of Roma's Champions League match against Slovan Bratislava at the Stadio Olimpico, with the score at 49 minutes. Soulé came on in his place, and the captain's armband passed to Niccolò Pisilli, who was captaining Roma for the first time. Further information on the injury was expected in the coming hours, pending instrumental tests. Pisilli made the most of his first time as captain, scoring Roma's third goal, the 3-0, a few minutes after coming on for the armband. Pellegrini, who wears the number 7 shirt, had returned to the starting line-up in European competition for the match. The setback arrives at a busy time for the club, with Roma facing Napoli soon after this European fixture. Gian Piero Gasperini spoke about the injury at his press conference: "I don't think it's a serious thing. Even though it's a small one, when it's muscular it takes 20 days, I think it's of that value. Now this week we have one extra day before Napoli, then we have a series of matches every 3 days. The forward line is fundamental now, in the substitutions, in quality, in numbers, so we find ourselves facing a series of matches where surely if we don't recover Dybala quickly we will become really few."

Francesco Totti was at the Stadio Olimpico for Roma's Champions League league-phase match against Slovan Bratislava, the third matchday of the group stage. The Roma legend was on the touchline to watch the game. Before taking his seat, Totti spoke with Paulo Dybala and then gave Donyell Malen a warm embrace before the Roma players went out to warm up. The moment was shared by Sky Sport (Italia) in a post on social media.