Pisilli and Soulé receive second bookings; Malen available again for Napoli clash

Tommaso Turci, journalist and pitchside reporter for DAZN, spoke exclusively to Retesport and praised Roma's progress under Gian Piero Gasperini, with particular praise for Stephan El Shaarawy's teammate Matías Soulé and new-look midfielder Marten de Roon. Turci said Soulé is "making giant steps forward" and described him as becoming a leader and a player for a top team. Turci said Roma look organised and improving but that they are still at the beginning of the season. He stressed that consistency will make the difference, and that the Roma side will become credible for the top of the table once squad players with limited minutes add value, as happened against Genoa and again in the most recent match. He said that the season before gave this group awareness, and that Roma are showing they can stay near the top of the table, though how long that will last remains to be seen. On Inter, Turci said that once they reach full speed they will pull away from the rest by 10-15 points. On Gasperini's reaction to Lulli's goal, Turci said the coach was moved to see the young scorer celebrating in a clumsy way, often looking at the referee to confirm his first goal was valid. Gasperini, who has now recorded 300 wins, congratulated him and then immediately gave the team instructions, even though the goal strongly pointed the match in Roma's favour. Turci praised Soulé's quality in the build-up to that goal, saying it was not just technique but also personality, and that the forward is now physically well and aligned with Gasperini's ideas. Asked which newcomer had impressed him most, Turci said: "De Roon, even though we all knew he would be functional to Gasperini's way of playing. Seeing how he has fitted into the group and the dressing room has made me understand that he is a top player." On the coaching staff, Turci said they are perfectly aligned with Gasperini, naming Raimondi and Gritti, and that Gasperini consults everyone while each member looks after the details during matches. He added: "All the top coaches have a great staff, and he is no exception."

Roma host Slovan Bratislava at the Stadio Olimpico in the UEFA Champions League tomorrow, with kick-off at 21:00. Gian Piero Gasperini has named Leonardo Balerdi in the starting line-up, which is set out as Gollini; Mancini, Balerdi, Hermoso; Lulli, de Roon, Pisilli, Wesley; Soulé, Pellegrini; Malen. The headline also flags a race between Lulli and Molina for a place in the side. Roma come into the match after a dramatic defeat to Real Madrid, and they must now bounce back in the Champions League. Their most recent result came in Serie A, where they beat Genoa. The Olimpico fixture is a more manageable test: Slovan Bratislava are coached by Yaya Touré, and the match is the third matchday of the Champions League league phase. Slovan are set to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation: Takac; Blackman, Bajnc, Markovic, Sandro Cruz; Pokorny, Mustafic; Barseghyan, Martinez, Camara; Griger. Gasperini will be without several regular starters, including Dybala, Koné and Svilar. He does receive a significant boost with the return of Bryan Cristante, who has recovered from a knee problem and is available, at least for the bench, ready to contribute if needed. Alessandro Di Nunzio is also in the squad, and Gasperini has confirmed him after his Serie A debut. The head-to-head record is short. Roma are meeting Slovan Bratislava for the first time in 15 years, since the only previous meeting, a 2011/12 Europa League play-off in which the Slovaks won 1-0 away and drew 1-1 at the Olimpico to eliminate the Giallorossi. Across all their meetings with Slovak sides, Roma have one win, two draws and one defeat. Their only victory came in 2009, when they beat Košice 7-1 at the Olimpico in the Europa League qualifiers after a 3-3 draw in the first leg. Slovan Bratislava have won just one of their five away matches in Italy, with one draw and three defeats. Roma also have the home advantage on their side, having won eight of their last ten Champions League home matches. The match is broadcast live and exclusively on Sky. Viewers need a Sky subscription, and the game will be shown on channels 201, 214 and 251, namely Sky Sport Uno, Sky Sport 4K for televisions that support 4K resolution, and Sky Sport. Streaming is available through SkyGo and Now Tv, and through devices such as Amazon Fire TV Stick, Google Chromecast and the TIM VISION Box. Fans can also follow the match through the live coverage on Forzaroma.info and on Roma's Instagram, Twitter and Facebook accounts.

Gian Piero Gasperini has named his squad for Roma's Champions League league-phase match against Slovan Bratislava, the third matchday of the 2026-27 competition. Bryan Cristante is back in the group. The defenders selected are Rensch, Koulierakis, N'Dicka, Molina, Hermoso, Mancini, Balerdi, Wesley, Lulli and Ghilardi. The midfielders named are Cristante, Pellegrini, De Roon, Pisilli, Di Nunzio and Mora.

Roma host Slovan Bratislava at the Stadio Olimpico in the UEFA Champions League tomorrow, with kick-off at 21:00. Gian Piero Gasperini has named Leonardo Balerdi in the starting line-up, which is set out as Gollini; Mancini, Balerdi, Hermoso; Lulli, de Roon, Pisilli, Wesley; Soulé, Pellegrini; Malen. The headline also flags a race between Lulli and Molina for a place in the side. Roma come into the match after a dramatic defeat to Real Madrid, and they must now bounce back in the Champions League. Their most recent result came in Serie A, where they beat Genoa. The Olimpico fixture is a more manageable test: Slovan Bratislava are coached by Yaya Touré, and the match is the third matchday of the Champions League league phase. Slovan are set to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation: Takac; Blackman, Bajnc, Markovic, Sandro Cruz; Pokorny, Mustafic; Barseghyan, Martinez, Camara; Griger. Gasperini will be without several regular starters, including Dybala, Koné and Svilar. He does receive a significant boost with the return of Bryan Cristante, who has recovered from a knee problem and is available, at least for the bench, ready to contribute if needed. Alessandro Di Nunzio is also in the squad, and Gasperini has confirmed him after his Serie A debut. The head-to-head record is short. Roma are meeting Slovan Bratislava for the first time in 15 years, since the only previous meeting, a 2011/12 Europa League play-off in which the Slovaks won 1-0 away and drew 1-1 at the Olimpico to eliminate the Giallorossi. Across all their meetings with Slovak sides, Roma have one win, two draws and one defeat. Their only victory came in 2009, when they beat Košice 7-1 at the Olimpico in the Europa League qualifiers after a 3-3 draw in the first leg. Slovan Bratislava have won just one of their five away matches in Italy, with one draw and three defeats. Roma also have the home advantage on their side, having won eight of their last ten Champions League home matches. The match is broadcast live and exclusively on Sky. Viewers need a Sky subscription, and the game will be shown on channels 201, 214 and 251, namely Sky Sport Uno, Sky Sport 4K for televisions that support 4K resolution, and Sky Sport. Streaming is available through SkyGo and Now Tv, and through devices such as Amazon Fire TV Stick, Google Chromecast and the TIM VISION Box. Fans can also follow the match through the live coverage on Forzaroma.info and on Roma's Instagram, Twitter and Facebook accounts.

Gian Piero Gasperini has named his squad for Roma's Champions League league-phase match against Slovan Bratislava, the third matchday of the 2026-27 competition. Bryan Cristante is back in the group. The defenders selected are Rensch, Koulierakis, N'Dicka, Molina, Hermoso, Mancini, Balerdi, Wesley, Lulli and Ghilardi. The midfielders named are Cristante, Pellegrini, De Roon, Pisilli, Di Nunzio and Mora.

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 host Slovan Bratislava at the Stadio Olimpico in the UEFA Champions League tomorrow, with kick-off at 21:00. Gian Piero Gasperini has named Leonardo Balerdi in the starting line-up, which is set out as Gollini; Mancini, Balerdi, Hermoso; Lulli, de Roon, Pisilli, Wesley; Soulé, Pellegrini; Malen. The headline also flags a race between Lulli and Molina for a place in the side. Roma come into the match after a dramatic defeat to Real Madrid, and they must now bounce back in the Champions League. Their most recent result came in Serie A, where they beat Genoa. The Olimpico fixture is a more manageable test: Slovan Bratislava are coached by Yaya Touré, and the match is the third matchday of the Champions League league phase. Slovan are set to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation: Takac; Blackman, Bajnc, Markovic, Sandro Cruz; Pokorny, Mustafic; Barseghyan, Martinez, Camara; Griger. Gasperini will be without several regular starters, including Dybala, Koné and Svilar. He does receive a significant boost with the return of Bryan Cristante, who has recovered from a knee problem and is available, at least for the bench, ready to contribute if needed. Alessandro Di Nunzio is also in the squad, and Gasperini has confirmed him after his Serie A debut. The head-to-head record is short. Roma are meeting Slovan Bratislava for the first time in 15 years, since the only previous meeting, a 2011/12 Europa League play-off in which the Slovaks won 1-0 away and drew 1-1 at the Olimpico to eliminate the Giallorossi. Across all their meetings with Slovak sides, Roma have one win, two draws and one defeat. Their only victory came in 2009, when they beat Košice 7-1 at the Olimpico in the Europa League qualifiers after a 3-3 draw in the first leg. Slovan Bratislava have won just one of their five away matches in Italy, with one draw and three defeats. Roma also have the home advantage on their side, having won eight of their last ten Champions League home matches. The match is broadcast live and exclusively on Sky. Viewers need a Sky subscription, and the game will be shown on channels 201, 214 and 251, namely Sky Sport Uno, Sky Sport 4K for televisions that support 4K resolution, and Sky Sport. Streaming is available through SkyGo and Now Tv, and through devices such as Amazon Fire TV Stick, Google Chromecast and the TIM VISION Box. Fans can also follow the match through the live coverage on Forzaroma.info and on Roma's Instagram, Twitter and Facebook accounts.

Rafa Benitez has backed Gian Piero Gasperini and Roma's style of play ahead of their Champions League fixture against Slovan Bratislava. Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Spanish coach said the Italian clubs in Europe are not out of contention, pointing to Chivu, Allegri, Fabregas and Gasperini as the first sources of confidence. "Nulla è perduto, lo sanno meglio di me uomini di calcio come Chivu, Allegri, Fabregas e Gasperini. Loro sono le prime certezze. Ci sono partite per niente semplici, ma sanno cosa li aspetta." Translated: "Nothing is lost. Men of football like Chivu, Allegri, Fabregas and Gasperini know this better than I do. They are the first certainties. There are matches that are far from simple, but they know what awaits them." Asked about Gasperini's absences, Benitez focused on the team's approach rather than the availability of players. "Ha un gioco che l'ha aiutato a battere il Genoa con padronanza. È quello il fattore decisivo, probabilmente." In English: "He has a style of play that helped him beat Genoa with control. That is probably the decisive factor." He added that Donyell Malen is returning to the squad, a boost for the attack. Benitez also looked ahead to the result that would follow a win over Slovan. "Battere lo Slovan significa mettersi a 4 punti in classifica." In English: "Beating Slovan means getting to 4 points in the table." He rounded off by praising Roma's recent performance against Real Madrid: "Però io insisto: contro il Real la Roma ha giocato molto, ma molto bene." In English: "But I insist: against Real, Roma played very, very well."

Former Roma striker Antonio Cassano has criticised the quality of Serie A and singled out Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen in his latest appearance on Viva el Futbol. Cassano said: "With this Serie A, if I lose two kilos and play in flip-flops I make the difference. And if Nicola Ventola and I played up front together, we would do better than everyone else." He went on to back his own talent, saying: "I was a phenomenon. I played with ten kilos of excess weight, I didn't train, I decided what I wanted to do with my life." Cassano also turned his attention to two current Roma forwards. He said: "Dybala goes to a cylinder and falls over, Malen after eight years on the bench between Dortmund and Aston Villa is the top scorer." The comments are likely to stir debate among Roma supporters, given the contrast Cassano drew between the two attackers. José Mourinho was among the sharpest targets of his criticism, a week after his Real Madrid side beat Gasperini's Roma 4-3 at the Olimpico. Cassano said: "He is finished, he is washed up. He should stop coaching. It has been like this for more than ten years." On the Portuguese's style of play, he added: "A team of phenomena and he makes them play in an unworthy way, outside all logic. I would be ashamed in his place." He continued: "Old football, old football, without ideas. All he has left is the chatter." Cassano also suggested that Mourinho's continued prominence at the top of international football is helped by his relationship with agent Jorge Mendes: "He has the luck of having the best agent in the world, who if he wants will find him a place even on the Moon." In contrast, Cassano praised Gian Piero Gasperini, distinguishing the Roma head coach's work from that of the managers he criticised. The praise fits with his repeated call for proactive, attacking football.