Roma beat Slovan Bratislava 4-0 for first Champions League win as Hermoso, Molina, Pisilli and Malen score

Andrea Colombo of the Como section will referee the Napoli v Roma match at the Maradona on Saturday at 18:00, the big fixture of Serie A's eighth matchday. He will be assisted by Bindoni and Rossi, with Sacchi as fourth official. Aureliano will be the VAR, with Meraviglia as AVAR. Colombo, a Lombard referee, has overseen Roma 11 times, with a record of 5 wins, 5 draws and just 1 defeat. Their most recent meeting was a home game against Atalanta on 5 September, which Roma won 2-1 from behind, with goals from Hermoso and Soulé late on. Last season, Roma drew 2-2 away at Napoli, with Malen scoring twice, but the more controversial game was a defeat at Genoa. In that match, Colombo denied Roma a clear penalty for a handball by Malinovskyi on Koné's shot. The record is also positive for Napoli, who have won 7, drawn 1 and lost 3 of their 11 meetings with the Lombard referee. One of those defeats came in December 2023, when Roma beat Napoli 2-0 at the Olimpico, with goals from Pellegrini and Lukaku. Colombo's appointment is the key talking point ahead of a fixture that has historically been tight, with both sides having strong records under him. Roma will be keen to put the Genoa controversy behind them and turn their recent results into a strong performance at the Maradona.

Roma return to action on Saturday with a big match at the Maradona against Napoli, kicking off at 18:00, refereed by Colombo. The official's record against Roma is positive: five wins, five draws and one defeat in their previous meetings. Last season's defeat, however, was marked by controversy. Roma lost 2-1 to Genoa, then coached by De Rossi, and a penalty was not given for a handball by Malinovskyi on Koné's shot. The defeat to Genoa came in a season when refereeing decisions drew heavy debate, and Roma's fans will be keen to see whether the officials can avoid a repeat of that row. Aureliano is the VAR and Meraviglia will serve as the assistant video referee for the fixture. The Italian report sets out the officiating line-up in full, with Colombo in charge on the pitch, supported by Aureliano at the VAR screen and Meraviglia as the AVAR. The match is a Saturday fixture, with the 18:00 kickoff confirmed.

Roma's Stadio Olimpico recorded an attendance of 64,399 for the Champions League match against Slovan Bratislava, the highest figure of all the matches played on Tuesday in the competition. The data was highlighted by Football Meets Data, a profile specialising in football statistics, which compared attendances at stadiums hosting the Champions League matchday. The Olimpico finished top of the list, ahead of venues staging high-profile fixtures such as the Parc des Princes for PSG-Barcelona and Anfield for Liverpool-Villarreal. The figure confirms the weight of the Olimpico factor on European nights and the bond between Gasperini's side and its supporters. The result is another sign of the Roma fanbase's commitment, a turnout that once again turns the Olimpico into one of the warmest and best-attended stadiums in Europe.

Roma's pundits on Rome's radio stations were largely positive about the club's recent results, but they were divided over Mora and the January market. Roberto Pruzzo, speaking on Radio Radio, said: 'Mora is absolutely not ready for this stage, and Roma must sign Lookman. Do a six-month loan.' He also said Castro does not play when Malen is fit and that Mora did not take advantage of his chance, adding that a striker is needed in January. Mario Corsi of Tele Radio Stereo was more worried: 'I said Mora had to play to get used to his teammates, but there is a Mora problem. Do you remember Bojan Krkic? I would not want him to suffer the same fate.' Corsi said Mora was an embarrassment in front of goal, had shot at a photographer and had got everything wrong on Sunday, including his passing. The debate followed a run of matches after the heavy defeat to Real Madrid. Mario Mattioli of Radio Radio said Roma were fortunate to face Genoa and Slovan Bratislava afterwards, as they could restore their mental focus, and that Roma had taken full advantage. He described Slovan as a side who do not belong in the Champions League, suggesting they were better suited to the Europa League or Conference League. Fabio Petruzzi of Rete Sport argued that Roma make their opponents look weak: 'Genoa were weak, Slovan are weak, they are all weak... even Real Madrid were weak until ten minutes from the end. I would start saying Roma are strong.' Alessio Nardo of Tele Radio Stereo said he could hardly recall a smaller side worse than Slovan Bratislava, adding that they could not keep the ball for more than three seconds. David Rossi of Rete Sport praised the defence under Gian Piero Gasperini: 'What impresses me is that the defenders have improved most with Gasperini. Ghilardi started two matches, against Lecce and against Slovan, and I remember him more for what he does in attack than in defence. Ghilardi is a starter now. Hermoso, we did not know who to pin it on, and now he is a leader. Balerdi arrived while Marseille fans were celebrating, and here he is dominant. N'Dicka has improved a lot... Roma have a back line that I believe is the strongest in Italy.' Gianluca Piacentini of Rete Sport noted that Roma had rotated five starters in defence over the last two matches while conceding no goals. He said the comparison between Malen and Castro and Ferguson and Dovbyk was harsh. Pes argued that Gasperini had not overused Pellegrini, who had started two matches, and said Pellegrini was prone to injury, which he had always been. Pellegrini is now 30, Pes said, and the problems are getting worse. Checco Oddo Casano said Roma should consider the futures of Dybala and Pellegrini in June, after seeing how many matches they had played. The radio hosts agreed that a striker is needed, and Pruzzo said he would name the player to be signed in January. Piero Torri of Manà Manà Sport said he was supporting Manchester United against Como that evening, because a defeat for the English side would leave Roma with a final chance. He also said Roma had regrets about Fenerbahce and Real Madrid, where a result was possible, and warned that Roma could arrive at the third-last match ranked behind others in the table.

Daniele Ghilardi made his first career start in the Champions League last night, delivering a very convincing performance for Roma. Ghilardi also provided the assist that unlocked the match. The defender's display comes as reports had suggested a possible January sale, although Roma have no intention of letting him go, according to the article's reporting on the situation. Roma have collected four points from nine so far this season. Asked whether that record feels short of what the team has shown, Ghilardi said: "If it feels short I don't know, because away from home we managed to get a point, which was not easy. Today we won, and last game unfortunately we know how it went, but the performance was there. We will keep trying to pick up points to position ourselves in the best place in the table." On whether the team has reached its definitive mental edge for the campaign or needs the Napoli game, he replied: "No, we approach the match the same way whether it is Real Madrid or Bratislava. We give our all and try to win because that is our aim. We hope to keep going like this." Asked about his Champions League debut, Ghilardi said: "I am happy, I was emotional at the end of the match, then I melted. I am happy it went that way, with the assist that unlocked the game. We hope to keep going like this." Asked what he is working on most compared with last year, he said: "Everything: heading, speed, one-on-one duels. We work on everything to improve because I can improve in so many areas. We do it in training and I hope it shows on the pitch."

Roma's goalscoring spread has become a major talking point after Nicolò Molina's goal against Slovan Bratislava made it 11 different scorers in just ten matches. Donyell Malen leads the way with nine goals, while Pisilli, Koné, Soulé and Hermoso have two each. Lulli, Mora, Cristante, De Roon, Castro and Molina have one apiece. In Serie A, counting cup matches too, Roma have scored from more players than Inter, who are stuck on 10. Gian Piero Gasperini's side are the only Italian club in the top bracket of the Sofascore ranking. Paulo Dybala is the notable absentee from the list and is hoping to return before the international break to add his name to the scoresheet. Every outfield player seems to be getting involved. Ghilardi, who could have been the twelfth man on Tuesday, had a goal ruled out for offside against Castro. Mancini, N'Dicka, Balerdi, Wesley, Rensch, Kouliarakis and Pellegrini are all also looking to get on the scoresheet. The key statistic, according to the article, is the number of chances created and Roma's far greater presence in the opposition box compared with last season. Apart from the match at Como, where Roma played with ten men for more than half an hour, the team have scored in every game in Serie A and the Champions League. They have almost always scored at least twice, the exception being the 1-1 draw with Fenerbahce. Across all European leagues, Brighton lead the way with 15 goals from different scorers, followed by Barcelona, Lyon, Brentford and Real Sociedad with 13. Manchester City, Leverkusen, Atletico Madrid and Freiburg have 12, while Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich are on 11.

Andrea Colombo of the Como section will referee the Napoli v Roma match at the Maradona on Saturday at 18:00, the big fixture of Serie A's eighth matchday. He will be assisted by Bindoni and Rossi, with Sacchi as fourth official. Aureliano will be the VAR, with Meraviglia as AVAR. Colombo, a Lombard referee, has overseen Roma 11 times, with a record of 5 wins, 5 draws and just 1 defeat. Their most recent meeting was a home game against Atalanta on 5 September, which Roma won 2-1 from behind, with goals from Hermoso and Soulé late on. Last season, Roma drew 2-2 away at Napoli, with Malen scoring twice, but the more controversial game was a defeat at Genoa. In that match, Colombo denied Roma a clear penalty for a handball by Malinovskyi on Koné's shot. The record is also positive for Napoli, who have won 7, drawn 1 and lost 3 of their 11 meetings with the Lombard referee. One of those defeats came in December 2023, when Roma beat Napoli 2-0 at the Olimpico, with goals from Pellegrini and Lukaku. Colombo's appointment is the key talking point ahead of a fixture that has historically been tight, with both sides having strong records under him. Roma will be keen to put the Genoa controversy behind them and turn their recent results into a strong performance at the Maradona.

Roma's pundits on Rome's radio stations were largely positive about the club's recent results, but they were divided over Mora and the January market. Roberto Pruzzo, speaking on Radio Radio, said: 'Mora is absolutely not ready for this stage, and Roma must sign Lookman. Do a six-month loan.' He also said Castro does not play when Malen is fit and that Mora did not take advantage of his chance, adding that a striker is needed in January. Mario Corsi of Tele Radio Stereo was more worried: 'I said Mora had to play to get used to his teammates, but there is a Mora problem. Do you remember Bojan Krkic? I would not want him to suffer the same fate.' Corsi said Mora was an embarrassment in front of goal, had shot at a photographer and had got everything wrong on Sunday, including his passing. The debate followed a run of matches after the heavy defeat to Real Madrid. Mario Mattioli of Radio Radio said Roma were fortunate to face Genoa and Slovan Bratislava afterwards, as they could restore their mental focus, and that Roma had taken full advantage. He described Slovan as a side who do not belong in the Champions League, suggesting they were better suited to the Europa League or Conference League. Fabio Petruzzi of Rete Sport argued that Roma make their opponents look weak: 'Genoa were weak, Slovan are weak, they are all weak... even Real Madrid were weak until ten minutes from the end. I would start saying Roma are strong.' Alessio Nardo of Tele Radio Stereo said he could hardly recall a smaller side worse than Slovan Bratislava, adding that they could not keep the ball for more than three seconds. David Rossi of Rete Sport praised the defence under Gian Piero Gasperini: 'What impresses me is that the defenders have improved most with Gasperini. Ghilardi started two matches, against Lecce and against Slovan, and I remember him more for what he does in attack than in defence. Ghilardi is a starter now. Hermoso, we did not know who to pin it on, and now he is a leader. Balerdi arrived while Marseille fans were celebrating, and here he is dominant. N'Dicka has improved a lot... Roma have a back line that I believe is the strongest in Italy.' Gianluca Piacentini of Rete Sport noted that Roma had rotated five starters in defence over the last two matches while conceding no goals. He said the comparison between Malen and Castro and Ferguson and Dovbyk was harsh. Pes argued that Gasperini had not overused Pellegrini, who had started two matches, and said Pellegrini was prone to injury, which he had always been. Pellegrini is now 30, Pes said, and the problems are getting worse. Checco Oddo Casano said Roma should consider the futures of Dybala and Pellegrini in June, after seeing how many matches they had played. The radio hosts agreed that a striker is needed, and Pruzzo said he would name the player to be signed in January. Piero Torri of Manà Manà Sport said he was supporting Manchester United against Como that evening, because a defeat for the English side would leave Roma with a final chance. He also said Roma had regrets about Fenerbahce and Real Madrid, where a result was possible, and warned that Roma could arrive at the third-last match ranked behind others in the table.

Lorenzo Pellegrini has been ruled out with a new muscle problem, while Bryan Cristante is back in the squad and aiming to be fully available for Saturday's trip to Napoli, coach Gian Piero Gasperini has said. Speaking after the 4-0 win over Slovan Bratislava in the Champions League, Gasperini said: "Now we have recovered Cristante but we lose Pellegrini. In certain areas we are a bit stretched." Roma regained their winning form in Europe and rotated their squad, but the injury list grew. Pellegrini was forced off early in the second half against Slovan with a muscle problem, interrupting a spell in which he had been steadily regaining continuity and condition. Gasperini played down the severity of the injury but indicated a recovery of some length: "I don't think it's a serious thing. However small it is, when it's muscular it takes 20 days, I think it's around that value." Further tests will clarify the situation, but Pellegrini is set to miss the Napoli match and several of the games that follow. His absence further complicates the selection in the attacking midfield, already affected by the absence of Paulo Dybala. Cristante had been out for recent weeks with a knee problem sustained after the Roma-Inter match. Against Slovan he was officially named back in the matchday squad, although he did not play, with Gasperini preferring not to rush his return. Being on the bench is still a significant step towards full recovery. The aim now is for him to be genuinely available against Napoli at the Maradona, a date Gasperini had earlier identified as a possible return. His availability could prove particularly valuable given the shortage in midfield. Dybala's situation has changed since the first indications after the Real Madrid match. Initially a simple calf strain was mentioned, but the latest checks revealed a small tear. Ahead of the Slovan game, Gasperini explained the Argentine must rest for at least a couple of weeks. After the European match the coach stressed how much his absence weighs on the attack: "If we don't recover Dybala quickly we will really be few in number." Dybala will therefore miss Napoli, and his recovery will be managed with caution. Manu Koné's rehabilitation continues. Tests carried out after the Roma-Real Madrid match showed a first-degree tear of the right hamstring. The Frenchman will not be available at the Maradona and is working towards a return in the coming weeks. Gasperini had pointed to the Sassuolo match as a possible reference point for his return: "Koné has had an MRI: it is a first-degree tear, not particularly significant. It needs the necessary time for recovery and we hope to have him available for Sassuolo." Whether he could be available sooner for the Champions League trip to Manchester United remains to be assessed. Mile Svilar is also still out, recovering from a stress fracture to a finger. The goalkeeper is continuing his programme and will not be available for the trip to the Maradona. The aim is to have him back after the next international break, once the necessary consolidation work is complete. In the meantime Pierluigi Gollini continues to inspire confidence in goal, having kept two consecutive clean sheets against Genoa and Slovan Bratislava. Until Svilar returns, Gollini will remain Roma's first choice in goal. The absences of Dybala, Pellegrini and Koné mainly reduce the options between midfield and the attacking midfield, but Gasperini can count on Malen's return and the possible recovery of Cristante. The most natural solution remains a 3-4-2-1, with Soulé and Mora behind the Dutchman, although a two-striker system with Malen and Castro, supported by one of the two attacking midfielders, is not ruled out. If Cristante is fully available, an alternative would be to pair him with De Roon in midfield, allowing Pisilli to push forward into the attacking midfield. As of 21 October, the probable Roma line-up is: Gollini; Mancini, N'Dicka, Hermoso; Wesley, De Roon, Pisilli, Molina; Mora, Soulé; Malen. Coach: Gasperini.

Lorenzo Pellegrini has been ruled out with a new muscle problem, while Bryan Cristante is back in the squad and aiming to be fully available for Saturday's trip to Napoli, coach Gian Piero Gasperini has said. Speaking after the 4-0 win over Slovan Bratislava in the Champions League, Gasperini said: "Now we have recovered Cristante but we lose Pellegrini. In certain areas we are a bit stretched." Roma regained their winning form in Europe and rotated their squad, but the injury list grew. Pellegrini was forced off early in the second half against Slovan with a muscle problem, interrupting a spell in which he had been steadily regaining continuity and condition. Gasperini played down the severity of the injury but indicated a recovery of some length: "I don't think it's a serious thing. However small it is, when it's muscular it takes 20 days, I think it's around that value." Further tests will clarify the situation, but Pellegrini is set to miss the Napoli match and several of the games that follow. His absence further complicates the selection in the attacking midfield, already affected by the absence of Paulo Dybala. Cristante had been out for recent weeks with a knee problem sustained after the Roma-Inter match. Against Slovan he was officially named back in the matchday squad, although he did not play, with Gasperini preferring not to rush his return. Being on the bench is still a significant step towards full recovery. The aim now is for him to be genuinely available against Napoli at the Maradona, a date Gasperini had earlier identified as a possible return. His availability could prove particularly valuable given the shortage in midfield. Dybala's situation has changed since the first indications after the Real Madrid match. Initially a simple calf strain was mentioned, but the latest checks revealed a small tear. Ahead of the Slovan game, Gasperini explained the Argentine must rest for at least a couple of weeks. After the European match the coach stressed how much his absence weighs on the attack: "If we don't recover Dybala quickly we will really be few in number." Dybala will therefore miss Napoli, and his recovery will be managed with caution. Manu Koné's rehabilitation continues. Tests carried out after the Roma-Real Madrid match showed a first-degree tear of the right hamstring. The Frenchman will not be available at the Maradona and is working towards a return in the coming weeks. Gasperini had pointed to the Sassuolo match as a possible reference point for his return: "Koné has had an MRI: it is a first-degree tear, not particularly significant. It needs the necessary time for recovery and we hope to have him available for Sassuolo." Whether he could be available sooner for the Champions League trip to Manchester United remains to be assessed. Mile Svilar is also still out, recovering from a stress fracture to a finger. The goalkeeper is continuing his programme and will not be available for the trip to the Maradona. The aim is to have him back after the next international break, once the necessary consolidation work is complete. In the meantime Pierluigi Gollini continues to inspire confidence in goal, having kept two consecutive clean sheets against Genoa and Slovan Bratislava. Until Svilar returns, Gollini will remain Roma's first choice in goal. The absences of Dybala, Pellegrini and Koné mainly reduce the options between midfield and the attacking midfield, but Gasperini can count on Malen's return and the possible recovery of Cristante. The most natural solution remains a 3-4-2-1, with Soulé and Mora behind the Dutchman, although a two-striker system with Malen and Castro, supported by one of the two attacking midfielders, is not ruled out. If Cristante is fully available, an alternative would be to pair him with De Roon in midfield, allowing Pisilli to push forward into the attacking midfield. As of 21 October, the probable Roma line-up is: Gollini; Mancini, N'Dicka, Hermoso; Wesley, De Roon, Pisilli, Molina; Mora, Soulé; Malen. Coach: Gasperini.

Roma's goalscoring spread has become a major talking point after Nicolò Molina's goal against Slovan Bratislava made it 11 different scorers in just ten matches. Donyell Malen leads the way with nine goals, while Pisilli, Koné, Soulé and Hermoso have two each. Lulli, Mora, Cristante, De Roon, Castro and Molina have one apiece. In Serie A, counting cup matches too, Roma have scored from more players than Inter, who are stuck on 10. Gian Piero Gasperini's side are the only Italian club in the top bracket of the Sofascore ranking. Paulo Dybala is the notable absentee from the list and is hoping to return before the international break to add his name to the scoresheet. Every outfield player seems to be getting involved. Ghilardi, who could have been the twelfth man on Tuesday, had a goal ruled out for offside against Castro. Mancini, N'Dicka, Balerdi, Wesley, Rensch, Kouliarakis and Pellegrini are all also looking to get on the scoresheet. The key statistic, according to the article, is the number of chances created and Roma's far greater presence in the opposition box compared with last season. Apart from the match at Como, where Roma played with ten men for more than half an hour, the team have scored in every game in Serie A and the Champions League. They have almost always scored at least twice, the exception being the 1-1 draw with Fenerbahce. Across all European leagues, Brighton lead the way with 15 goals from different scorers, followed by Barcelona, Lyon, Brentford and Real Sociedad with 13. Manchester City, Leverkusen, Atletico Madrid and Freiburg have 12, while Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich are on 11.

Former Roma striker Roberto Pruzzo has criticised Mora's display and called for the club to consider another attacker, after Roma's recent wins over Genoa and Slovan Bratislava. Speaking on Radio Radio, Pruzzo said the two games after the Real Madrid match had been needed because they gave the squad game time and satisfaction. He added that the strikers should be getting more minutes in these fixtures, and that Castro does not play. Pruzzo said: "Peccato che gli attaccanti, in queste gare, siano quelli che dovrebbero avere più spazio: Castro non gioca. Mi dispiace che Castro non giochi mai. Mora non ha approfittato dell'occasione, non è pronto per questo palcoscenico. Mi sembra sia il momento di pensare a un altro attaccante." Roma's win was described by Orsi on Radio Radio as calm and simple, with the only sour note being the injury to Pellegrini. Orsi said the game had few highlights, was too easy and too simple, and that Slovan are not much. He added: "Vittoria tranquilla e semplice. L'unica nota stonata è l'infortunio di Pellegrini. È stata una partita con pochi spunti, troppo facile e troppo semplice. Bene così: si è faticato poco, lo Slovan è poca roba. La Roma ha fatto la partita giusta, la partita che doveva fare." Carina was surprised that a side like Slovan could take part in the Champions League, saying Roma could have scored eight goals. He said Molina had not played a great game and seemed off form, and that Mora had not produced a sufficient performance, appearing to want to do too much. Carina said: "È un mistero come possa partecipare alla Champions una squadra come lo Slovan. La Roma poteva fare otto gol in un contesto del genere. Molina non fa una grandissima partita, mi è sembrato come se qualcosa non girasse al meglio. Mora non ha fatto una gara sufficiente: dà l'idea di voler sempre strafare. È bravo, ma deve giocare più semplice. Ghilardi fa una partita eccezionale. Castro, quando capiterà l'occasione, giocherà: non è un problema." Mattioli said Slovan were more Conference League material than Champions League, and that Roma had been fortunate to face manageable sides like Genoa and Slovan to regain their mental focus. In midfield, Pes told TeleRadioStereo that De Roon and Cristante have the same characteristics and he does not think they can play together. He said De Roon can handle a game from the bench, having played every match so far. Pes said: "De Roon e Cristante hanno caratteristiche uguali, non penso possano giocare insieme. De Roon una gara dalla panchina può farla, ne ha giocate tutte fino ad ora. Per me Cristante–Pisilli è la coppia giusta. Mi sembra fosse anche la coppia dell'anno scorso, perché Koné era infortunato. Se utilizzi Mora come elemento offensivo hai un cambio con Castro, e per me serve: non puoi iniziare con tutti i centrocampisti e poi non avere cambi. Se Cristante è a disposizione, inizi con Pisilli."