Roma face Slovan Bratislava at the Olimpico in Champions League; Lulli and Molina battle for a place

Slovan Bratislava are looking to spoil Roma's night, with both sides still chasing their first win in this season's Champions League. Slovan's coach Yaya Touré spoke to Sky Sport shortly before kick-off, reflecting on his return to the stadium where he won the Champions League with Barcelona. Touré said: "I was on the pitch, it is always a pleasure and I am happy. I have wonderful memories, it was a special evening and a special final against United. We managed to win, but today is a different match and as a coach. We will see how my team plays, I am curious too." Asked what he expected from the Roma game, he said: "We have enormous respect for Roma, it is a very big club. We know it will be difficult. Against Real Madrid they were unlucky, they deserved to win and instead the game was decided in the last 10 minutes. It was a disappointment for them, but we know they will want to react. We will try to test them and we will see if we can take the result home."

Francesco Totti was at the Stadio Olimpico again for Roma's home Champions League game against Slovan Bratislava, a week after attending the match against Real Madrid. The former Roma captain had promised head coach Gian Piero Gasperini that he would return, and he kept his word. Before entering the stadium, Totti had a long conversation with Paulo Dybala, who is injured and unavailable for tonight's match. He then greeted and embraced Donyell Malen, who will start from the first minute and lead the attack. Behind Malen, Lorenzo Pellegrini and Rodrigo Mora will play in midfield. This is Roma's second Champions League game, and their second at home. Totti's return to Trigoria is not currently on the table, but he wants to enjoy the magic of the Champions League.

Roma return to Champions League action at the Stadio Olimpico against Slovan Bratislava, after a 2-0 win over Genoa in Serie A that restored their league form. Gian Piero Gasperini's side needed points in the Champions League to climb the league-phase standings. The Giallorossi got a result from their second-string players against Genoa, with Castro scoring a spectacular goal to unlock the game. Roma opened their European campaign with a draw against Fenerbahce in Turkey, and then suffered the sting of a comeback by Real Madrid in front of their own fans. Slovan Bratislava are considered a side well within Roma's reach, but one that can hide dangers. Roma's Champions League fixture against Slovan Bratislava is being played at the Olimpico. Fans can follow the match on Sky and Prime, with official line-ups, kickoff time and the current league-phase table all included in pre-match coverage.

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.

Roma lead Slovan Bratislava 2-0 at half-time in their third League Phase match of the Champions League at the Stadio Olimpico. Aaron Hermoso's header in the 21st minute opened the scoring, and Molina doubled the lead in the 38th minute, reacting first to a rebound from Takác after a Malen shot. Gian Piero Gasperini's side are seeking their first European win of the season, having taken one point from their opening two games, a draw at Fenerbahçe and a 4-3 defeat to Real Madrid after a chaotic match. Slovan Bratislava, coached by Yaya Touré, have made a poor start to the competition. They lost 6-1 to Paris Saint-Germain and 3-0 to Stuttgart. Over 60,000 Roma supporters were expected at the Olimpico, and the stadium gates were open two hours before the match. Roma lined up in a 3-4-2-1 formation: Gollini; Ghilardi, Balerdi, Hermoso; Molina, Pisilli, De Roon, Wesley; Mora, Pellegrini; Malen. Malen returned after serving a league suspension. Slovan Bratislava (4-2-3-1) fielded Takác; Blackman, Bajric, Markovic, Cruz; Pokorný, Ibrahim, Gajdos; Barseghyan, Marcelli, Suleiman Camara. The referee is Sandro Schärer of Switzerland, assisted by Stéphane De Almeida and Jonas Erni, with Anojen Kanagasingam as fourth official, Fedayi San as VAR and Tomasz Kwiatkowski as assistant VAR. Roma dominated the opening 45 minutes and were on the attack from the first whistle. Pellegrini's free kick was crossed onto the far post, where Ghilardi won the header and flicked the ball on for Hermoso, who headed into the net in the 21st minute. Earlier, Pellegrini had hit a right-footed effort from the edge of the box that Takác saved diving low, and he later sent a right-footed shot from a right-wing cross that failed to hit the target. Barseghyan was booked for simulation in the 20th minute. In the 32nd minute, Wesley burst forward at speed and played a fine ball across to the far post, where Molina arrived at pace but could not keep his effort down, and it bounced over the bar. Molina then scored in the 38th minute, reacting first to Takác's rebound after Malen's right-footed shot. The half ended with Roma well on top and the gap between the sides evident. The second half is still to come, with Roma looking to turn their control into a first European win this season.

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 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.

Roma host Slovan Bratislava at the Stadio Olimpico in their third League Phase match of the Champions League, and the defence has been overhauled, with Daniele Ghilardi and Leonardo Balerdi starting from the first minute. Gian Piero Gasperini is preparing his players for a must-win night. He said: "We need to win to keep our chances of going through alive." Roma have never beaten the Slovakian side. The match is a chance to bounce back quickly. Less than a week ago, Roma were dominating Real Madrid, coached by José Mourinho, at the Olimpico before the Spanish side took over. Roma let an advantage slip away in just seven minutes. Fans want a response, and the Olimpico is set to light up again in the pursuit of the Champions League. A win would confirm the team's excellent form. The match is refereed by the Swiss official Schärer. Gasperini's side are looking to rewrite the record against the Slovakian club, and a victory would keep their European hopes firmly alive. Roma fans can follow the live text coverage of the match.

Roma lead Slovan Bratislava 2-0 at half-time in their third League Phase match of the Champions League at the Stadio Olimpico. Aaron Hermoso's header in the 21st minute opened the scoring, and Molina doubled the lead in the 38th minute, reacting first to a rebound from Takác after a Malen shot. Gian Piero Gasperini's side are seeking their first European win of the season, having taken one point from their opening two games, a draw at Fenerbahçe and a 4-3 defeat to Real Madrid after a chaotic match. Slovan Bratislava, coached by Yaya Touré, have made a poor start to the competition. They lost 6-1 to Paris Saint-Germain and 3-0 to Stuttgart. Over 60,000 Roma supporters were expected at the Olimpico, and the stadium gates were open two hours before the match. Roma lined up in a 3-4-2-1 formation: Gollini; Ghilardi, Balerdi, Hermoso; Molina, Pisilli, De Roon, Wesley; Mora, Pellegrini; Malen. Malen returned after serving a league suspension. Slovan Bratislava (4-2-3-1) fielded Takác; Blackman, Bajric, Markovic, Cruz; Pokorný, Ibrahim, Gajdos; Barseghyan, Marcelli, Suleiman Camara. The referee is Sandro Schärer of Switzerland, assisted by Stéphane De Almeida and Jonas Erni, with Anojen Kanagasingam as fourth official, Fedayi San as VAR and Tomasz Kwiatkowski as assistant VAR. Roma dominated the opening 45 minutes and were on the attack from the first whistle. Pellegrini's free kick was crossed onto the far post, where Ghilardi won the header and flicked the ball on for Hermoso, who headed into the net in the 21st minute. Earlier, Pellegrini had hit a right-footed effort from the edge of the box that Takác saved diving low, and he later sent a right-footed shot from a right-wing cross that failed to hit the target. Barseghyan was booked for simulation in the 20th minute. In the 32nd minute, Wesley burst forward at speed and played a fine ball across to the far post, where Molina arrived at pace but could not keep his effort down, and it bounced over the bar. Molina then scored in the 38th minute, reacting first to Takác's rebound after Malen's right-footed shot. The half ended with Roma well on top and the gap between the sides evident. The second half is still to come, with Roma looking to turn their control into a first European win this season.

Leonardo Balerdi has spoken to Sky Sport ahead of Roma's match against Slovan Bratislava, praising head coach Gian Piero Gasperini and setting out the team's ambitions. Balerdi is playing as a central defender today, and he said he feels good in a back line where the boss makes many changes. Asked about Gasperini, the Argentine defender was effusive. He said the coach is a strong figure who knows exactly what he wants to do, and he admired his passion and his training sessions. Balerdi added that players feel full of confidence on the pitch, which he considers very important. On settling in with the other Argentines in the squad, Balerdi said there are many of them. He explained that his compatriots had messaged him before he arrived in Rome and told him to join the club. He said he has been welcomed very well and is happy. He concluded: "Dobbiamo vincere e lasciare la Roma più in alto possibile", meaning the team must win and leave Roma as high as possible.

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.

Roma host Slovan Bratislava at the Stadio Olimpico in their third League Phase match of the Champions League, and the defence has been overhauled, with Daniele Ghilardi and Leonardo Balerdi starting from the first minute. Gian Piero Gasperini is preparing his players for a must-win night. He said: "We need to win to keep our chances of going through alive." Roma have never beaten the Slovakian side. The match is a chance to bounce back quickly. Less than a week ago, Roma were dominating Real Madrid, coached by José Mourinho, at the Olimpico before the Spanish side took over. Roma let an advantage slip away in just seven minutes. Fans want a response, and the Olimpico is set to light up again in the pursuit of the Champions League. A win would confirm the team's excellent form. The match is refereed by the Swiss official Schärer. Gasperini's side are looking to rewrite the record against the Slovakian club, and a victory would keep their European hopes firmly alive. Roma fans can follow the live text coverage of the match.