Roma prepare to host Slovan Bratislava in Champions League: predicted lineups and how to watch

AS Roma host Slovan Bratislava at the Stadio Olimpico tonight, Tuesday 20 October, with kickoff at 21:00 in the third matchday of the Champions League league phase. Gian Piero Gasperini's side face the Slovak club after the spectacular match against Real Madrid, and more than 60,000 Roma supporters are expected to fill the stadium and push the team through an important stage of their European campaign. As communicated by AS Roma, the Olimpico gates open at 18:30, two and a half hours before kickoff. The club advises fans to arrive at least 90 minutes before the match to speed up entry and avoid queues at the turnstiles. Some hospitality tickets are still available through Roma's official channels. For any needs, the box 4 on Via Nigra will be operational until kickoff. Fans can also contact the club's assistance service on 06.89386000 or at [email protected]. Entry to the Olimpico requires digital tickets and season tickets only. Season tickets are available through the "Il Mio Posto" app. Supporters who have not yet activated their European competition season ticket must complete the procedure by entering their PNR and date of birth in the app. Tickets can be viewed in the same app or added to the smartphone Wallet, and tickets stored in the Wallet can also be used with NFC technology by bringing the device close to the turnstile reader. The club reminds fans that screenshots of tickets and season tickets will not be accepted for entry. Roma also reiterates its ban on resale through unofficial platforms and provides a form for reporting abuses linked to secondary ticketing. Three mobile merchandise stands selling official Giallorossi products will be active on matchday. They will be located on Via delle Olimpiadi, near the Pietrangeli stadium, in the Tribuna Monte Mario piazza and at the entrance to the Tribuna Tevere, on the obelisk side. The stands will remain open before, during and after the match, allowing fans to buy official merchandise at the final whistle.

Roma need a heavy win against Slovan Bratislava tomorrow, according to Lorenzo Pes of Teleradiostereo, who said a comfortable victory would be important for goal difference and that a goalfest is required. Roma face Slovan in tomorrow's match, and the Roman radio pundits gathered their views on the fixture and the wider table picture. Roberto Pruzzo, speaking on Radio Radio Mattino - 104,5, said: "The matches are very many. Roma will have to be careful, Slovan are stronger than Genoa. But Gasperini's team has already shown it can do well even with rotation." Piero Torri of Radio Manà Manà - 90,9 looked at the league table, saying: "I believe 10 points will be needed to reach the playoffs. Last year the last two teams qualified with 9. In any case, tomorrow it will be fundamental to win, so you can reach the last three with the chance of getting to ten." Pes expects Pellegrini to start from the first minute against Slovan, with Soulé alongside him. He described the opponents as modest and said: "It is impossible that Totti stays out of the celebrations for the centenary. It is difficult that he becomes a director." He added: "There will be absences, but Roma have the possibilities to score many goals."

Lorenzo Pellegrini returns to the starting XI tonight as Roma face Slovan Bratislava in the UEFA Champions League, 2,806 days after the club last won a Champions League match. Roma have not competed in Europe's premier competition for seven years, and Malen and his team-mates aim to return to winning ways after points slipped away against Fenerbahce and Real Madrid. The last Roma win came on 12 February 2019, when the Giallorossi beat Porto 2-1 at the Stadio Olimpico. Porto progressed on the return leg after a 3-1 victory. Pellegrini started that evening too, and he is the only survivor from that side. The squad around him has changed completely since then. Di Francesco's 4-3-3 that night included Cristante, who is missing tonight through injury, and Daniele De Rossi in midfield. Dzeko led the line, with El Shaarawy alongside him and Zaniolo, who scored twice, in support. The defence was made up of Florenzi, Manolas, Fazio and Kolarov, with Mirante in goal. Santon, Kluivert and Nzonzi came off the bench. Seven years on from that night, Roma want to win in the Champions League again.

Roma have conceded fewer goals than any other side in Europe's top five leagues, with just three goals against so far this season. Before Sunday's fixture, Cagliari shared that record, but their 4-0 defeat to Monza dropped them down the table. Roma's only goals conceded came twice against Inter and once against Atalanta. Lazio and Borussia Dortmund trail them with four each among the top five European leagues. The solidity has not dropped even after the injury to Svilar. Gollini has already recorded two clean sheets in Serie A, against Como and Genoa. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini calls his defenders 'gladiators', and the numbers back him up. Hermoso is third in Serie A for interceptions per game with 2.4, while N'Dicka is eighth for defensive clearances per game with 5.8. Mancini, after a difficult start to the season, is returning to his high level. This year Balerdi and Koulierakis have also joined the back line. Balerdi is already a fixed starter and a true utility player. He can play in all three positions of the back three, and tonight against Slovan he will lead the defence. Ghilardi is finding less space at present, but his minutes are expected to increase as the matchdays pass. The Roma wall continues to impress.

Roma return to action tonight looking for their first win in the Champions League League Phase, with kickoff at 21:00 at the Stadio Olimpico against Slovan Bratislava, who are still on zero points after two matches. The Slovaks come to Rome after Roma's win over Genoa in Serie A. Mancini, Hermoso, Wesley and Malen all return to the starting line-up from the first minute, while Evan N'Dicka is expected to be rested. Gian Piero Gasperini's side is set to line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation, according to the main Roman dailies. The predicted XI is largely the same across the papers. Mile Svilar is not included; Pierluigi Gollini starts in goal, with Gianluca Mancini, Leonardo Balerdi and Mario Hermoso forming the back three. Marten de Roon and Niccolò Pisilli operate in the middle, with Wesley on the right of midfield and Lulli or Nahuel Molina on the left, depending on the newspaper. Matías Soulé and Lorenzo Pellegrini support Donyell Malen up front. Molina is named in the lineups of two outlets, Il Corriere dello SportRoma and La Gazzetta dello SportRoma, and in Leggoroma, while Lulli is picked by the rest. For Roma, a win tonight would be a first points gain in the Champions League league phase and a chance to build on the momentum from the weekend victory over Genoa. The return of Wesley and Malen gives Gasperini a fully fit attacking and midfield core, while the decision to rest N'Dicka offers a rotation option for a team playing regularly across competitions. Mancini and Hermoso's return restores experience to the defensive line.

Roma are chasing their first win in the Champions League as they prepare to face Slovan Bratislava, with Gian Piero Gasperini set to be without Svilar, Cristante, Koné and Dybala. Malen is the only player returning from the Genoa league fixture and will start tonight, with Soulé and Pellegrini behind him. Evan N'Dicka may be rested. On the right side of the defence, Nahuel Molina and Emanuele Lulli are in a straight fight for a place. The Italian newspapers' predicted line-ups are split on the pick: Corriere dello Sport, Il Messaggero, Il Tempo and Corriere della Sera all name Lulli, while La Gazzetta dello Sport and Leggo go with Molina. All of them set Roma up in a 3-4-2-1 with Gollini in goal, Mancini, Balerdi and Hermoso across the back three, and Wesley, de Roon and Pisilli in midfield alongside the right-back option. The home side are without several first-team regulars, so the selection call on the flank and the rotation of N'Dicka will shape how Gasperini sets his back line. Roma are still searching for their first Champions League victory of the season, and tonight's fixture gives them the chance to address that.

Udinese defender David Alaba is at risk of missing the match against Roma after suffering a muscle strain in his right calf. The Giallorossi travel to the Dacia Arena on 31 October at 18:00 for the fixture. Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini will be without some players for the trip to Udine. Mile Svilar and Manu Koné are certain to miss the match against the bianconeri. Paulo Dybala's availability is also in doubt. Bryan Cristante, however, is set to return to the squad on Saturday for the match against Napoli. The absences add to the selection headaches Gasperini faces as Roma prepare for a demanding run of fixtures, with the Napoli game coming before the trip to Udinese.

Roma have conceded fewer goals than any other side in Europe's top five leagues, with just three goals against so far this season. Before Sunday's fixture, Cagliari shared that record, but their 4-0 defeat to Monza dropped them down the table. Roma's only goals conceded came twice against Inter and once against Atalanta. Lazio and Borussia Dortmund trail them with four each among the top five European leagues. The solidity has not dropped even after the injury to Svilar. Gollini has already recorded two clean sheets in Serie A, against Como and Genoa. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini calls his defenders 'gladiators', and the numbers back him up. Hermoso is third in Serie A for interceptions per game with 2.4, while N'Dicka is eighth for defensive clearances per game with 5.8. Mancini, after a difficult start to the season, is returning to his high level. This year Balerdi and Koulierakis have also joined the back line. Balerdi is already a fixed starter and a true utility player. He can play in all three positions of the back three, and tonight against Slovan he will lead the defence. Ghilardi is finding less space at present, but his minutes are expected to increase as the matchdays pass. The Roma wall continues to impress.

Roma return to action tonight looking for their first win in the Champions League League Phase, with kickoff at 21:00 at the Stadio Olimpico against Slovan Bratislava, who are still on zero points after two matches. The Slovaks come to Rome after Roma's win over Genoa in Serie A. Mancini, Hermoso, Wesley and Malen all return to the starting line-up from the first minute, while Evan N'Dicka is expected to be rested. Gian Piero Gasperini's side is set to line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation, according to the main Roman dailies. The predicted XI is largely the same across the papers. Mile Svilar is not included; Pierluigi Gollini starts in goal, with Gianluca Mancini, Leonardo Balerdi and Mario Hermoso forming the back three. Marten de Roon and Niccolò Pisilli operate in the middle, with Wesley on the right of midfield and Lulli or Nahuel Molina on the left, depending on the newspaper. Matías Soulé and Lorenzo Pellegrini support Donyell Malen up front. Molina is named in the lineups of two outlets, Il Corriere dello SportRoma and La Gazzetta dello SportRoma, and in Leggoroma, while Lulli is picked by the rest. For Roma, a win tonight would be a first points gain in the Champions League league phase and a chance to build on the momentum from the weekend victory over Genoa. The return of Wesley and Malen gives Gasperini a fully fit attacking and midfield core, while the decision to rest N'Dicka offers a rotation option for a team playing regularly across competitions. Mancini and Hermoso's return restores experience to the defensive line.

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 have conceded fewer goals than any other side in Europe's top five leagues, with just three goals against so far this season. Before Sunday's fixture, Cagliari shared that record, but their 4-0 defeat to Monza dropped them down the table. Roma's only goals conceded came twice against Inter and once against Atalanta. Lazio and Borussia Dortmund trail them with four each among the top five European leagues. The solidity has not dropped even after the injury to Svilar. Gollini has already recorded two clean sheets in Serie A, against Como and Genoa. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini calls his defenders 'gladiators', and the numbers back him up. Hermoso is third in Serie A for interceptions per game with 2.4, while N'Dicka is eighth for defensive clearances per game with 5.8. Mancini, after a difficult start to the season, is returning to his high level. This year Balerdi and Koulierakis have also joined the back line. Balerdi is already a fixed starter and a true utility player. He can play in all three positions of the back three, and tonight against Slovan he will lead the defence. Ghilardi is finding less space at present, but his minutes are expected to increase as the matchdays pass. The Roma wall continues to impress.

Roma return to action tonight looking for their first win in the Champions League League Phase, with kickoff at 21:00 at the Stadio Olimpico against Slovan Bratislava, who are still on zero points after two matches. The Slovaks come to Rome after Roma's win over Genoa in Serie A. Mancini, Hermoso, Wesley and Malen all return to the starting line-up from the first minute, while Evan N'Dicka is expected to be rested. Gian Piero Gasperini's side is set to line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation, according to the main Roman dailies. The predicted XI is largely the same across the papers. Mile Svilar is not included; Pierluigi Gollini starts in goal, with Gianluca Mancini, Leonardo Balerdi and Mario Hermoso forming the back three. Marten de Roon and Niccolò Pisilli operate in the middle, with Wesley on the right of midfield and Lulli or Nahuel Molina on the left, depending on the newspaper. Matías Soulé and Lorenzo Pellegrini support Donyell Malen up front. Molina is named in the lineups of two outlets, Il Corriere dello SportRoma and La Gazzetta dello SportRoma, and in Leggoroma, while Lulli is picked by the rest. For Roma, a win tonight would be a first points gain in the Champions League league phase and a chance to build on the momentum from the weekend victory over Genoa. The return of Wesley and Malen gives Gasperini a fully fit attacking and midfield core, while the decision to rest N'Dicka offers a rotation option for a team playing regularly across competitions. Mancini and Hermoso's return restores experience to the defensive line.