Schärer to referee Roma against Slovan Bratislava in the Champions League

Roma face Slovan Bratislava in the Champions League on Tuesday 20 October at 21:00 at the Stadio Olimpico, just two days after beating Genoa on Saturday evening. Gian Piero Gasperini addressed the fixture at his press conference, stressing that his side will not underestimate their opponents because they need to win to keep their qualification hopes alive. Gasperini said: "We will not underestimate the opponent because we need to win to fuel our chances of going through. To reach the playoffs we need 10 points, starting from this match." Roma go into the match with a fresh fitness concern, as Paulo Dybala is set to be out for at least two weeks. Lorenzo Pellegrini, who sat alongside Gasperini at the press conference, is likely to start tomorrow. Pellegrini said: "I'm well. The annual contract was the club's choice, my priority was Roma." Two places in the starting line-up remain open heading into the match. One is the central defensive berth, a choice between Leonardo Balerdi and Evan N'Dicka, with the former ahead in the race. The other is the right-back spot, where Emanuele Lulli or Nahuel Molina are in contention, with Lulli currently ahead. Slovan Bratislava head coach Yaya Touré also spoke at his press conference: "Great respect for Roma and for Gasp, here the details count."

Roma return to Champions League action tomorrow, 20 October, when they host Slovan Bratislava at the Stadio Olimpico in matchday three of the league phase. Roma come into the game after a draw at Fenerbahce and a dramatic 4-3 defeat to Real Madrid, and they are looking for their first European win of the season. Slovan are still on zero points and sit momentarily at the bottom of the table, with one goal scored and nine conceded. Their coach Yaya Touré arrives in Rome with his side's spirits lifted by a 3-0 win over Spartak Trnava in the Slovak derby, a result the Italian report describes as important above all psychologically, coming just days after a heavy European defeat to Stuttgart. Slovan's return to the league phase has not started as they hoped. On debut they were thrashed 6-1 by Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes, with Suleiman Camara scoring their only goal. In the second matchday they lost 3-0 at home to Stuttgart. After two games the record reads zero points, one goal scored and nine conceded, a goal difference of -8. For Roma, the Olimpico trip is therefore an important chance to get their own European campaign back on track. Gasperini has warned his players not to underestimate the opponent. He said: "È una squadra sicuramente dinamica, è una squadra che, per l'aspetto atletico, è sicuramente preparata. Ha anche qualche ottimo giocatore." In English: "It is certainly a dynamic team, a team that is certainly well prepared from an athletic point of view. They also have some excellent players." The coach stressed the need to take three points to keep Roma's qualification hopes alive. Domestically, Slovan have been more competitive, though not always consistent. Their strongest signal came in the last round, when Touré's side won 3-0 away at Spartak Trnava, one of the most intense fixtures in Slovak football. Rahim Ibrahim scored a brace and Adam Griger added the other goal. Across their last five league matches Slovan have won two, drawn two and lost one, results that include a 2-0 defeat at DAC, a 3-3 draw with Zilina, a 2-1 win at Komárno, a 1-1 draw at Skalica and the 3-0 win at Spartak Trnava. The Italian report suggests a side capable of finding space, especially when they can play in transition. Touré is one of the most interesting figures in the match. The former Barcelona and Manchester City midfielder is in his first experience as head coach and took over at Slovan last summer, after also working as an assistant with the Saudi Arabia national team. The Olimpico holds special meaning for him: as a player he won the 2008/09 Champions League with Barcelona, in the final played in Rome against Manchester United. He made 70 appearances in the competition before moving into coaching. Tactically, Slovan tend to adapt closely to their opponent. Against technically superior sides they can drop deep, compact themselves in front of their box and then try to attack quickly through the wings, a approach that could lead Touré to again pick a 4-2-3-1. Slovan's main offensive reference point is Andraz Sporar, the captain and the club's top scorer last season with 12 goals. UEFA names him as one of the symbolic figures of the Slovak side. His availability against Roma is, however, in serious doubt. Touré said on the eve of the match that the striker needs a few more days and that the staff does not intend to take risks. In his absence, an alternative could be given a chance up front. The player Roma must watch most closely is Suleiman Camara, who arrived from Racing Santander in the summer. The Gambian scored twice during the qualifiers and also netted Slovan's only goal in their first two league-phase matches, against PSG. Other players to watch include Tigran Barseghyan, an experienced figure able to move between the lines, while Nino Marcelli, 21, is one of the club's most promising prospects after a season in 2025/26 with seven goals and six assists. Roma's last meeting with Slovan came in the 2011/12 Europa League play-off round, the only official double-header between the clubs. Slovan won 1-0 away through Martin Dobrotka. At the Olimpico Simone Perrotta gave Roma the lead, but Peter Stepanovský equalised late on, a 1-1 draw that eliminated Roma, then coached by Luis Enrique, on a 2-1 aggregate. Roma have never beaten Slovan in UEFA competition, with one draw and one defeat in the two previous meetings. The most likely set-up remains a 4-2-3-1. Takáč is expected in goal, with Blackman, Bajrić, Marković and Sandro Cruz forming the back line. In midfield Pokorný should be joined by either Ibrahim or Mustafić, while Barseghyan, Cristian Martínez and Suleiman Camara are the main options behind the striker. The key issue is the centre-forward: after Touré's words, Sporar's involvement looks increasingly unlikely. If he is unavailable, Griger, Maros and Yirajang are the offensive options on the Champions League list.

Roma host Slovan Bratislava at the Stadio Olimpico tomorrow at 21:00, and Gian Piero Gasperini is expected to make several changes to the side that played Genoa in the last league match. Slovan Bratislava are coached by Yaya Toure, according to the report. According to Sky Sport, Mancini and Hermoso return to start in defence, with N'Dicka confirmed at centre-back. Molina and Wesley are set to return on the flanks, while De Roon and Pisilli are expected in midfield. Soulé and Pellegrini are likely to support Malen up front. The probable Roma line-up in a 3-4-2-1 formation is: Gollini; Mancini, N'Dicka, Hermoso; Molina, Pisilli, De Roon, Wesley; Soulé, Pellegrini; Malen.

Stephan El Shaarawy, Niccolò Pisilli and Tommaso Baldanzi were among the Roma figures who attended the preview of "In un battito", the film about former Roma midfielder Edoardo Bove, at the Festa del Cinema di Roma. El Shaarawy received a warm welcome on arrival, a sign of the affection that still surrounds him in the Roma environment. The film, directed by Giovanni Troilo, follows Bove's journey after the collapse he suffered on 1 December 2024 during Fiorentina-Inter. It deals with a particularly delicate chapter of the midfielder's life and places his human experience at its centre. Bove, who is no longer at the club, kept strong ties with his former team-mates, and their presence at the screening was seen as a mark of that bond. El Shaarawy shared a dressing room with Bove at Roma, and his attendance was a gesture of closeness towards the player. Pisilli and Baldanzi are also linked to Bove's time in giallorosso. Their presence underlined the significance of an evening dedicated to the personal story of a player who remains close to his former colleagues.

Several Roma figures attended the premiere of "In un Battito", the documentary about Edoardo Bove's life since his collapse on 1 December 2024, at the Festival del Cinema in Rome on the evening of 18 October. Current Roma midfielder Niccolò Pisilli was among those present, alongside former Giallorossi Tommaso Baldanzi and Stephan El Shaarawy, all accompanied by their partners. Bove, a former Roma midfielder who now plays for Watford, was the focus of the film. Tennis player and Roma fan Flavio Cobolli, Bove's best friend, walked the red carpet. Former Fiorentina coach Raffaele Palladino, who was in charge of the club at the time of the tragic event, also attended. The presence of so many Roma people was highlighted by Eleonora Trotta on Instagram. The premiere was an occasion to show closeness and affection for a project that involved Bove personally. The documentary follows his recovery and return to life after the medical emergency suffered during a match on 1 December 2024.

Roma beat Genoa 2-0 at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday evening, a result that keeps the focus firmly on the Champions League ahead. Gian Piero Gasperini's young players were the story of the win. Roma are the Serie A club using the most Under-23 players alongside Como, and Lulli stood out in a performance the club now wants to lock down with a new deal. Lulli, a Gasperini discovery, is one of several young players who impressed. The Palestrina-born full-back is the first Italian born in 2007 to score in Serie A. Castro, who scored the opening goal that unlocked the match, has been compared to Maradona in Argentina. Soulé joked with Santiago on social media, speaking in Roman dialect. Balerdi also had a top performance and is confirmed as another starter for Gasperini, with 7 ball recoveries and 12 duels won from 15. El Shaarawy was emotional about returning to the Olimpico. Pellegrini was pleased with the result, saying: "Vittoria importante per la Roma, minuti fondamentali per me." Totti has also opened the door to a return to the club.