UCL | Roma 4-0 Slovan Bratislava: Giallorossi secure first victory
ROME, ITALY - OCTOBER 20: Donyell Malen of AS Roma scores a penalty for his team’s fourth goal during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD3 match between AS Roma and SK Slovan Bratislava at Stadio Olimpico on October 20, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
Roma swept Slovan Bratislava aside 4-0 for their first Champions League victory, with Mario Hermoso, Nahuel Molina, Niccolò Pisilli and Donyell Malen on target.
The Giallorossi were still reeling from the 4-3 defeat to Real Madrid, a game they had been leading 3-1 until the 82nd minute, conceding three late goals from corners. Paulo Dybala and Manu Koné also sustained injuries in that match, joining Mile Svilar on the treatment table, but Bryan Cristante was back on the bench after a month out. The defence was totally revamped amid squad rotation.
Yaya Touré’s Slovan Bratislava lost 6-1 to PSG and 3-0 to VfB Stuttgart, making the trip without injured Andraz Sporar, Roman Cerepkai and Mykola Kukharevych.
See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.
Donyell Malen’s early effort was charged down from 10 yards, while Niccolò Pisilli scuffed a rebound wide, then Lorenzo Pellegrini’s half-volley was over from a promising position.
The breakthrough arrived on a set play, as Pellegrini’s free kick was knocked down at the back post by Daniele Ghilardi for fellow centre-back Mario Hermoso to nod over from point-blank range.
Roma doubled their lead when Malen cut inside from the left and his precise finish was palmed into the path of Nahuel Molina, tapping in the rebound at the far stick.
Pellegrini nutmegged a player to burst into the box at the dawn of the second half, but sustained an injury in the process, so handed the captain’s armband to Pisilli.
Moments later, substitute Matias Soulé harassed Barseghyan into giving it away at the by-line, so Malen laid it off for Pisilli to blast into the roof of the net.
Wesley went down somewhat easily under pressure from Blackman and Malen converted the resulting penalty into the near bottom corner for 4-0.
Rodrigo Mora failed to make the most of a Santiago Castro roll across when one-on-one with the goalkeeper, then on the resulting corner Ghilardi volleyed in, but with two teammates offside and interfering with play.
Hermoso 22 (R), Molina 39 (R), Pisilli 53 (R), Malen pen 58 (R)
1st half
| 20' |  |
Tigran Barseghyan | ||
| Mario Hermoso (Assist: Daniele Ghilardi) |
 |
21' | ||
| Nahuel Molina | 39' |
2nd half
| Niccolò Pisilli (Assist: Donyell Malen) |
52' | |||
| Donyell Malen |  |
58' | ||
| 65' | Suleiman Camara | |||
| 75' | Cristian Martínez |
Roma
Slovan Bratislava
95
Goalkeeper
87
Defender
26
Defender
22
Defender
77'
20
Defender
43
Defender
59'
7
Midfielder
51'
15
Midfielder
77'
61
Midfielder
86
Midfielder
14
Attacker
59'
71
Goalkeeper
28
Defender
12
Defender
57
Defender
82'
15
Defender
8
Midfielder
69'
10
Midfielder
3
Midfielder
5
Midfielder
69'
21
Attacker
69'
11
Attacker
55'
4
Midfielder
5
Defender
32
Goalkeeper
70
Goalkeeper
77
Defender
63
Midfielder
18
Attacker
51'
2
Defender
59'
9
Attacker
59'
23
Defender
77'
3
Defender
77'
77
Midfielder
1
Goalkeeper
2
Defender
49
Defender
88
Midfielder
7
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