Roma crush Slovan Bratislava 4-0 to claim first Champions League win

Roma bounce back with emphatic win

Roma swept Slovan Bratislava aside 4-0 to earn their first Champions League victory of the season, with Mario Hermoso, Nahuel Molina, Niccolò Pisilli and Donyell Malen all on the scoresheet.

The Giallorossi were still reeling from their 4-3 defeat to Real Madrid, a game they had led 3-1 until the 82nd minute before conceding three late goals from corners. Paulo Dybala and Manu Koné also picked up injuries in that match, joining Mile Svilar on the treatment table, while Bryan Cristante returned to the bench after a month out. The defence was largely revamped as part of squad rotation.

Slovan Bratislava, coached by Yaya Touré, arrived in Rome after losing 6-1 to PSG and 3-0 to VfB Stuttgart, and without the injured Andraz Sporar, Roman Cerepkai and Mykola Kukharevych.

How the goals came

Malen had an early effort charged down from 10 yards, and Pisilli scuffed a rebound wide, while Lorenzo Pellegrini's half-volley was dragged over from a promising position. The breakthrough came from a set piece: Pellegrini's free kick was knocked down at the back post by Daniele Ghilardi, and Hermoso nodded home from point-blank range in the 22nd minute.

Roma doubled their lead in the 39th minute. Malen cut inside from the left and his precise finish was palmed into the path of Nahuel Molina, who tapped in the rebound at the far post.

Pellegrini burst into the box at the start of the second half but picked up an injury in the process, handing the captain's armband to Pisilli. Moments later, substitute Matias Soulé harassed Tigran Barseghyan into giving the ball away at the by-line, and Malen laid it off for Pisilli to blast into the roof of the net in the 53rd minute.

The result was sealed in the 58th minute. Wesley went down under pressure from Blackman, and Malen converted the resulting penalty into the bottom corner for 4-0.

Missed chances

Rodrigo Mora failed to make the most of a Santiago Castro cross when one-on-one with the goalkeeper, and Ghilardi's volley from the following corner was ruled out for offside, with two teammates interfering with play.

Match details

Roma 4-0 Slovan Bratislava
Goals: Hermoso 22', Molina 39', Pisilli 53', Malen pen 58'