Roma seek their first Champions League victory by hosting Yaya Touré’s Slovan Bratislava with Donyell Malen supported by Rodrigo Mora and Lorenzo Pellegrini, but a revamped defence.
It kicks off at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome at 20.00 UK time (21.00 CEST).
ROME, ITALY – OCTOBER 14: Gian Piero Gasperini, Manager of AS Roma, looks on during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD2 match between AS Roma and Real Madrid C.F. at Stadio Olimpico on October 14, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
The Giallorossi are still smarting after that incredible 4-3 defeat to Real Madrid, where they were leading 3-1 only to concede three late almost identical goals from corner kicks.
That left them with one point from two Champions League games, having earned a 1-1 draw away to Fenerbahce.
Injuries continue to pile up, with Paulo Dybala, Manu Koné and Mile Svilar out of action, but Bryan Cristante returns to the bench after more than a month on the sidelines.
Malen was suspended for the Serie A victory over Genoa on Saturday, but returns here with support from Pellegrini and Rodrigo Mora,
Marten de Roon and Niccolò Pisilli are confirmed in midfield, but there are radical changes in defence with Leonardo Balerdi moving central, flanked by Daniele Ghilardi and Mario Hermoso.
ROME, ITALY – OCTOBER 14: Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid is challenged by Niccolo Pisilli of AS Roma during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD2 match between AS Roma and Real Madrid C.F. at Stadio Olimpico on October 14, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
Slovan Bratislava are coached by former Manchester City midfielder Yaya Touré in his first role as head coach, having previously been part of Roberto Mancini’s Saudi Arabia national team staff.
They are rock bottom of the Champions League table, losing 6-1 away to Paris Saint-Germain and 3-0 at home to VfB Stuttgart.
Mykola Kukharevych has been out of action for two months, but Roman Cerepkai is struggling with a back issue, while striker and captain Andraz Sporar has had a fever over the last few days, missing Saturday’s domestic derby with Trnava.
They have not made the trip to the Eternal City, but Robert Tomanek has shaken off a knock.
There is a reunion between coach Gian Piero Gasperini and former Genoa midfielder Juraj Kucka.
These teams only met before in the 2011/12 Europa League play-offs, Slovan Bratislava surprisingly going through 2-1 on aggregate.
BRATISLAVA, SLOVAKIA – OCTOBER 14: Yaya Toure, Head Coach of SK Slovan Bratislava, reacts during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD2 match between SK Slovan Bratislava and VfB Stuttgart at Narodny futbalovy stadion on October 14, 2026 in Bratislava, Slovakia. (Photo by Christian Bruna/Getty Images)
Roma vs. Slovan Bratislava
Roma: Gollini; Ghilardi, Balerdi, Hermoso; Molina, Pisilli, De Roon, Wesley; Mora, Pellegrini; Malen
Slovan Bratislava: Takác; Blackman, Bajric, Markovic, Sandro Cruz; Gajdos, Pokorny, Ibrahim; Barseghyan, Marcelli, Suleiman Camara
Ref: Scharer (SUI)