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.
Roma 4-0 Slovan Bratislava
Hermoso 22 (R), Molina 39 (R), Pisilli 53 (R), Malen pen 58 (R)
Player statistic
| 20' | Tigran Barseghyan | |||
| Mario Hermoso (Assist: Daniele Ghilardi) |
21' | |||
| Nahuel Molina | 39' |
| Niccolò Pisilli (Assist: Donyell Malen) |
 |
52' | ||
| Donyell Malen |  |
58' | ||
| 65' | Suleiman Camara | |||
| 75' |  |
Cristian Martínez |
