Roma Dominates Slovan Bratislava 4-0 for First Champions League Win

AS Roma secured their first victory of the UEFA Champions League season on Tuesday with an emphatic 4-0 win over Slovakian champions Slovan Bratislava at the Stadio Olimpico. Following a challenging start to their continental campaign that included a draw against Fenerbahçe and a loss to Real Madrid, manager Gian Piero Gasperini's squad dominated possession and neutralized the visitors to claim three crucial points in the expanded 36-team league phase.

The Italian side opened the scoring in the 21st minute when defender Mario Hermoso converted a headed assist from Daniele Ghilardi. Roma doubled their advantage before halftime in the 39th minute through Nahuel Molina, who capitalized on a rebound after a shot from teammate Donyell Malen. The first-half control set a relentless tempo that kept Slovan Bratislava trapped in a low defensive block.

Roma continued their attacking display after the interval. Young midfielder Niccolo Pisilli scored his first-ever Champions League goal in the 52nd minute, operating with surgical precision in the midfield and briefly wearing the captain's armband in the second half. Shortly after, Donyell Malen capped off the 4-0 rout by successfully converting a 58th-minute penalty kick, marking his third goal of the European competition.

The emphatic win also ended a five-game winless streak for Roma in major European competitions, dating back to a 2-0 victory over Stuttgart in the Europa League in January. Furthermore, it marked Roma's first victory in the Champions League proper since February 2019, when they defeated Porto 2-1. For Slovan Bratislava, the defeat extended a difficult historical record, leaving them having lost all 11 of their matches in the competition.

Despite the offensive masterclass and a clean sheet anchored by a disciplined backline and goalkeeper Mile Svilar, Gasperini was left concerned over a muscular injury to captain Lorenzo Pellegrini. The midfielder was forced off early in the second half. Speaking to Sky Sport Italia, Gasperini confirmed that Pellegrini is facing approximately three weeks on the sidelines due to the minor muscle tear.

"I saw very important responses from the squad, because the fixture list is packed and I need everyone to be up to the task," Gasperini said. Addressing the injury situation, he added, "My only worry is that now we've got Bryan Cristante back on the bench, we risk losing Pellegrini for a while. Even though it's a minor injury, when it's a muscle injury it takes 20 days."

The victory elevates Roma into mid-table safety in the Champions League standings, boosting morale ahead of a demanding schedule. Gasperini's team faces upcoming domestic fixtures before returning to continental action next month with challenging away matches against Manchester United and holders Paris Saint-Germain.