AS Roma delivered an emphatic response to their painful Champions League defeat against Real Madrid, sweeping aside Slovan Bratislava 4-0 at the Stadio Olimpico on Tuesday night to secure their first victory of the European campaign.
Mario Hermoso and Nahuel Molina established Roma’s advantage before half-time, while Niccolò Pisilli and Donyell Malen added second-half goals to complete a convincing performance that offered encouragement to Gian Piero Gasperini ahead of the club’s upcoming domestic challenges.
After surrendering a two-goal advantage in their previous European outing against Real Madrid, Roma needed a response. They delivered one through a disciplined defensive display, effective pressing and clinical finishing that left Slovan struggling to keep pace.
Roma started brightly, immediately putting pressure on the visitors’ defence. Donyell Malen saw an early attempt blocked, while Pisilli failed to capitalise on a rebound. Lorenzo Pellegrini also threatened with a half-volley that sailed over the crossbar.
The breakthrough eventually arrived in the 21st minute, when Hermoso opened the scoring from a set-piece situation.
Pellegrini delivered a dangerous free-kick into the penalty area, and Daniele Ghilardi headed the ball back across goal. Hermoso reacted quickly from close range, nodding the ball over the goalkeeper to give Roma a deserved 1-0 lead.
The goal demonstrated Roma’s threat from dead-ball situations, with Ghilardi’s intelligent header creating the opening for Hermoso to finish.
Slovan attempted to respond, but Roma maintained their attacking pressure and doubled their advantage in the 39th minute.
Malen carried the ball into the penalty area from the left before cutting inside and shooting towards the far post. Slovan goalkeeper Dominik Takáč managed to parry the effort, but the rebound fell perfectly for Molina, who arrived at the far post to tap the ball into the net.
It was a rewarding moment for the Argentine defender, whose forward movement helped Roma turn a promising attack into a second goal.
Malen deserved credit for creating the opportunity, although his initial effort was saved. Molina’s awareness and positioning ensured the rebound was converted, leaving Roma 2-0 ahead at the interval.
Slovan needed a strong response after the break, but Roma quickly increased their advantage.
In the 52nd minute, Malen turned provider as Roma punished a defensive mistake by the visitors.
Matías Soulé pressed Tigran Barseghyan near the byline and forced him into losing possession. Malen collected the loose ball and laid it off for Pisilli, who struck powerfully into the roof of the net to make it 3-0.
The goal was a reward for Roma’s aggressive pressing, with Soulé’s persistence creating the turnover and Malen showing composure before delivering the decisive pass.
Pisilli’s finish left Takáč with little chance and effectively ended Slovan’s hopes of mounting a comeback.
Roma were not finished, however, and extended their lead to four goals in the 58th minute.
Wesley Franca went down inside the penalty area following a challenge from Blackman, prompting the referee to award a spot-kick. Malen stepped forward and confidently converted the penalty into the bottom corner, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way.
The decision gave Roma further breathing space, although the circumstances surrounding the award were likely to attract debate among Slovan’s players and supporters.
At 4-0, the hosts were firmly in control, allowing Gasperini’s side to manage the remainder of the contest without taking unnecessary risks.
Roma continued to create opportunities, and Rodrigo Mora had a chance to add another goal after being played through by Santiago Castro, but he failed to convert when one-on-one with the goalkeeper.
Ghilardi subsequently found the net from a volley following a corner, only for the goal to be ruled out because two Roma players were in offside positions and interfering with play.
Slovan also struggled to turn their possession into meaningful attacking opportunities, with Roma’s defensive organisation preventing the visitors from finding a consolation goal.
The match featured several disciplinary moments, including a first-half yellow card for Barseghyan and further bookings for Suleiman Camara and Cristian Martínez as Slovan attempted to contain Roma’s attacking movement.
Despite the four-goal margin, Roma’s victory was built on more than their finishing. Their pressing forced mistakes, their set-piece execution produced the opening goal, and their defenders contributed decisively in the opposition penalty area.
Hermoso’s header established the foundation for the victory, Molina capitalised on a rebound to double the advantage, Pisilli punished a defensive error, and Malen combined creativity with a confidently converted penalty.
For Slovan Bratislava, the defeat continued a difficult Champions League campaign. Their defensive errors and inability to cope with Roma’s pressure proved costly, while their attacking efforts rarely threatened to change the outcome.
For Roma, however, the result provided an important boost after the disappointment of their previous European match. Gasperini will be particularly encouraged by the team’s control of the contest and the contributions from players across the pitch.
The Giallorossi now turn their attention to their next challenge with renewed confidence, having demonstrated that they can respond to adversity with a commanding performance on the European stage.
Final score: Roma 4-0 Slovan Bratislava. The goals were scored by Mario Hermoso (21′), Nahuel Molina (39′), Niccolò Pisilli (52′) and Donyell Malen (58′, penalty). Barseghyan, Camara and Martínez received yellow cards, while Ghilardi later had a goal
