Roma end European wait with emphatic win over Slovan Bratislava

AS Roma recorded their first victory of this Champions League campaign with a commanding 4-0 win against Slovan Bratislava at the Stadio Olimpico on Tuesday.

Gian Piero Gasperini’s side controlled the third-round league phase fixture from the outset, leaving Yaya Toure’s Slovan Bratislava unable to cope with the pace of the home team’s passing and attacking movement.

Roma took the lead in the 21st minute. Lorenzo Pellegrini delivered a cross into the area, and Daniele Ghilardi redirected the ball into the path of Mario Hermoso, who headed past goalkeeper Dominik Takac.

The hosts doubled their advantage before half-time. Donyell Malen’s effort was saved by Takac, but Nahuel Molina reacted quickest to the rebound and finished to make it 2-0 in the 39th minute.

Roma maintained complete control through the opening period and went into the interval with a two-goal lead, having limited Slovan Bratislava’s opportunities to threaten.

The Italian side extended their advantage six minutes after the restart following a defensive misunderstanding between Tigran Barseghyan and Takac. Malen collected the loose ball and set up Niccolo Pisilli, who found the net with his left foot in the 51st minute.

Malen then added Roma’s fourth goal seven minutes later. The Netherlands forward took advantage of another opening to complete the scoring in the 58th minute and cap an impressive attacking display.

Slovan Bratislava attempted to respond during the closing stages, but their substitutions failed to change the course of the match. Toure’s players could not match Roma’s movement or speed of circulation, and the visitors never looked capable of mounting a comeback.

Roma appeared to have scored a fifth when Ghilardi found the net in the 86th minute, but the goal was ruled out for offside.

The result gives Roma their first win in this season’s European campaign after they drew with Fenerbahce and lost to Real Madrid in their opening two matches.

For Slovan Bratislava, the heavy defeat represents a significant setback in the league phase. Toure’s team will need to respond quickly if they are to recover from a night in which Roma dominated from start to finish.