UCL: Roma Secure First Champions League Win With Slovan Thrashing
Donyell Malen scores from the spot as Roma beat Slovan Bratislava 4-0 in Champions League. Giallorossi move up table as visitors stay bottom.
In-form Roma put four past Slovan Bratislava in UCL rout...
Roma claimed a comfortable win to secure their first victory in this season's UEFA Champions League, despite having found the net in all three of their league-phase games.
The home side were dominant from the start but were initially kept at bay by Kenan Bajric, who produced a double block to thwart Donyell Malen and Niccolo Pisilli before also denying Lorenzo Pellegrini.
Pellegrini then blazed an effort over the crossbar but played a key role in the breakthrough in the 22nd minute, winning and delivering the free-kick that Daniele Ghilardi headed back across goal for Mario Hermoso to nod home at the far post.
Pellegrini continued his search for a goal when Dominik Takac tipped a curling strike away, before Gian Piero Gasperini's wing-backs combined with Nahuel Molina firing wide from Wesley Franca's cross.
Molina did get on the scoresheet in the 39th minute, however, as the Argentine tapped in after Takac had pushed Malen's effort into his path.
Malen had further opportunities after the break, but Takac was alert to his attempt to chip the Slovan goalkeeper, and the Dutchman miscued his volley from a corner.
Malen still had a hand in the next goal after punishing Tigran Barseghyan's error, as Matias Soule kept the ball in play before laying it off for Pisilli to slot home.
The visitors' night went from bad to worse when Cesar Blackman, desperately trying to keep up with Wesley, brought him down to concede a penalty that Malen coolly dispatched into the bottom corner.
The hosts' dominance was underlined when both Wesley and Malen were withdrawn straight after combining for the penalty, with only 59 minutes played.
Substitute Santiago Castro fired off target soon after coming on, before Ghilardi had a header saved, Molina volleyed wide and Takac produced an impressive stop to deny Rodrigo Mora.
The hosts kept pushing forward, but a fifth goal did not arrive as Ghilardi's effort was ruled out for offside, though there will be no complaints as Roma made it back-to-back wins in all competitions, with defeat to Real Madrid still their only loss this season.
Roma score four ⚽⚽⚽⚽ #UCL https://t.co/WMRJauwYf9
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) October 20, 2026
The Giallorossi's first Champions League victory of the campaign leaves Slovan Bratislava rooted to the bottom of the table, having conceded 13 goals in three games while scoring just once.
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