2026-2027 Champions League: Roma vs. Slovan Bratislava, Probable Lineups and Where to Watch It on TV

After suffering a shocking comeback at the hands of Real Madrid last Wednesday (from 3-1 in the 82nd minute to 3-4 at the final whistle), Roma has another chance in front of its home crowd to secure its first victory in the group stage of the 2026-2027 Champions League: Their opponent will be Slovan Bratislava, the designated underdog of the “super group,” but precisely for that reason, they should not be underestimated, as they have little or nothing to lose. The match takes place at Rome’s Olimpico Stadium at 9 p.m., with live TV coverage on Sky Sport (via satellite channels and streaming on Now).

Gian Piero Gasperini, who has since regained his smile in league play thanks to a 2-0 win over Genoa, welcomes back Donyell Malen (who missed the league match due to suspension) but cannot count on Paulo Dybala, whose recovery timeline remains uncertain. Pellegrini is expected to take his place, though Rodrigo Mora cannot be ruled out from the start. Manu Koné is also out of the midfield, where Marten de Roon will most likely be deployed alongside Pisilli.

Slovan Bratislava is making headlines primarily because of its coach, former Manchester City midfield utility player Yaya Touré, but their start to the Champions League group stage has been a nightmare, with a 6-1 loss on the road to PSG (Suleiman Camara scored the Slovak club’s only goal) and a 3-0 defeat in Germany against Stuttgart. However, Slovan remains a team not to be underestimated: to reach the League Phase, they advanced through three preliminary rounds and have no intention of leaving the competition without even a single point.

Probable lineups

ROMA (3-4-2-1): Gollini; Mancini, Ndicka, Hermoso; Molina, Pisilli, De Roon, Wesley; Soulé, Pellegrini; Malen. Head Coach: Gasperini.

SLOVAN BRATISLAVA (4-2-3-1): Takac; Blackman, Bajric, Markovic, Cruz; Pokorny, Ibrahim; Barseghyan, Martinez, Camara; Sporar. Head Coach: Yaya Touré.