ROME - A dominant and uncompromising performance from AS Roma saw them sweep aside Slovan Bratislava 4-0 in the third matchday of the Champions League group stage. The statistics tell the story: 73% possession, 26 shots with 10 on target against the visitors' sole attempt, which never troubled goalkeeper Gollini.
The breakthrough came in the 21st minute with a Mario Hermoso header, perfectly served by a cross from Daniele Ghilardi. Before the break, in the 39th minute, Nahuel Molina doubled the advantage on a counter-attack. The third goal, scored by Niccolò Pisilli in the 52nd minute from a Donyell Malen assist, ended the contest. Malen then completed his brace from the penalty spot in the 58th minute after a foul on Santiago Castro.
The numbers of total dominance
Roma's control was total in every area of the pitch. Slovan, besides conceding 26 shots, committed 10 fouls and saw three players booked. AS Roma kept a clean sheet for the second consecutive game in all competitions, following the 2-0 win over Genoa in Serie A. Donyell Malen, scorer of two goals, solidifies his role as the season's top scorer with 6 goals in 6 appearances.
The league context
This victory comes at a time of great confidence for the Giallorossi, who sit third in the Serie A table with 17 points, just two behind leaders Inter. Their defence, with only 3 goals conceded in 7 games, is among the most solid in the league. The team now flies to Naples for the big match on Saturday 24 October at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, an important test to confirm their form. Their next Champions League engagement is in two weeks, again against Slovan, but away from home. The win over Slovan is their second in a row, following the league victory against Genoa, making their recent form two wins, two draws and one loss from the last five outings. In the league, their record after seven matches stands at five wins and two draws, with 16 goals scored. Their last league meeting with Napoli, who are ninth in the table, ended in a draw.
The Roma manager highlighted the significance of the win. "It was our first Champions League victory, an important step," the coach stated. The team, third in Serie A with 17 points, now flies to Naples for Saturday's big match.
Daniele Ghilardi commented on the team's positive moment after the 4-0 win over Slovan. The defender, who provided the assist for Hermoso's opening goal, stated: "I had to learn a new method of football". Ghilardi explained that the move from Verona required a period of adjustment. Roma, third in the table and two points behind Inter, now have the least beaten defence in Europe's top five leagues.
