Roma claim first Champions League win with 4-0 victory over Yaya Toure’s Slovan Bratislava

AS Roma secured their first win of this UEFA Champions League campaign by beating Slovan Bratislava 4-0 on Tuesday in the third matchday of the league phase.

Gian Piero Gasperini’s side controlled the game from start to finish at the Stadio Olimpico, producing a dominant performance against the team managed by former Ivory Coast international Yaya Toure.

Roma took the lead in the 21st minute when Mario Hermoso headed in after Daniele Ghilardi had redirected Lorenzo Pellegrini’s cross into his path.

The hosts doubled their advantage eight minutes before half-time. Donyell Malen’s effort was saved by Slovan goalkeeper Dominik Takac, but Nahuel Molina reacted quickest to the rebound and finished the move.

Roma went into the interval two goals ahead after a largely one-sided opening period, and they extended that advantage soon after the restart.

Slovan were punished in the 51st minute after a misunderstanding between Tigran Barseghyan and Takac. Malen collected the loose ball before setting up Niccolo Pisilli, who completed the move with a left-footed finish.

Malen then got on the scoresheet himself seven minutes later, converting another opportunity to make it 4-0 in the 58th minute.

Slovan Bratislava attempted to respond during the closing stages, but they could not find a way through Roma’s defence or seriously threaten the result. Toure’s players struggled to cope with the speed of Roma’s passing and the movement of their attacking players.

Second-half substitutions failed to change the course of the match, while Roma were denied a fifth goal in the 86th minute when Ghilardi’s effort was ruled out for offside.

The emphatic result gives Roma their first European victory of the campaign after they drew with Fenerbahce and lost to Real Madrid in their opening two matches.

For Slovan Bratislava, the defeat represents a significant setback in the league phase. Toure’s side will need to respond quickly if they are to recover from a night in which Roma’s attacking quality and control proved decisive.