UEFA Champions League 26/27 · Round 3 ·
AS Roma vs SK Slovan Bratislava preview: Roma host Slovan Bratislava with a clear attacking edge
Roma welcome Slovan Bratislava to the Stadio Olimpico with the market pricing the home side as overwhelming favourites. The clearest signal is Roma's large attacking edge, built on a home scoring rate three times that of the visitors on the road.
By 10xSharp · Published
Who is unavailable
Roma are missing goalkeeper Mile Svilar through injury, the only player listed as unavailable for either side. Slovan Bratislava have no players on the unavailable list, so no absence removes one of their leading scorers or creators. Svilar's absence does not touch Roma's attack, where Donyell Malen, Bryan Cristante and Marten De Roon all remain available. Slovan Bratislava's only scorer in this competition, Suleiman Camara, is also fit to play.
Players carrying each attack
Roma's attack runs through Donyell Malen, who has scored 2 of their 4 goals in this competition, half of the team's total. Bryan Cristante and Marten De Roon have one each, giving the home side three players who have found the net. Slovan Bratislava's entire scoring output rests on Suleiman Camara, whose single goal accounts for 100% of their goals in this competition. No other Slovan Bratislava player has scored, which leaves their attack heavily dependent on one midfielder.
Recent results and momentum
Roma sit 25th in the form table with 1 point from their last two league matches, a draw and a loss. Slovan Bratislava are 36th with 0 points from their last two, both defeats. Over their last six matches in all competitions, Roma have won 2, drawn 3 and lost 1, while Slovan Bratislava have won 3, drawn 2 and lost 1. Roma have kept 3 clean sheets in that run to Slovan Bratislava's 1. Roma last played three days ago, Slovan Bratislava three days ago as well.
Table positions and venue records
Roma are 25th with 1 point from 2 matches, while Slovan Bratislava are 36th with 0 points from 2. At home, Roma have 0 wins, 0 draws and 1 loss, with a goal difference of -1. Away from home, Slovan Bratislava have 0 wins, 0 draws and 1 loss, with a goal difference of -5. Both sides have yet to win a match this season, and the visitors' away record is the weaker of the two venue splits.
History between the clubs
These clubs have met twice, both in 2011, and Slovan Bratislava won 1 of those meetings with the other drawn. Roma won 0 of the 2, scoring 1 goal across both matches while Slovan Bratislava scored 2. The most recent meeting, outside this competition, ended 1-1. That history is 15 years old, so it carries little weight for this fixture.
Attacking threat at each venue
Roma hold a large attacking edge over Slovan Bratislava. Roma score 3.0 goals per home match, across 1 home match, which is better than the league average for a home side at home, though only marginally. Slovan Bratislava score 1.0 goals per away match, across 1 away match, clearly worse than the league average for an away side on the road. The gap between the two is stark: Roma's home scoring rate is three times that of the visitors away from home.
Defensive solidity at each venue
Both sides are worse than the league average defensively, and the defence edge is level. Roma concede 4.0 goals per home match, across 1 home match, a large gap worse than the league average conceded by a home side at home. Slovan Bratislava concede 6.0 goals per away match, across 1 away match, also a large gap worse than the league average conceded by an away side on the road. Neither team has kept a clean sheet at their relevant venue this season.
Shots on target and blocked
Roma average 5.5 shots on goal per match to Slovan Bratislava's 4.13, so the home side works the opposing goalkeeper harder. Slovan Bratislava see more of their shots blocked, 2.38 per match against Roma's 1.5. Roma also hold more possession, 52% to 44.17%, and win more corners, 4.0 to 2.88 per match.
When goals cluster
Roma's most dangerous spell is the 46-60 minute window, where they have scored 50% of their goals. Slovan Bratislava are most dangerous late, scoring 27% of their goals in the 76-90 minute window. Roma are most vulnerable in the 76-90 minute window, conceding 60% of their goals there, against 0% of the goals they score in that same window. Slovan Bratislava concede 23% of their goals in each of the 46-60, 16-30 and 31-45 minute windows, against 18% of their goals scored in each of those windows.
Season goal environment
Across all venues, 50% of Roma's matches have gone over 2.5 goals, while 100% of Slovan Bratislava's matches have gone over 2.5 goals. Roma's home matches have gone over 2.5 goals in 100% of cases, against 0% of their away matches. Slovan Bratislava's matches have gone over 1.5 goals in 100% of cases, and over 3.5 goals in 50%. Roma's matches are evenly split between the halves, while Slovan Bratislava's matches produce more goals after the break.
How the match should shape up
Roma's large attacking edge and Slovan Bratislava's heavy away defensive struggles point to a match where the home side controls the ball and creates the better chances. Slovan Bratislava's entire attack rests on one player, and their away record shows a side that concedes heavily on the road. Roma's own home defence has been leaky, but the visitors' away scoring rate is the lowest of the two. The market prices Roma as overwhelming favourites, and the data supports that read.