Champions League MD3 Liveblog: Roma vs. Slovan, Napoli vs. Bodo/Glimt
Join us for all the build-up and action as it happens from the Champions League, as Roma host Slovan Bratislava and Napoli try to get off the mark with Bodo/Glimt. They both kick off at 20.00 UK time (21.00 CEST).
Italian football badly needs to turn the corner in the Champions League, as last week all four teams were defeated. Roma fumbled a 3-1 lead to lose 4-3 to Real Madrid, and they seek their first win against Slovan Bratislava.
Napoli lost both games so far and are struggling in Serie A too as they welcome giant-killers Bodo/Glimt. Madrid Roma team news Roma seek their first Champions League victory by hosting Yaya Touré's Slovan Bratislava with Donyell Malen supported by Rodrigo Mora and Lorenzo Pellegrini, but a revamped defence.
Napoli team news Napoli in crisis hope Kevin De Bruyne, Scott McTominay and Rasmus Hojlund can get them on the Champions League mark board against giant-killers Bodo/Glimt. Bodo/Glimt line-ups Napoli: Meret, Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Rafa Marin, Spinazzola; Anguissa, De Bruyne, McTominay; Politano, Hojlund, Lang Bodo/Glimt: Halkin; Sjovold, Gundersen, Biortuft, Bjorkan; Auklend, Berg, Brunstad Fet; Blomberg, Helmersen, Hauge Ref: Sanchez (ESP) Roma vs.
Slovan Bratislava line-ups Roma: Gollini; Ghilardi, Balerdi, Hermoso; Molina, Pisilli, De Roon, Wesley; Mora, Pellegrini; Malen Slovan Bratislava: Takác; Blackman, Bajric, Markovic, Sandro Cruz; Gajdos, Pokorny, Ibrahim; Barseghyan, Marcelli, Suleiman Camara Ref: Scharer (SUI) Leonardo Balerdi (Roma) "I feel good in any role in defence, we are all strong. Ghilardi and Hermoso immediately understand what we need to do, I get along with Mancini and Ndicka too, so it's all good," Balerdi told Sky Sport Italia.
"Gasperini is a great coach, he knows what he wants to do, I like his passion, the way he trains. It works, because we feel so much confidence on the field, and that's important for a player.
There are five Argentinean players in the Roma squad, a growing group that was further bolstered by Balerdi this summer. There are many Argentines at Roma, they wrote to me before I came here and gave me a great welcome.
I am happy, but we know that we've got to take Roma as high as possible, that's what we want to do." Introducing Bodo/Glimt Bodo/Glimt famously knocked Inter out of the Champions League last season in the play-offs, and have made a real name for themselves as giant-killers. They lost 5-0 at Bayern Munich in the opening game, with Odin Bjortuft sent off, but beat Borussia Dortmund 1-0 at home.
Bjortuft returns from suspension this evening, though Hakon Evjen, August Mikkelsen and Magnus Riisnaes are still out of action, with Ole Didrik Blomberg not at 100 per cent either.