Gasperini: 'Roma need to win in the Champions League, Dybala needs a few more weeks'

Gasperini's pre-match press conference ahead of Roma vs. Slovan Bratislava Roma are in Champions League action at home against Slovan Bratislava on Tuesday evening and Gasperini has given his customary pre-match press conferenceahead of the visit of the Slovakian side to the Stadio Olimpico.

at Stadio Olimpico on October 14, 2026 in Rome, Italy. For the last two seasons, teams have required 16 points to finish in the top eight of the Champions League league phase, which earns a guaranteed spot in the round of 16.

This leaves the Giallorossi requiring five victories from their next six league phase fixtures if they are to realistically finish in the top eight. Roma will go into Tuesday's game as the clear favourites against Slovan Bratislava, but Gasperini warns that his players cannot afford to underestimate the task at hand.

"They're a dynamic team, well prepared athletically and they have some excellent players," said Gasperini at the beginning of his press conference on Monday afternoon. "They might not be 'top-tier' compared to some of the other teams in the Champions League, but like all games in this competition, it will be tough.

We will not underestimate our opponents because we need to win." ROME, ITALY - OCTOBER 17: Gian Piero Gasperini, Manager of AS Roma, reacts during the Serie A match between AS Roma and Genoa CFC at Stadio Olimpico on October 17, 2026 in Rome, Italy. Gasperini believes that the two strikers are capable of playing up front together, but he hinted that they are unlikely to both be included in Tuesday's starting line-up.

He and Malen can play together with their characteristics, but I don't know if I'll start him or bring him on during the game. I don't want to interrupt a team that is doing well in attack just so that we can see them together.

I don't need to look for other solutions at the moment, but he could be one.

Roma have also been slightly short in midfield options while Bryan Cristante and Manu Kone have been recovering from injury.

Centre-back Mario Hermoso has occasionally had to fill in there. We've seen Hermoso play there, but it was an emergency and I hope we won't need him to play there again, Gasperini commented.

"De Roon is playing a lot, so is Pisilli."