Beautiful, challenging and finally concrete. After the illusions of victory against Real Madrid, Roma achieved their first success in the Champions League at the third attempt, against a Slovan Bratislava team that was practically unavailable. Hermoso and Molina brightened up the evening at the Olimpico, once again packed, in the first half at the end of a long series of dangerous actions. In the second half it was Pisilli's turn after just 6 minutes to secure the result and the three points, followed by Malen who scored poker on a penalty. The only discordant note is Pellegrini's muscle injury who gives up the captain's armband to the very young Pisilli.
Among the over 60,000 people at the Olimpico there is also Francesco Totti, who chatted with Dybala in the belly of the stadium before the match and then, when Malen came out of the locker room to enter the pitch for the warm-up, he warmly hugged him.
Gasperini in defense chooses Hermoso with Balerdi and Ghilardi, Molina and Wesley return on the outside. Rodrigo Mora wins the run-off with Soulé and plays, together with Pellegrini, in the attacking midfield, behind Malen.
In Slovan, without captain Sporar and Cerepkai, Marcelli is the only change compared to the last outing.
Ready to go with Malen and his teammates immediately one step away from the goal: on a free kick from the left side Pellegrini kicks towards the far post, Balerdi served by Ghilardi kicks high a few meters from the goal. It's just the beginning of a fast-paced start to the match with a series of insidious actions from Molina to Malen, Pisilli and Pellegrini until Hermoso's opening goal in the 20th minute: on a cross to the far post by Pellegrini, Ghilardi heads it in and it's very easy for the Spanish defender to put it into the net. Roma's push doesn't end, with Pellegrini's shot neutralized by Takac. Then Molina tries and finally succeeds by putting it into the net following a rebound from the goalkeeper after a shot from Malen. Down by two goals, no reaction comes from Slovan except for a few attempts on the left by the very fast Camara well anticipated by Ghilardi.
In the second half we start again with a sparkling Roma who immediately score the hat-trick with Pisilli: ball inside the area from Wesley for Soulé (recently entered for Pellegrini), the serve seems too long but the Argentine believes in it and serves Malen who in turn touches for the onrushing Pisilli, a powerful left foot under the crossbar. Another six minutes pass and Roma lose the poker on a penalty with Malen: Wesley on the left is impregnable, he easily skips Cruz and enters the area but is knocked down by the defender.
The penalty is scored by the Dutchman who comes out immediately afterwards, leaving room for Castro. From here on the match can be said to be over half an hour early. A long series of substitutions began with Roma constantly moving forward and in control of the pitch and Rodrico Mora capable of wasting the impossible.
On the other hand, Slovan just couldn't worry Gollini, while there was time at the end to see Ghilardi's beautiful goal canceled out and enjoy the chants and flags in celebration of an Olimpico who was happy for the first time in the Europe that matters.
With anger and heart, Napoli finds their first victory in the Champions League. It's a complicated match in which the Azzurri take the lead twice and in both cases they are reached by Bodo Glimt. But in the end the desire to redeem themselves, after a complicated eve due to the defeat in Venice, takes over and the Azzurri find two more goals that decide the result. The Norwegians scored their third goal at the end of injury time.
Not even time to start and Napoli are already ahead. After just 50 seconds from the opening whistle of the Spanish referee Sanchez Martinez, Spinazzola frees himself on the left and places the ball in the center on which Politano pounces and with a volley sends it behind the Bodo Glimt goalkeeper. Napoli agrees to leave control of the midfield to the Norwegians and waits for them in their penalty area. When the Azzurri interrupt the opponent's action they restart quickly and manage to become dangerous. The best opportunities fall at the feet of Lang and Hojlund: the former has his shot blocked by Haikin, while the Dane, from an excellent position, sends the ball wide.
Napoli doesn't take advantage of their opportunities and is punished. In the 27th minute the Norwegians, who until then had not found any opening, released Hauge on the left who concluded with a low shot which went into the goal. Inspired by a De Bruyne who offers flashes of high class in the control room, Napoli reacts and does not let their opponents, on the wave of enthusiasm, take over. The second goal for Allegri's men came in the 41st minute. McTominay on the edge of the penalty area passes the ball to De Bruyne and dictates the through ball which allows the Scotsman to finish on goal. The shot suffers a double deflection, first by Gundersen and then by the goalkeeper who is unable to avoid the goal.
In the second half Bodo Glimt immediately appeared threatening in the opponent's half and wasted a couple of good opportunities.
But it was Napoli who came close to scoring in the 15th minute with McTominay collecting a pass from De Bruyne and hitting the post. Once again, a missed goal by the Azzurri resulted in a draw for the Norwegians after two minutes with Helmerson finishing from the center of the area with a precise diagonal.
Bodo Glimt tries to speed up the game in search of success, but Napoli manages to turn the situation around again and find the advantage. It's the 30th minute and Politano sends a cross from the right that McTominay deflects into the goal.
Allegri strengthens the defense with the entry of Beukema and Olivera: Napoli manages to remain in no danger until, in the 43rd minute, Giovane's goal arrives after a stubborn move on the left and a shot which is deflected towards goal by the Norwegian goalkeeper.
At the last moment of injury time, Fet lobbed the ball to score the final 4-3.
Napoli unlocks the league table and, even if with great suffering, finds a victory that seems to ward off the crisis.
