Gasperini Warns Roma: Champions League Victory Over Slovan Bratislava Is Non-Negotiable as Dybala Faces Further Weeks Out

FolioPitch.com – 20 October 2026 | Gian Piero Gasperini has made it abundantly clear that Gasperini Roma need to win in the Champions League Dybala needs a few more weeks, with the Giallorossi boss stressing that Tuesday night’s clash against Slovan Bratislava at the Stadio Olimpico is a must-win encounter if the club is to keep its hopes of reaching the round of 16 alive. Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Monday afternoon, the Roma coach underlined the urgency of the situation while also delivering a sobering update on Paulo Dybala’s fitness, confirming that the Argentine playmaker will require several more weeks on the sidelines after tests revealed a small injury.

Roma’s Champions League campaign has begun in frustrating fashion. The capital club has collected just one point from its opening two league-phase fixtures, following a 1-1 draw away at Fenerbahce with a dramatic 4-3 defeat against Real Madrid in Rome, a match the Giallorossi had led 3-1 until the 83rd minute. With teams having needed around 16 points to secure a top-eight finish in each of the last two seasons, Roma realistically require five victories from their remaining six league-phase games. That arithmetic makes Tuesday’s fixture against the Slovakian champions effectively non-negotiable, and Gasperini Roma need to win in the Champions League Dybala needs a few more weeks was the central theme of his media briefing.

Despite Roma entering the match as clear favourites, Gasperini was quick to caution against complacency. “They’re a dynamic team, well prepared athletically and they have some excellent players,” he said. “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.”

The coach’s attacking options have been boosted by the return of Donyell Malen from suspension, though Santiago Castro impressed in his absence, scoring a fine goal in Roma’s 2-0 Serie A victory over Genoa. Gasperini hinted that while the two strikers could eventually play together, he is reluctant to disrupt a forward line that is functioning well. “Castro scored a great goal. 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,” he explained. “I don’t want to interrupt a team that is doing well in attack just so that we can see them together.”

In midfield, Roma remain slightly short of options with Bryan Cristante and Manu Kone still recovering from injury, forcing centre-back Mario Hermoso to fill in on occasion. Gasperini expressed hope that Cristante could be available for the weekend trip to Napoli, while praising the versatility of Lorenzo Pellegrini and the workload being shouldered by De Roon and Pisilli. “We’ve seen Hermoso play there, but it was an emergency and I hope we won’t need him to play there again,” he said.

On the subject of qualification, Gasperini suggested that a points tally of around 10 or 11 should be sufficient, echoing recent seasons. “We have to win our games at home, it’s always difficult in away games. That’s our goal,” he stated. The message was unambiguous: Gasperini Roma need to win in the Champions League Dybala needs a few more weeks, and the home fixtures represent the foundation of that ambition.

The Dybala news will come as a blow to Roma supporters. Gasperini admitted he had hoped for a quicker recovery. “The tests he had yesterday showed a small injury, it will take a few more weeks,” he confirmed. The Argentine’s absence deprives Roma of a key creative force, though it also opens opportunities for others to step up.

One player who has caught the eye is academy graduate Emmanuele Lulli, whose recent performances have delighted the coach. “I’d already spotted him last year and I often brought him over to train with us. He has excellent physical characteristics, his ability, speed and endurance are of the highest level, higher than the average in Serie A,” Gasperini said. “He’s also humble and has that desire to improve.”

Gasperini also reserved praise for goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini, who earned a rare Serie A start over the weekend, and for young talent Rodrigo Mora. “Gollini has always been an excellent goalkeeper. We’ve spent a lot of great seasons together. He has lacked the maturity that I think he has now reached in certain points up until now,” he noted. Of Mora, he added: “He’s small, but he has talent that is immediately noticeable. We want to help him grow. He needs a bit more structure, but technically, he’s on another level.”

As Roma prepare to host Slovan Bratislava, the stakes could hardly be higher. A victory would keep the Giallorossi’s knockout-stage aspirations within reach and ease the pressure on a squad still finding its rhythm under Gasperini. Defeat, however, would leave the capital club facing an uphill battle that even the most optimistic supporter would struggle to envisage. With Dybala unavailable and the margin for error razor-thin, the coach’s rallying cry that Gasperini Roma need to win in the Champions League Dybala needs a few more weeks serves as both a warning and a mission statement. Tuesday night at the Olimpico will reveal whether his players are ready to answer the call.