Roma vs Slovan Bratislava Predictions, Team News and Betting Tips

Roma host Slovan Bratislava at the Stadio Olimpico on Tuesday 20 October, kick-off 8pm UK, in the Champions League league stage. On paper it is a mismatch: Roma sit 25th of 36 with a point from two games, while Slovan are 36th with none and nine goals conceded. But Roma have conceded five in their first two European games, and that is where the intrigue lies.

The bookmakers make Roma overwhelming favourites at 1.18 with Coral, with Slovan Bratislava out at 15 with Midnite. The question is less whether Roma win and more how many goals each side scores.

How the teams arrive

Roma lost 3-4 at home to Real Madrid in the Champions League last week, a seven-goal thriller that left them with one point from two. They responded on Saturday with a 2-0 win over Genoa in Serie A. Before that came a goalless draw at Como and a 2-2 draw with Inter. They have lost once in their last ten.

Both teams have scored in both of Roma's Champions League games, and they average 2 goals for and 2.5 against per game in the competition. They also commit 17 fouls a game, the 4th most.

Slovan have had a brutal introduction. They lost 1-6 at PSG and then 0-3 at home to Stuttgart last week, so nine goals against and one scored. That followed a 2-1 win at Celje in qualifying and a 1-1 draw in the first leg. They average 1.38 goals for and 1.63 against across the competition and have kept a clean sheet in 25% of their games.

Predicted lineups

Roma possible starting lineup:
Gollini; Mancini, Ndicka, Hermoso; Molina, de Roon, Wesley; Soulé, Pisilli, Mora; Malen

Slovan Bratislava possible starting lineup:
Takac; Blackman, Bajric, Markovic, Pokorny; Cruz, Mustafic; Barseghyan, Camara, Martínez; Sporar

Players to watch

For Slovan, Suleiman Camara is the name that comes up on the player markets: he is 3.25 for 2 or more fouls, and our model rates him the likeliest player in the fixture to reach that mark. Tigran Barseghyan and Cristian Martínez are both on the fouls list at 1.57 and 1.44 for 1 or more.

Match Leaders

Odds and Statz prediction

Roma are the clear favourites at 1.18 with Coral, with the draw at 8 with bet365 and Slovan at 15 with Midnite. Over 1.5 goals is 1.08 with bet365 and over 2.5 goals is 1.30, so the market expects goals at the Olimpico. Roma have yet to keep a clean sheet in the competition, and Slovan have conceded at least three in each of their last two games. We expect them to win, and the interest is in the goals and player markets rather than the result itself. Roma have scored in two of their Champions League games and conceded in both, and Slovan have conceded nine in two, so both teams to score at 1.91 with Ladbrokes is a live angle.

We expect Roma to win comfortably against a side that has shipped nine in two, though Slovan have scored in four of their last five games.