AS Roma v Slovan Bratislava: Champions League preview, predicted line-ups & team news

Roma v Slovan Bratislava is a matchday three tie at the Stadio Olimpico on Tuesday, and both sides arrive without a win in the competition's new format. Roma have one point from two games, built on a 1-1 draw away at Fenerbahçe on 10 September and a 4-3 home defeat by Real Madrid on 14 October, according to the supplied form data. Slovan have none, having lost 6-1 at Paris Saint Germain and 3-0 at home to VfB Stuttgart. The league-phase table shows several sides already on six points, so the hosts cannot afford a slow evening against the lowest-ranked opposition on their schedule.

Roma have scored four and conceded five in their two league-stage games, an average of 2.0 scored and 2.5 conceded, and the season data shows three of the five goals against came between the 76th and 90th minutes. Their recent-form aggregate puts them on 0.98 expected goals for and 1.53 against, with 56% average possession, so the underlying numbers are less alarming than the scoreline against Real Madrid suggests.

Slovan reached the league stage through qualifying, where the form data shows wins and draws against Iberia 1999, Mjallby and Celje across six games. Their eight Champions League fixtures this season, including qualifying, return 11 goals scored and 13 conceded. However, their expected goals against stands at 3.46 per game over that run, against 0.73 for, which indicates a side that has been outplayed by more than the results alone show. Slovan have lost their last two, and have taken 42.5% average possession.

Roma's injury list already limits the options, with five players unavailable, so rotation is likely to be forced as much as chosen. The 3-4-2-1 shape they have used in both league-stage games looks likely to continue. With a heavy defeat by Real Madrid behind them and a visit from the lowest-ranked opposition on their fixture list, the hosts have reason to field a strong side rather than protect legs. Slovan have used four different formations in eight games, led by 4-3-3 on three occasions, so the visitors' shape is harder to call. Their away record in the competition (three wins and a loss from four) is better than their home record, which may encourage a more open approach on the road.

Roma (3-4-2-1): Gollini; Ndicka, Mancini, Koulierakis; Rensch, de Roon, Pisilli, Wesley; Soulé, midfield and goalkeeper are the positions with the least certainty, and Gollini is the likely replacement in goal.

Slovan Bratislava (4-3-3): Popović; Kozlovský, Wimmer, Blackman, Tomasko; Hofstadter, Marcelli, Matsuoka; Barseghyan, Šporar, Čerepkai. Slovan's frequent changes of shape make this a low-confidence projection.

Kick-off is at 20:00 BST on Tuesday 20 October. The competition is shown on TNT Sports where selected. No specific channel has been confirmed for this fixture, and the page will be updated closer to kick-off. This is a single league-phase match rather than a two-legged tie, so there is no extra time or penalty shoot-out: if level after 90 minutes, the match ends as a draw and each side takes a point.