Roma return to the Champions League after more than seven years away when Gian Piero Gasperini’s side face Fenerbahçe in Istanbul on Thursday evening.
Roma begin their 2026/27 Champions League campaign with a difficult trip to the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium.
The Giallorossi enter the League Phase with considerable momentum after winning their opening three Serie A matches. Their latest victory arrived in dramatic fashion as late goals from Mario Hermoso and Matias Soulé completed a 2-1 comeback against Atalanta.
Fenerbahçe are also returning to Europe’s premier competition following a lengthy absence, making Thursday’s meeting a significant occasion for both clubs.
Fenerbahçe vs Roma Match Details
- Competition: UEFA Champions League, League Phase – Matchday 1
- Date: Thursday, September 10, 2026
- Kickoff: 12:45 PM ET / 18:45 CEST
- Venue: Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium, Istanbul
- Referee: Jesús Gil Manzano
- Assistant referees: Barbero and Porras Ayuso
- Fourth official: Martínez Munuera
- VAR: Soto Grado
- Assistant VAR: Gómez
Both Clubs End Lengthy Champions League Absences
Roma have waited more than seven years to return to the Champions League proper. Fenerbahçe’s absence has been considerably longer, with the Turkish club making its first appearance in the competition since 2008/09.
During that campaign, Fenerbahçe were placed in a group containing Porto, Arsenal and Dynamo Kyiv. They finished bottom with two points and failed to record a victory.
The Turkish club now possesses a far more experienced squad and will aim to finish among the top 24 teams, which would secure a place in the knockout-phase playoffs.
Thursday’s game will be the first competitive meeting between Fenerbahçe and Roma. Fenerbahçe have, however, won their last three home matches against Italian opposition without conceding.
Roma Enter the Champions League in Excellent Form
Roma could hardly have made a better start to the domestic season.
Gasperini’s team recorded consecutive 4-0 victories over Fiorentina and Lecce before overcoming Atalanta 2-1 at the Olimpico. The Giallorossi have scored 10 goals and conceded only once through their opening three Serie A matches.
The performance against Atalanta was particularly encouraging. Roma produced 39 shots, controlled 67% of possession and generated 3.25 expected goals while refusing to be discouraged by the woodwork, a disallowed goal or Marco Carnesecchi’s saves.
Soulé eventually provided the decisive contribution from the bench, assisting Hermoso’s equalizer before scoring the winner in stoppage time.
The principal question is whether Roma can reproduce that aggression and verticality in a hostile European environment. They must also become more efficient in front of goal, as Fenerbahçe are unlikely to allow Gasperini’s side 39 attempts.
Fenerbahçe Team News
Fenerbahçe coach İsmail Kartal is expected to use a 4-2-3-1 formation.
Jayden Oosterwolde, who was linked with Roma during the summer, is expected to miss the match through injury. Marco Asensio has recently trained separately and remains a doubt.
Mattéo Guendouzi will be unavailable through suspension. İsmail Yüksek is the leading candidate to replace the former Lazio midfielder alongside N’Golo Kanté.
The hosts still possess considerable attacking quality. Mason Greenwood can create or shoot from the right, while Kerem Aktürkoğlu provides pace on the opposite side. Vedat Muriqi is expected to lead the attack, with Dorgeles Nene operating behind him.
Fenerbahçe could also call upon an experienced defensive core containing Nélson Semedo, Nathan Aké and Milan Škriniar.
Roma Team News
Gasperini has several decisions to make following the demanding victory over Atalanta.
Paulo Dybala completed the entire match despite entering the weekend with some muscular fatigue. Gasperini confirmed afterward that the Argentine had not suffered an injury, but his workload will need to be monitored.
Evan Ndicka returned to Roma’s starting lineup against Atalanta and is expected to retain his place alongside Gianluca Mancini and Hermoso.
Nahuel Molina could replace Emanuele Lulli on the right following his encouraging performance from the bench. Wesley is expected to continue on the opposite flank.
Soulé has made a strong argument for a starting position after scoring in consecutive league matches. Gasperini must decide whether to introduce him from the beginning or continue with Rodrigo Mora alongside Dybala and Donyell Malen.
Santiago Castro is another option after making an aggressive contribution against Atalanta. Gasperini has also suggested that Castro and Malen could eventually play together.
Lorenzo Pellegrini has returned to partial team training but is unlikely to be ready to start. Roma have already confirmed their 24-player UEFA squad for the League Phase.
Fenerbahçe Predicted Lineup
Fenerbahçe (4-2-3-1): Ederson; Semedo, Aké, Škriniar, Brown; Kanté, Yüksek; Aktürkoğlu, Dorgeles, Greenwood; Muriqi.
Coach: İsmail Kartal
Unavailable: Guendouzi, Oosterwolde
Doubtful: Asensio
Roma Predicted Lineup
Roma (3-4-2-1): Svilar; Mancini, Ndicka, Hermoso; Molina, Cristante, Koné, Wesley; Soulé, Dybala; Malen.
Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini
Selection decisions: Molina/Lulli, Soulé/Mora, Malen/Castro
Tactical Battle
Roma will attempt to impose their aggressive man-to-man pressure and prevent Fenerbahçe from building comfortably from defence.
Kanté and Yüksek will have an important role in helping the hosts escape Roma’s pressure. If they can move the ball quickly into the attacking line, Greenwood and Aktürkoğlu could find space behind Gasperini’s advanced wing-backs.
Roma will look to create overloads between Fenerbahçe’s midfield and defence. Dybala, Soulé and Mora are all comfortable receiving the ball in tight areas, while Malen’s movement can pull the centre-backs away from their preferred positions.
Molina and Wesley will also be important. Both must provide attacking width without leaving Roma’s outside centre-backs exposed during transitions.
Set pieces could become another decisive area. Roma produced 14 corners against Atalanta and eventually equalized when Soulé’s delivery was converted by Hermoso.
Players to Watch
Matias Soulé
Soulé is Roma’s most in-form attacking midfielder after scoring in consecutive Serie A matches. His confidence, willingness to shoot and ability to create from set pieces could be especially valuable.
Paulo Dybala
Dybala remains Roma’s attacking leader and possesses significant Champions League experience. The Argentine has contributed directly to 12 goals in his last 16 starts in the competition, recording 11 goals and one assist.
Mason Greenwood
Greenwood represents Fenerbahçe’s primary individual threat. Roma must prevent him from receiving the ball in space and cutting inside onto his stronger foot.
N’Golo Kanté
With Guendouzi suspended, Kanté’s experience and defensive awareness will become even more important. His ability to disrupt Roma’s combinations could determine whether Fenerbahçe can remain compact.
Fenerbahçe vs Roma Prediction
Fenerbahçe’s home support and recent record against Italian opposition make this a dangerous opening assignment.
Roma nevertheless enter the contest with superior momentum and have demonstrated that they can create chances through several different players. Gasperini’s improved bench could also become important during the second half.
Roma must be more clinical than they were against Atalanta, but their attacking quality should be enough to begin the League Phase positively.
Prediction: Fenerbahçe 1-2 Roma
How to Watch Fenerbahçe vs Roma
- United States: Paramount+
- Canada: DAZN
- United Kingdom: TNT Sports
- Italy: Sky Sport
- Kickoff: 12:45 PM ET
Broadcast availability can vary by television package and region, so viewers should confirm the match through their local provider before kickoff.
Sources: AS Roma, UEFA
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