Davide Ancelotti on Roma reunion: special city with family ties, but Lille want to qualify

Roma's fixture schedule has taken shape following UEFA's announcement of the eight Champions League dates, with October emerging as an exceptionally demanding month that will test Gian Piero Gasperini's squad across two competitions. The congestion begins immediately. After a Serie A match against Atalanta at the Olimpico on Saturday 5 September, Roma make their Champions League debut on Thursday 10 September at Istanbul against Fenerbahce, followed by a trip to Torino on 13 September at 12.30. The real intensity arrives after the international break: nine matches in less than a month. Roma visit Como, then host Real Madrid on 14 October—a reunion with José Mourinho at the Olimpico. Three days later comes another notable occasion: Genoa, managed by Daniele De Rossi, also visit Rome on the weekend of 16–17 October. Roma then face Slovan Bratislava at home on 20 October for a third consecutive Olimpico fixture, immediately followed by a major encounter at the San Paolo against Napoli. Gasperini's side host Cagliari in the first midweek league fixture on 27 October, then travel to face Udinese on 30–31 October. The stretch concludes with Manchester United away on 3 November and Roma-Sassuolo at home, after which players can finally recover during the second international break. Roma's squad includes double-digit numbers of international players, complicating rotation. November fixtures include Parma away on 21 November, then a heavyweight clash at PSG on 25 November, with Monza at home closing that week. December will be equally demanding, featuring Bologna away, Sporting at home, and the first derby against Lazio. Champions League resumes in January with the final two league-phase matches: Atalanta away on 16 January and AEK Athens away on 19 January, sandwiched around a home game against Udinese. The eighth and final league-phase match against Lille comes on 27 January at home, followed by an away trip to Monza. The date for Roma's Coppa Italia round of 16 tie against either Cagliari or Verona remains to be determined from among 2 December, 16 December, and 13 January.

Serie A has postponed the fourth-round match between Torino and Roma to Monday, 14 September at 18:30. The League made the decision to support Roma's European campaign, with the club set to debut in the Champions League group phase on 10 September. The Monday fixture gives Roma an extra day of recovery after their away trip to Turkey, avoiding a tight turnaround before their next league match.

UEFA has confirmed the fixture list for the league phase of the Champions League. Roma's campaign begins with an away match at Fenerbahce on 10 September at 18:45, followed by home fixtures against Real Madrid on 14 October at 21:00 and Slovan Bratislava on 20 October at 21:00. The schedule continues with an away trip to Manchester United on 3 November at 21:00 and a visit to PSG on 25 November at 21:00. Roma then host Sporting on 8 December at 21:00 before the final two matches: away to AEK on 19 January at 21:00 and a home game against Lille on 27 January at 21:00.