Dybala leads Roma's return to Champions League glory

Gian Piero Gasperini has announced his squad for Roma's Champions League return at Fenerbahçe on 10 September at 18:45. Lorenzo Pellegrini is the only absentee from the travelling party to Istanbul but is expected to be available for Roma's Serie A match against Torino on Monday. Otherwise Gasperini has the full group at his disposal, including Devyne Rensch, and can select from: Goalkeepers Mile Svilar, Giorgio De Marzi and Pierluigi Gollini. Defenders Devyne Rensch, Konstantinos Koulierakis, Evan N'Dicka, Nahuel Molina, Mario Hermoso, Gianluca Mancini, Leonardo Balerdi, Wesley, Emanuele Lulli and Daniele Ghilardi. Midfielders Bryan Cristante, Marten de Roon, Manu Koné, Niccolò Pisilli and Rodrigo Mora. Forwards Santiago Castro, Donyell Malen, Matías Soulé and Paulo Dybala.

AS Roma flew to Turkey on 9 September 2026 for their opening match of the Champions League group stage. The squad gathered at Fiumicino airport in the morning and boarded a direct flight to Istanbul, where they will face Fenerbahce on 10 September in the first round of the tournament. Around forty supporters, mostly young fans, waited outside Terminal 5 to send off the team led by head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. The players stopped before boarding to sign autographs on official shirts and pose for photographs with the crowd. Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen drew the loudest acclaim from supporters, signing items and taking pictures before passing through security checks.

Radio commentary on Roma ahead of their Champions League campaign suggests Mario Hermoso will accompany head coach Gian Piero Gasperini at the pre-match press conference, with pundit Matteo Cirulli expecting Nahuel Molina and Matías Soulé to start. Stefano Impallomeni told Radio Romanista that Roma possess the quality to compete at the highest level in Europe. "Roma can compete in Champions," he said. "They have a recognisable and identifiable style of play. We should expect something even more beautiful from this squad. Intensity is the foundation of this Champions League and I'm sure Roma will settle well there. Application must be total—you can't find loopholes. You need intensity but also understanding of the match's moments." Impallomeni believes the team have both the tactical identity and the mental approach required to perform in the competition.

Gian Piero Gasperini has announced his squad for Roma's Champions League return at Fenerbahçe on 10 September at 18:45. Lorenzo Pellegrini is the only absentee from the travelling party to Istanbul but is expected to be available for Roma's Serie A match against Torino on Monday. Otherwise Gasperini has the full group at his disposal, including Devyne Rensch, and can select from: Goalkeepers Mile Svilar, Giorgio De Marzi and Pierluigi Gollini. Defenders Devyne Rensch, Konstantinos Koulierakis, Evan N'Dicka, Nahuel Molina, Mario Hermoso, Gianluca Mancini, Leonardo Balerdi, Wesley, Emanuele Lulli and Daniele Ghilardi. Midfielders Bryan Cristante, Marten de Roon, Manu Koné, Niccolò Pisilli and Rodrigo Mora. Forwards Santiago Castro, Donyell Malen, Matías Soulé and Paulo Dybala.

AS Roma flew to Turkey on 9 September 2026 for their opening match of the Champions League group stage. The squad gathered at Fiumicino airport in the morning and boarded a direct flight to Istanbul, where they will face Fenerbahce on 10 September in the first round of the tournament. Around forty supporters, mostly young fans, waited outside Terminal 5 to send off the team led by head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. The players stopped before boarding to sign autographs on official shirts and pose for photographs with the crowd. Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen drew the loudest acclaim from supporters, signing items and taking pictures before passing through security checks.

Paulo Dybala and Romelu Lukaku will face each other as enemies tomorrow when Fenerbahce visit Roma, but their reunion carries the weight of unfulfilled promise. The pair were signed to form a devastating partnership in late summer 2023, when Lukaku arrived on a Friedkin Group charter flight to widespread Roma fan excitement. Together, Dybala and Lukaku collected 37 goals and 15 assists across their time as teammates, with Lukaku contributing 21 goals and 5 assists and Dybala 16 goals and 10 assists. When both were on the pitch, Lukaku scored 17 goals and Dybala 15—solid returns that suggested the chemistry was immediate and potent. Yet injuries and José Mourinho's dismissal as head coach meant those numbers never translated into the sustained success both player and club demanded. Lukaku departed at the end of that season, initially returning to Chelsea before joining Napoli. Dybala narrowly avoided a move to Saudi Arabia, saved by what he and Roma supporters regard as a fortunate reversal of circumstances. Their trajectories have since diverged sharply. Dybala has started the 2026-27 season impressively and remains the focal point of Gian Piero Gasperini's Roma attack. Lukaku, by contrast, is struggling in Turkey and may start tomorrow from the bench. Despite his current difficulties, Lukaku's history as a dangerous substitute—and the unpredictability of former teammates—means Roma cannot afford complacency in the 90 minutes ahead.