Fenerbahçe president Yıldırım lodges appeal against Guendouzi suspension

Rodrigo Mora is among the young players set to make their Champions League debuts on matchday one this season. The Roma midfielder has been highlighted by the New York Times in a list of ten young players to watch in this year's competition, earning a striking comparison to Lionel Messi. The New York Times article described Mora as "a small playmaker of 168 cm who shines with his long hair, and comparisons with a young Lionel Messi are inevitable." While acknowledging that "Mora does not possess Messi's supernatural ability, the stylistic similarities are there." Like the Argentine, Mora operates freely between the lines, seeking the ball from teammates before driving toward goal, and his dribbling style is characterised by feints and changes of direction. The piece noted his typical pattern: "Mora collects the ball on the left flank and runs toward the defender to mark and beat him, as he did against Fiorentina."

Roma begin their Champions League campaign against Fenerbahçe, but the Turkish club will be without midfielder Mattéo Guendouzi, suspended following a playoff match against Lyon. Guendouzi was handed the ban after an on-field incident in which he provoked the opposing squad and supporters following victory. Fenerbahçe president Aziz Yildirim has submitted an appeal to the disciplinary tribunal. He said: "We have lodged an appeal and it will go to the appeals court. We hope the sanction is reduced." Yildirim added: "Greenwood's suspension has already been overturned and we believe Guendouzi's can also be lessened."

Roma make their Champions League return on Thursday 10 September at 18:45 at Fenerbahce's Sükrü Saracoglu Stadium in Istanbul. UEFA has appointed a wholly Spanish refereeing team, with Jesús Gil Manzano as referee, Diego Barbero and Guadalupe Porras Ayuso as assistants, César Soto Grado on VAR, Valentín Gómez as AVAR, and Juan Martínez Munuera as fourth official. Gil Manzano has previously overseen two Roma matches in European competition, with a mixed record. He refereed Roma's 5–3 penalty shootout victory against Feyenoord in the 2023–24 Europa League after a 1–1 draw (goals from Gimenez and Pellegrini), and the 2–1 defeat to Borussia Mönchengladbach in the 2019–20 Europa League. Fenerbahce enter the match with an unbeaten record under Gil Manzano in European ties. The Turkish side won both previous matches when he has officiated in continental competition, most recently a 4–1 victory over Austria Vienna in the 2022–23 Europa League qualifying round.