Fenerbahce vs Roma: where to watch, kickoff time and team news from Champions League clash

Roma played Fenerbahce in the UEFA Champions League on 8 September 2026 in Istanbul, with Spanish referee Jesús Gil Manzano in charge. The match saw several refereeing decisions under scrutiny in a detailed analysis of key moments. A significant VAR error occurred in the 31st minute when Gil Manzano correctly awarded Roma a corner, but the VAR team, led by César Soto Grado, chose to overturn the decision and award a throw-in to Fenerbahce instead. The error was compounded because Muldur had made the last contact with the ball, and there was no clear error to justify VAR intervention under protocol. In the 19th minute, Muldur committed a foul on Wesley after Wesley had already released the ball, but Gil Manzano did not caution the Fenerbahce player. Rensch received the first booking of the match in the 47th minute for a foul on Brown. Brown himself was cautioned in the 51st minute for a foul on Dybala. The full officiating team included assistants Diego Barbero and Guadalupe Porras Ayuso, with Valentín Gómez as AVAR and Juan Martínez Munuera as fourth official.

Roma faced Fenerbahce in Istanbul for the first matchday of the Champions League league phase, but the broadcast proved difficult for many supporters in Rome. Sky Sport channels experienced reception problems during the afternoon as a violent downpour struck the city, causing malfunctions that extended to television signal transmission throughout the capital.

Roma return to the Champions League for the first time in seven years as they face Fenerbahçe at the Chobani Stadium in the competition's opening match. Vincenzo Montella, the Roma legend and current Turkey national team coach, will be in attendance for the fixture. Corbin Friedkin, a member of the ownership group, will also be present in the stands—a visible show of support from the Texas-based Friedkin Group for Gasperini's squad. The CEO Galantic underlined the ownership's close involvement with the team in comments made shortly before kickoff.

Roma played Fenerbahce in the UEFA Champions League on 8 September 2026 in Istanbul, with Spanish referee Jesús Gil Manzano in charge. The match saw several refereeing decisions under scrutiny in a detailed analysis of key moments. A significant VAR error occurred in the 31st minute when Gil Manzano correctly awarded Roma a corner, but the VAR team, led by César Soto Grado, chose to overturn the decision and award a throw-in to Fenerbahce instead. The error was compounded because Muldur had made the last contact with the ball, and there was no clear error to justify VAR intervention under protocol. In the 19th minute, Muldur committed a foul on Wesley after Wesley had already released the ball, but Gil Manzano did not caution the Fenerbahce player. Rensch received the first booking of the match in the 47th minute for a foul on Brown. Brown himself was cautioned in the 51st minute for a foul on Dybala. The full officiating team included assistants Diego Barbero and Guadalupe Porras Ayuso, with Valentín Gómez as AVAR and Juan Martínez Munuera as fourth official.

AS Roma's CEO Guido Galantic spoke ahead of the club's Champions League return on 10 September 2026, stressing the significance of competing in Europe again after seven years, particularly in the season leading to the club's centenary. Galantic addressed the club's summer transfer strategy, confirming that Roma did not sell any major players. "We must, like many clubs, seek a balance between sporting and economic equilibrium that allows us to field the most competitive squad possible while also respecting UEFA parameters, which is not easy," Galantic said. "I thank the ownership and also the players who renewed. Some like Dybala, Pellegrini, Cristante and Mancini took pay cuts to stay at Roma. We managed in the end to reduce the wage bill while increasing the quality of the squad." Galantic underlined that the Friedkin Group's commitment to the Champions League campaign was total, despite their characteristic restraint in public. "They are following us intensely," he explained. "Throughout the evening there will be exchanges of messages. They are excited. They are quiet, they have their own style, but they are really very, very involved also on an emotional level." The return to the continent's elite competition marks a watershed moment for the club under American ownership, coinciding with ambitious plans heading into Roma's centennial celebrations.

Roma started their Champions League League Phase campaign against Fenerbahce on 10 September with Devyne Rensch and Paulo Dybala in the starting lineup. Gian Piero Gasperini named a side featuring Mile Svilar in goal, a back three of Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso, and a midfield of Bryan Cristante and Manu Koné supporting Matías Soulé in an attacking role behind Dybala and Donyell Malen. Fenerbahce fielded Ederson in goal with a defence of Muldur, Skriniar, Aké and Brown, and fielded Mason Greenwood among their attacking players. The match was refereed by Gil Manzano, with assistants Barbero and Ayuso, fourth official Munuera, VAR Soto Grado and assistant VAR Gomez.