Five arrested in Istanbul over counterfeit Roma match tickets

Roma will not hold a standard training session on the day of their Champions League opener against Fenerbahce in Istanbul on 10 September at 18:45. Instead, the squad underwent only a light muscle-activation session at the hotel ahead of their debut in the competition's league phase. The last full session came with yesterday evening's final training run following Gasperini and Hermoso's press conference. Gasperini still has decisions to make before kick-off. Nahuel Molina appears certain to start at right-back ahead of Emanuele Lulli, but the forward line remains open. A battle continues between Matías Soulé and Rodrigo Mora for the role supporting the partnership of Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen.

Roma face Fenerbahce in the opening match of the Champions League league phase at 18:45 in Istanbul, marking their return to Europe's elite club competition after seven and a half years. The fixture promises intensity in an atmosphere the hosts say is completely sold out, with Fenerbahce's Turkish contingent including former Serie A stars Skriniar, Muldur, and Lukaku, who previously played for Roma, alongside Muriqi and Mason Greenwood, whom Gasperini pursued this summer. Fenerbahce are managing their own crisis: their coach Kartal faces the sack after a derby loss to Besiktas, and they are themselves back in the Champions League for the first time in 18 years. Roma must not be daunted, according to Gasperini, who stressed the need for confidence and tactical clarity in his pre-match press conference. The squad possesses genuine pedigree in this competition. Gasperini himself brings 34 European matches in the dugout—33 with Atalanta and one with Inter—having arrived in Rome after guiding Atalanta to Champions League qualification just weeks earlier. He reiterated yesterday: "It is a satisfaction to find the Champions League with Roma, it is a reason for greater gratification. In this competition you face top teams in their championship, with great players, who can change the inertia of a match at any moment." Key players carry substantial experience: Paulo Dybala has appeared 53 times at club level and scored 18 goals with 4 assists (all from his Juventus years); Marten de Roon has 43 Champions League appearances with Atalanta and 4 assists; Nahuel Molina has 37 matches from his time at Atlético Madrid, with 1 goal and 3 assists. Donyell Malen and Mario Hermoso both have 31 appearances each from spells in the competition. Bryan Cristante, Lorenzo Pellegrini, and Gollini have 13, 14, and 10 Champions League outings respectively. Eight players will make their debut in the competition: Mancini, Ghilardi, Koulierakis, Lulli, Wesley, Koné, Pisilli, and Rodrigo Mora, and will wear UEFA debut patches.

Roma's European campaign begins at Fenerbahçe's Şükrü Saraçoğlu stadium in Istanbul, with approximately 400 supporters travelling from Italy for the Champions League group-phase fixture. The Kadıköy neighbourhood on the Asian side of Istanbul will host the Giallorossi's first continental away match of the season, with the stadium renowned for its intense atmosphere. The Fenerbahçe ground represents one of European football's most hostile environments. Kadıköy itself is described as the passionate, populist heart of Istanbul on the Bosphorus's Asian shore—far removed from the golden palaces of the European side. The quarter pulses with an identity inseparable from Fenerbahçe's support: narrow market streets, bohemian cafés, and colourful murals define the neighbourhood. The stadium itself functions as what is effectively a cauldron of noise, built to challenge visiting teams across the full ninety minutes. Roma's travelling contingent has been provided with logistical guidance to reach the stadium. The article describes the area around the ground as saturated with Fenerbahçe's yellow and blue colours, with the scents of kebab restaurants and the nearby Sea of Marmara mingling in the cool Kadıköy air. Meeting points and stadium information for the 400 Roma supporters have been coordinated ahead of the match.