Gasperini plans continuity at Lecce with only one change from Fiorentina

Atlético Madrid supporters have shown solidarity with Roma's fanbase by displaying a Roma badge during their match against Manchester United on 13 October, which Atlético won 2–0. The gesture underscores the friendship between the two supporter bases, which has been evident on previous occasions: Atlético fans have previously unfurled Roma flags during derbies against Real Madrid and during the club's Champions League encounters with Inter. Roma face Real Madrid at the Stadio Olimpico on 14 October at 21:00 in the second matchday of the Europa League league phase. The backing from Atlético's support represents tangible encouragement for the Giallorossi as they prepare for the fixture.

Roma host Real Madrid at the Olimpico in the second matchday of the Champions League League Phase, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini having settled on his starting XI. Pierluigi Gollini will start in goal, with Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso forming the defence. Nahuel Molina and Wesley are set to operate on the flanks, while Marten De Roon will partner Manu Koné in midfield as Bryan Cristante remains unavailable. Matías Soulé will play behind Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen in attack. The midfield pairing of De Roon and Koné faces the task of withstanding Real Madrid's central dominance and providing intensity and cover during transitions. Gasperini is placing his faith in the attacking unit that offers the greatest technical guarantees and threat. The only meaningful defensive debate involves Leonardo Balerdi pressing Mario Hermoso for a place, while Devyne Rensch represents an alternative on the right flank—though Molina appears favoured to start from the opening whistle. Donyell Malen will make his first start despite the red card he received on Sunday against Como. Roma's probable formation (3-4-1-2): Gollini; Mancini, N'Dicka, Hermoso; Molina, De Roon, Koné, Wesley; Soulé; Dybala, Malen. The club will field itself without particular calculation, ready to challenge Real Madrid with its own identity and with the Olimpico expected to drive the team through one of the most prestigious evenings in recent years.

Roma face Real Madrid at the Stadio Olimpico this evening with approximately 67,000 supporters expected to pack the ground. José Mourinho's return to Rome is the focal point of the fixture, with fans prepared to offer chants, banners and a dedicated display. Francesco Totti has been invited by the club to attend the match as a special guest. Mourinho arrived in Rome but has maintained complete secrecy since his arrival at the Rome Cavalieri hotel. Real Madrid's protocol on away trips prohibits contact with supporters outside the squad: no visits, selfies, autographs or external engagement until after the match. A fan who brought the Tirana final ball seeking Mourinho's signature went without; even that memento of Roma's 2022 Europa Conference League triumph remained unsigned. Pierluigi Gollini is primed for a special evening after performing among Roma's best performers in the recent trip to Como. The goalkeeper's last Champions League knockout match was in 2021, when playing for Atalanta against Real Madrid in the round of 16, a fixture Roma lost 1–0 at Bergamo to a goal by Mendy in the 86th minute. Tonight Gollini has the chance to reconnect with that European thread.

Gian Piero Gasperini will not alter Roma's tactical approach to contain Real Madrid's attacking threat, the head coach confirmed on the eve of the Champions League fixture at the Olimpico—the club's first home European night in 3,165 days. Real Madrid arrive with an array of attacking talent in Mbappé, Bellingham and Vinícius, who between them have scored 527 goals excluding international appearances, but Gasperini ruled out man-marking across the pitch or wholesale tactical changes. "The Roma do not betray themselves," he said, pointing to the aggressive and courageous style that carried the club to third place in Serie A and Champions League qualification. Gasperini acknowledged Real Madrid's quality and their continued adaptation under new management, citing their victory over Inter as proof of their calibre. He emphasised that Roma will take the field with their established identity, a philosophy already proven in memorable European nights such as the 2–0 win at Liverpool in 2020. The Real Madrid attack, powered by Mbappé and Vinícius, will demand maximum concentration from the Roma defence, particularly in guarding against the counter-attacks that are Mourinho's favoured weapon. The fixture pits individual contests across the pitch: Malen against Mbappé, Dybala against Bellingham. When asked to compare himself with Mourinho, Gasperini deflected the question while underscoring his Roma side's achievements, joking about the Friedkin ownership and Mourinho's ability to assemble world-class talent. The coach approached the match vigil with enthusiasm and conviction that Roma can compete at the highest level.

Roma face Real Madrid at the Stadio Olimpico at 21:00 in the second matchday of the Champions League league phase. The Giallorossi arrive on the back of a 0–0 draw against Como in Serie A and look to test themselves against the Spanish side managed by José Mourinho. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has one significant defensive selection to resolve: a choice between Evan N'Dicka and Leonardo Balerdi in the back three. The right flank also remains open, with Devyne Rensch and Nahuel Molina in contention, while Emanuele Lulli sits further down the pecking order. In attack, Matías Soulé is favoured over Rodrigo Mora and Lorenzo Pellegrini for a starting place. Multiple Italian newspapers have published their predicted lineups for the fixture, mostly settling on a 3–4–2–1 formation. La Gazzetta dello Sport lists N'Dicka in defence alongside Gianluca Mancini and Balerdi, with Rensch at right-back and Wesley on the left, and Donyell Malen leading the line. Corriere dello Sport predicts Mario Hermoso in place of Balerdi, also backing N'Dicka and Rensch. Il Tempo opts for Balerdi over N'Dicka and switches to a 3–4–1–2 shape. Il Messaggero agrees on that formation and personnel, pairing N'Dicka with Balerdi and Hermoso behind. IL Romanista and Romanewseu both favour N'Dicka and Hermoso in defence with Wesley and Molina on the flanks in a 3–4–2–1 setup.

Roma face Real Madrid at the Stadio Olimpico tonight in a Champions League tie with an extraordinary emotional dimension: José Mourinho will return to the stadium where he managed the club, receiving a farewell tribute that eluded him when he departed. Before the match, the stadium will honour the Special One with songs, banners and memories of the bond that remains unbroken in Rome. For 90 minutes, however, Roma and Mourinho will be opponents. Gasperini will attempt to pull off an upset against one of the world's strongest teams in front of an expected crowd of 67,000. The Friedkin Group has invited Francesco Totti to attend the match against Real Madrid, adding another layer of sentiment to an evening already laden with emotion. Totti's presence remains to be confirmed, but his attendance would enhance what is already shaping up to be a memorable night at the Olimpico.

Roma travel to a Champions League test against Real Madrid at the Olimpico, with former manager José Mourinho returning to face his old club for the first time since leaving. The fixture comes after Roma's goalless draw with Como in Serie A. Gasperini will be without Svilar, sidelined for approximately one month, and will rely on Gollini in goal—a choice that has yielded positive performances in the league. Roma enter the match seeking a significant result after drawing 1–1 with Fenerbahce in the opening fixture of the Champions League League Phase. Dybala and Malen are expected to lead the attack. The match will be broadcast on television, with specific broadcast details and team selections confirmed closer to kickoff.

Roma host Real Madrid at the Olimpico in the second matchday of the Champions League League Phase, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini having settled on his starting XI. Pierluigi Gollini will start in goal, with Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso forming the defence. Nahuel Molina and Wesley are set to operate on the flanks, while Marten De Roon will partner Manu Koné in midfield as Bryan Cristante remains unavailable. Matías Soulé will play behind Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen in attack. The midfield pairing of De Roon and Koné faces the task of withstanding Real Madrid's central dominance and providing intensity and cover during transitions. Gasperini is placing his faith in the attacking unit that offers the greatest technical guarantees and threat. The only meaningful defensive debate involves Leonardo Balerdi pressing Mario Hermoso for a place, while Devyne Rensch represents an alternative on the right flank—though Molina appears favoured to start from the opening whistle. Donyell Malen will make his first start despite the red card he received on Sunday against Como. Roma's probable formation (3-4-1-2): Gollini; Mancini, N'Dicka, Hermoso; Molina, De Roon, Koné, Wesley; Soulé; Dybala, Malen. The club will field itself without particular calculation, ready to challenge Real Madrid with its own identity and with the Olimpico expected to drive the team through one of the most prestigious evenings in recent years.

Roma travel to face Real Madrid tonight with Gasperini's side unbeaten across league and Champions League action so far this season. Paulo Dybala will lead the Giallorossi's ambitions in a stellar encounter, though the Argentine has yet to break his run without a goal. Despite his technical quality and the threat Dybala poses, he has misfired when it matters—a pattern that came into sharper focus recently at Como, where he wasted a clear opportunity. Donyell Malen has been scoring regularly, which has masked Dybala's drought, but when both forwards go quiet the problem becomes apparent. The fixture represents the kind of high-stage moment where elite players typically elevate their game. Roma are ready to produce a positive result, and Dybala is primed to end his goal drought at the Olimpico in the type of magical display his supporters crave. The Argentine wants to turn his barren spell into a decisive contribution—a performance worthy of the occasion against one of European football's heavyweight sides.

Roma travel to a Champions League test against Real Madrid at the Olimpico, with former manager José Mourinho returning to face his old club for the first time since leaving. The fixture comes after Roma's goalless draw with Como in Serie A. Gasperini will be without Svilar, sidelined for approximately one month, and will rely on Gollini in goal—a choice that has yielded positive performances in the league. Roma enter the match seeking a significant result after drawing 1–1 with Fenerbahce in the opening fixture of the Champions League League Phase. Dybala and Malen are expected to lead the attack. The match will be broadcast on television, with specific broadcast details and team selections confirmed closer to kickoff.

Roma host Real Madrid at the Olimpico in the second matchday of the Champions League League Phase, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini having settled on his starting XI. Pierluigi Gollini will start in goal, with Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso forming the defence. Nahuel Molina and Wesley are set to operate on the flanks, while Marten De Roon will partner Manu Koné in midfield as Bryan Cristante remains unavailable. Matías Soulé will play behind Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen in attack. The midfield pairing of De Roon and Koné faces the task of withstanding Real Madrid's central dominance and providing intensity and cover during transitions. Gasperini is placing his faith in the attacking unit that offers the greatest technical guarantees and threat. The only meaningful defensive debate involves Leonardo Balerdi pressing Mario Hermoso for a place, while Devyne Rensch represents an alternative on the right flank—though Molina appears favoured to start from the opening whistle. Donyell Malen will make his first start despite the red card he received on Sunday against Como. Roma's probable formation (3-4-1-2): Gollini; Mancini, N'Dicka, Hermoso; Molina, De Roon, Koné, Wesley; Soulé; Dybala, Malen. The club will field itself without particular calculation, ready to challenge Real Madrid with its own identity and with the Olimpico expected to drive the team through one of the most prestigious evenings in recent years.

Roma travel to face Real Madrid tonight with Gasperini's side unbeaten across league and Champions League action so far this season. Paulo Dybala will lead the Giallorossi's ambitions in a stellar encounter, though the Argentine has yet to break his run without a goal. Despite his technical quality and the threat Dybala poses, he has misfired when it matters—a pattern that came into sharper focus recently at Como, where he wasted a clear opportunity. Donyell Malen has been scoring regularly, which has masked Dybala's drought, but when both forwards go quiet the problem becomes apparent. The fixture represents the kind of high-stage moment where elite players typically elevate their game. Roma are ready to produce a positive result, and Dybala is primed to end his goal drought at the Olimpico in the type of magical display his supporters crave. The Argentine wants to turn his barren spell into a decisive contribution—a performance worthy of the occasion against one of European football's heavyweight sides.