Gil Manzano to referee Fenerbahçe–Roma Champions League match

Roma return to the UEFA Champions League on Thursday at 18:45 with a trip to Istanbul to face Fenerbahce at Stadio Şükrü Saracoğlu. Spanish referee Jesús Gil Manzano will take charge of the match, with assistants Diego Barbero and Guadalupe Porras Ayuso. César Soto Grado handles VAR duties, with Valentín Gómez as AVAR and Juan Martínez Munuera as fourth official. Gil Manzano is not unfamiliar with Roma. His most distant previous encounter came on 7 November 2019, when he refereed Roma's 2–1 defeat away at Borussia Mönchengladbach. His more recent meeting came in a Europa League playoff return against Feyenoord, which Roma won on penalties, with Mile Svilar delivering a standout performance.

AS Roma have announced ticket sales for their home Champions League match against Real Madrid, scheduled for Tuesday 14 October at 21:00. The fixture marks the club's return to European football's elite competition after seven years away. Sales opened at 12:00 on 8 September for Serie A Plus season-ticket holders, who may purchase a maximum of two tickets per transaction and cannot resell them. General public sales begin at 12:00 on Wednesday 9 September, with each supporter able to buy up to four tickets per transaction. All tickets are issued in digital format only. Roma's Champions League campaign begins with an away trip to Fenerbahçe on Thursday, before the home debut against José Mourinho's Real Madrid. The club qualified for the league phase after finishing third in Serie A last season. Plus Coppe 2026–27 season-ticket holders will also have access to resale services from 10:00 on Friday 11 September 2026.

UEFA has confirmed that Spanish referee Jesús Gil Manzano will take charge of Fenerbahçe vs Roma on Thursday at 18:45 in Istanbul for the opening match of the 2026–27 Champions League League Phase. Gil Manzano has previously officiated Roma twice in European competition. He will be assisted by Diego Barbero and Guadalupe Porras Ayuso, with Juan Martínez Munuera as fourth official. César Soto Grado will operate at VAR, supported by AVAR Valentín Gómez, making the entire match officiating team Spanish. This fixture marks Roma's return to the Champions League after seven years. Gil Manzano's two prior encounters with Roma came in Europa League matches. The first was on 7 November 2019, when Roma lost 2–1 away to Borussia Mönchengladbach in the group stage. The second, much more recent, took place on 22 February 2024 at the Olimpico in a Europa League playoff return leg against Feyenoord. After a 1–1 draw that persisted through extra time, Roma secured qualification to the round of 16 by winning 4–2 on penalties. Excluding the penalty shootout outcome and considering only the match itself, Roma's record against Gil Manzano stands at one draw and one defeat. Thursday's encounter in Istanbul will be their third meeting, this time in the Champions League.