Mancini recalls historic Real Madrid victory and backs Roma to win tomorrow

José Mourinho will return to the Stadio Olimpico for the first time since his departure, arriving tomorrow evening as Real Madrid manager to face AS Roma in a Champions League fixture. The Portuguese coach spent nearly three years at the club before his dismissal in January 2024, and the reunion carries weight beyond a routine away match. Roma and Mourinho's bond survived his exit and has only deepened in the interval; the Curva Sud and the wider fanbase have maintained their connection to him despite time and distance. A mural by street artist Drugi, created in recent days, encapsulated the sentiment with the words: "For one night we will forget love, but we will never forget who we have been." Mourinho's tenure began with his announcement on 4 May 2021, followed by his arrival at Trigoria weeks later. The relationship took root instantly, before he had even won a match in giallorosso colours. European nights, battles, provocations and tears followed. The UEFA Europa Conference League triumph in Tirana brought a European trophy back to Roma's cabinet and transformed a strong bond into something deeper still. A year later came Budapest, ending in an opposite outcome but delivering emotional intensity that proved even more potent; Mourinho became the embodiment of the entire environment's anger, crossing lines and bearing personal consequences for that night. The relationship with the club began to erode slowly until his January 2024 dismissal. His connection with the city and much of the support never truly fractured. Mourinho has continued to speak of Roma in terms he has rarely used for other chapters of his career. The Olimpico's reception tomorrow night will be one of the most anticipated moments of the evening. When the match begins, Mourinho has already stated he will think only of Real Madrid, and Roma will do the same—they face not a monument to celebrate but one of the season's most significant opponents. Before the whistle, though, a moment to acknowledge each other will be inevitable. Love, nostalgia, gratitude and tears may follow. Then the referee will blow, and something peculiar will unfold: for ninety minutes, José will truly be one of theirs.

Roma face Real Madrid in the Champions League on the back of Sunday's draw at Como, a match that saw Donyell Malen sent off. Paulo Dybala played as a centre-forward in that game and carried Roma's attack through the numerical disadvantage, prompting head coach Gian Piero Gasperini to lean on him again for the European fixture. Gasperini has stressed since the start of the season that when Dybala is in this form, he makes the difference. The Argentina forward enjoyed a full pre-season this summer without setback, building his fitness gradually and arriving at his best condition. Roma have secured his contract renewal, though the club had allowed his deal to run down before extending it. Dybala remains committed to Roma and has indicated his desire to finish his career in Italian football. The Real Madrid encounter carries difficult history: Roma have faced the Spanish club twice before in European competition, losing both meetings, one of them the 2017 Champions League final when Dybala was a Juventus player. Dybala said two days before the Real Madrid match: "I hope for an Italian finish to my career." Gasperini and Roma's staff are taking every precaution to preserve Dybala's form heading into this high-profile European test.

Donyell Malen will have three days to recover from his dismissal at Como before facing Real Madrid in the Champions League at the Olimpico on Monday evening. The Dutch forward was sent off on Sunday after the red card forced Roma to spend much of the second half with ten men. The suspension applies only in Serie A, leaving him available for Gasperini's side against the Spanish champions. Malen's appearance against Real carries weight beyond the immediate fixture. On 1 June 2024, he was part of the Borussia Dortmund side that lost the Champions League final to Real Madrid at Wembley, 2–0. Four months later, on 22 October 2024, he faced them again at the Bernabéu. He scored the opening goal and set up Gittens for a second, but Real overturned the 0–2 deficit to win 5–2, with Vinícius completing a hat-trick. Under Gasperini this season, Malen has become Roma's central attacking reference point, a key figure in the club's offensive threat. At Como, before his dismissal, he had created continuous problems for Fabregasa's defence and came close to scoring. After his exit, Roma lost attacking continuity and had to focus on defending the result. Malen offered no excuses after the match: "I apologise to the team and the fans," he wrote hours later. The Olimpico now offers him the chance to answer on the pitch where it matters most for a forward. He faces the team that denied him a European Cup, against whom he has already scored, and who transformed one of his best European performances into disappointment. Three matches across three stadiums: Wembley, the Bernabéu, now the Olimpico. Roma left Como with ten men; tomorrow Malen has the chance to restore them.

Roma's 0-0 draw at Como revealed a significant shift in Gian Piero Gasperini's tactical identity, demonstrating both defensive resilience and a willingness to accept a hard-fought point when circumstances demand it. The result, secured while playing more than a third of the match with ten men, drew praise from the coach for his team's refusal to surrender. Gasperini said: "I celebrated for the spirit we showed on the pitch until the ninety-fourth minute. Playing more than a third of a match in numerical inferiority against this Como without ever stepping back is a big deal." The performance marked a departure from Gasperini's traditional approach, which has always prioritised sustained attacking, pursuing a second or third goal regardless of defensive risk. This season, Roma have absorbed the principle that if a match cannot be won, it must be prevented from being lost—a pragmatic shift essential to competing for the season's highest targets. The club's overall balance across all departments now reflects this maturity: Roma have conceded just three goals so far, sharing the league's best defensive record with Cagliari, while maintaining the second-most prolific attack with 14 goals, trailing only Inter. Como's dominance of possession in the final stages—reaching 83.8%—was neutralised by Roma's midfield and defensive foundation. Gianluca Mancini handled 51 passes, Marten de Roon 55, Wesley 65 and Nahuel Molina 63. The defensive line, led by Evan N'Dicka and rotating through Mario Hermoso, Leonardo Balerdi and Daniele Ghilardi, proved impenetrable. Paulo Dybala, despite minor errors born of fatigue, managed 47 passes away from Roma's box, functioning as a leader among opponents' attackers and maintaining continuity through all 90 minutes with ten men. This combination of technical quality and competitive intensity forms the foundation Roma will need for the season's major fixtures.

Gianluca Mancini has offered his perspective on Roma's Champions League clash against Real Madrid, drawing on his unique experience as both a former Roma player who scored against the Spanish club in 2008 and a subsequent Inter player under José Mourinho. The double connection gives him insight into the tactical battle ahead between Gian Piero Gasperini and Mourinho, who now manages Real Madrid. Mancini recalled Roma's historic 2–0 victory over Real Madrid on 19 February 2008, when he scored under the Curva Sud. "That was a Roma playing the most beautiful football. The atmosphere at the Olimpico that day was wonderful, one of those you only experience in the Champions League," he said. He defended Mourinho against suggestions he is outdated: "He's a coach who has won a huge number of trophies in his career. Maybe those who say these things are a bit envious." Mancini is confident Roma can succeed if they bring the right intensity. "It will be a beautiful match, with the Olimpico packed and pushing. I hope Roma can play a tremendous game, maybe winning: that would be a key victory for the Champions League," he said. On how Gasperini can destabilize Real Madrid, Mancini explained: "Roma will need to be intense, with a lot of physicality: if they manage that they can also win, Gasp's style of play can put the Spanish in crisis. The Roma coach, moreover, has already done well against many big European teams when he was at Atalanta." On Wesley, who has struggled this season after a promising debut last year, Mancini was measured: "Wesley arrived at Roma unknown to anyone and did very well. This year he's been affected a bit by injury and a bit by the fact that now everyone knows him. It will be harder for him now, but he's still young and can grow. He has interesting characteristics, but Maicon and Cafu were another level. Those were two monsters, with lots of strength and quality." Mancini also noted the novelty of Roma fielding no Brazilian players this season after the club had long relied on them, and backed Roma's title credentials. "Rome has started well, begun the season with continuity of results and performances, which is an important aspect for those who want to win. Inter is warned," he said.

Roma approach their Champions League fixture against Real Madrid in confident mood despite a goalless draw at Como and the early dismissal of Donyell Malen. Playing with numerical disadvantage, Gian Piero Gasperini's side demonstrated solidity and character, underlining the strength of their defence: they have conceded just three goals in six league matches, a figure among the best in Europe's top five divisions. Pierluigi Gollini, deputising for Mile Svilar, delivered a convincing performance. Evan N'Dicka proved reliable, while Gianluca Mancini provided edge. In midfield, Marten de Roon stood out, covering 11,657 kilometres — more than any other player on the pitch — and confirming his contribution in work rate and tactical intelligence. The block of former Atalanta players delivered strong responses.