Molina Set to Start Against Fenerbahçe as Gasperini Weighs Options in Attack

Roma return to the UEFA Champions League for the first time in seven years when they face Fenerbahce in the opening fixture of the league phase tomorrow at 18:45 at the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium in Istanbul. The match marks an official return to Europe's premier club competition after a seven-year absence — an achievement secured last season through determination and effort. The club's social media channels have released an emotional video to mark the occasion, beginning with an empty Olimpico and concluding with roaring supporters and the motto "Ad Astra". The footage presents a countdown in space-travel style, with on-screen text stating: "It is now time to aim for the stars". The video captures Roma's readiness to compete at the highest level after years away from the Champions League stage.

Roma begin their return to the UEFA Champions League after a seven-year absence on Thursday 10 September at 18:45 local time, travelling to Istanbul to face Fenerbahçe at the Şükrü Saracoğlu stadium. The fixture marks the first-ever official meeting between the two clubs and the start of Roma's group-stage campaign under head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, who arrives in exceptional form: three wins in the opening three Serie A matches, including a 4–0 victory over Fiorentina, a 4–0 win against Lecce, and a 2–1 comeback against Atalanta. Fenerbahçe qualified for the league phase after eliminating Gornik Zabrze, Sturm Graz and Lyon in qualifying but approach the contest having lost their most recent domestic fixture, a derby against Beşiktaş. Gasperini will have nearly a full squad available, with Lorenzo Pellegrini the sole absence after not being selected. Paulo Dybala has fully recovered from injury and is expected to start again. Gasperini said at the pre-match press conference: "We are all well", and emphasised how with the Argentine in the side Roma can raise their technical level further. The manager is likely to field a three-man defence of Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso in front of goalkeeper Mile Svilar, with Wesley continuing at left-back. The right-back position remains a point of consideration: Sky reports Emanuele Lulli is marginally favoured to retain his place, though Gasperini is also evaluating Nahuel Molina, who would provide greater international experience. In midfield, Bryan Cristante and Manu Koné appear certain starters. Donyell Malen is the focal point of the attack, with Dybala operating behind him. The final attacking position remains open between Rodrigo Mora, who leads the selection indicators, and Matías Soulé, who was decisive in the Atalanta win and remains in contention. Fenerbahçe manager Ismail Kartal will be without Aurélien Guendouzi, suspended following events in the Lyon playoff, and Marco Asensio, who was not selected due to a muscle injury. The Turkish side will likely adopt a 4–2–3–1 formation with uncertainty over the central striker: Vedat Muriqi holds a slight edge ahead of Romelu Lukaku, though the Belgian is available and competing for the role. Sky Sport Uno and Sky Sport 253 will broadcast the match in Italy; streaming will be available via Sky Go and NOW. Booking odds favour Roma at 2.10–2.25 for a win, with the draw quoted at 3.40–3.60 and Fenerbahçe at 3.25–3.40. Goals are expected: both sides scoring is priced at 1.55–1.60, and Over 2.5 goals at 1.65–1.80. The referee is Jesús Gil Manzano of Spain.

Gian Piero Gasperini will largely keep faith with the Roma side that faced Atalanta, with only one enforced change for the Champions League opener at Fenerbahçe. Rodrigo Mora returns to the squad after missing that fixture, while Nahuel Molina is poised to make his first start for the club. Emanuele Lulli will drop out of the line-up. Roma enter their Champions League campaign on the back of their third-place finish in Serie A last season, which secured automatic qualification for the league phase. Gasperini has overseen an immediate uplift in the side's form and morale since his appointment in 2025, with Paulo Dybala among those back to full fitness. The manager has indicated his squad is ready for the continental stage, despite the short turnaround from domestic action.

Roma play their first Champions League match in seven years this evening at Fenerbahce, with kickoff at 18:45. The only absentee is Lorenzo Pellegrini due to injury, with the rest of the squad available for what will be their opening fixture in the league phase. Fenerbahce's forward line includes Romelu Lukaku and Mason Greenwood. Gasperini expressed confidence ahead of the tie despite acknowledging the scale of the competition. "The impact with this competition always creates particular tension. The victory against Atalanta gave us great joy," he said. "This is a new competition for us; we're keen to measure ourselves against the top clubs. Fenerbahce are an excellent side. The stadium will be hot and we'll see what our personality is like. It will be a test, but I'm confident because it will be tough for them too. We won't change our characteristics." He highlighted Paulo Dybala's form: "Paulo is well and showing consistency. With him on the pitch we are stronger. Now the squad has more quality and the substitutes make less of a difference." Defender Mario Hermoso reinforced the team's mindset in the pre-match press conference: "In this competition we'll discover our true strength, but nothing changes for us. We'll play with the same identity and mentality we showed on Saturday evening." The starting eleven is expected to closely mirror the Atalanta lineup, with Nahuel Molina favoured over Emanuele Lulli at right-back. Rodrigo Mora holds a slight edge over Matías Soulé in midfield to support the attack pairing of Donyell Malen and Paulo Dybala. Leonardo Balerdi is being considered for the defensive line, having direct knowledge of Greenwood from previous seasons at Marseille.

Roma face Fenerbahçe in Istanbul tonight at 18:45 in their opening UEFA Champions League fixture, marking the club's return to Europe's elite competition for the first time in seven seasons. Gasperini's side arrive in ideal form, with the full squad available except for Lorenzo Pellegrini. The Fenerbahçe squad includes former Roma target Greenwood alongside Lukaku. Gasperini acknowledged the weight of the occasion but expressed optimism about his team's prospects. "The impact with this competition always brings particular tension. The victory against Atalanta gave us greater joy. This is a new competition, we're curious to measure ourselves against the top clubs. Fenerbahçe is an excellent team. The stadium will be hot and we could see what our personality will be like. It'll be a test but I'm confident because for them too it will be difficult. We won't change our characteristics," he said. He expects to make only one change to the side that beat Atalanta, with Nahuel Molina likely to start at right-back ahead of Lulli. Rodrigo Mora is slightly favoured over Matías Soulé in attack, while Leonardo Balerdi has a chance to start in defence. Dybala and Donyell Malen will continue in attack. Gasperini noted: "Paulo is well and showing consistency. We're stronger with him on the pitch. But now it's not only him and Malen scoring—we're scoring more goals with everyone. The squad now has more quality and substitutes make less of a difference. We can cause problems for anyone." Defender Mario Hermoso said: "In this competition we'll discover our true strength, but nothing changes for us. We'll play with the same identity and mentality we showed Saturday evening."

Roma begin their return to the UEFA Champions League after a seven-year absence on Thursday 10 September at 18:45 local time, travelling to Istanbul to face Fenerbahçe at the Şükrü Saracoğlu stadium. The fixture marks the first-ever official meeting between the two clubs and the start of Roma's group-stage campaign under head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, who arrives in exceptional form: three wins in the opening three Serie A matches, including a 4–0 victory over Fiorentina, a 4–0 win against Lecce, and a 2–1 comeback against Atalanta. Fenerbahçe qualified for the league phase after eliminating Gornik Zabrze, Sturm Graz and Lyon in qualifying but approach the contest having lost their most recent domestic fixture, a derby against Beşiktaş. Gasperini will have nearly a full squad available, with Lorenzo Pellegrini the sole absence after not being selected. Paulo Dybala has fully recovered from injury and is expected to start again. Gasperini said at the pre-match press conference: "We are all well", and emphasised how with the Argentine in the side Roma can raise their technical level further. The manager is likely to field a three-man defence of Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso in front of goalkeeper Mile Svilar, with Wesley continuing at left-back. The right-back position remains a point of consideration: Sky reports Emanuele Lulli is marginally favoured to retain his place, though Gasperini is also evaluating Nahuel Molina, who would provide greater international experience. In midfield, Bryan Cristante and Manu Koné appear certain starters. Donyell Malen is the focal point of the attack, with Dybala operating behind him. The final attacking position remains open between Rodrigo Mora, who leads the selection indicators, and Matías Soulé, who was decisive in the Atalanta win and remains in contention. Fenerbahçe manager Ismail Kartal will be without Aurélien Guendouzi, suspended following events in the Lyon playoff, and Marco Asensio, who was not selected due to a muscle injury. The Turkish side will likely adopt a 4–2–3–1 formation with uncertainty over the central striker: Vedat Muriqi holds a slight edge ahead of Romelu Lukaku, though the Belgian is available and competing for the role. Sky Sport Uno and Sky Sport 253 will broadcast the match in Italy; streaming will be available via Sky Go and NOW. Booking odds favour Roma at 2.10–2.25 for a win, with the draw quoted at 3.40–3.60 and Fenerbahçe at 3.25–3.40. Goals are expected: both sides scoring is priced at 1.55–1.60, and Over 2.5 goals at 1.65–1.80. The referee is Jesús Gil Manzano of Spain.

Roma play their first Champions League match in seven years this evening at Fenerbahce, with kickoff at 18:45. The only absentee is Lorenzo Pellegrini due to injury, with the rest of the squad available for what will be their opening fixture in the league phase. Fenerbahce's forward line includes Romelu Lukaku and Mason Greenwood. Gasperini expressed confidence ahead of the tie despite acknowledging the scale of the competition. "The impact with this competition always creates particular tension. The victory against Atalanta gave us great joy," he said. "This is a new competition for us; we're keen to measure ourselves against the top clubs. Fenerbahce are an excellent side. The stadium will be hot and we'll see what our personality is like. It will be a test, but I'm confident because it will be tough for them too. We won't change our characteristics." He highlighted Paulo Dybala's form: "Paulo is well and showing consistency. With him on the pitch we are stronger. Now the squad has more quality and the substitutes make less of a difference." Defender Mario Hermoso reinforced the team's mindset in the pre-match press conference: "In this competition we'll discover our true strength, but nothing changes for us. We'll play with the same identity and mentality we showed on Saturday evening." The starting eleven is expected to closely mirror the Atalanta lineup, with Nahuel Molina favoured over Emanuele Lulli at right-back. Rodrigo Mora holds a slight edge over Matías Soulé in midfield to support the attack pairing of Donyell Malen and Paulo Dybala. Leonardo Balerdi is being considered for the defensive line, having direct knowledge of Greenwood from previous seasons at Marseille.

Roma face Fenerbahçe in Istanbul tonight at 18:45 in their opening UEFA Champions League fixture, marking the club's return to Europe's elite competition for the first time in seven seasons. Gasperini's side arrive in ideal form, with the full squad available except for Lorenzo Pellegrini. The Fenerbahçe squad includes former Roma target Greenwood alongside Lukaku. Gasperini acknowledged the weight of the occasion but expressed optimism about his team's prospects. "The impact with this competition always brings particular tension. The victory against Atalanta gave us greater joy. This is a new competition, we're curious to measure ourselves against the top clubs. Fenerbahçe is an excellent team. The stadium will be hot and we could see what our personality will be like. It'll be a test but I'm confident because for them too it will be difficult. We won't change our characteristics," he said. He expects to make only one change to the side that beat Atalanta, with Nahuel Molina likely to start at right-back ahead of Lulli. Rodrigo Mora is slightly favoured over Matías Soulé in attack, while Leonardo Balerdi has a chance to start in defence. Dybala and Donyell Malen will continue in attack. Gasperini noted: "Paulo is well and showing consistency. We're stronger with him on the pitch. But now it's not only him and Malen scoring—we're scoring more goals with everyone. The squad now has more quality and substitutes make less of a difference. We can cause problems for anyone." Defender Mario Hermoso said: "In this competition we'll discover our true strength, but nothing changes for us. We'll play with the same identity and mentality we showed Saturday evening."

Roma begin their return to the UEFA Champions League after a seven-year absence on Thursday 10 September at 18:45 local time, travelling to Istanbul to face Fenerbahçe at the Şükrü Saracoğlu stadium. The fixture marks the first-ever official meeting between the two clubs and the start of Roma's group-stage campaign under head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, who arrives in exceptional form: three wins in the opening three Serie A matches, including a 4–0 victory over Fiorentina, a 4–0 win against Lecce, and a 2–1 comeback against Atalanta. Fenerbahçe qualified for the league phase after eliminating Gornik Zabrze, Sturm Graz and Lyon in qualifying but approach the contest having lost their most recent domestic fixture, a derby against Beşiktaş. Gasperini will have nearly a full squad available, with Lorenzo Pellegrini the sole absence after not being selected. Paulo Dybala has fully recovered from injury and is expected to start again. Gasperini said at the pre-match press conference: "We are all well", and emphasised how with the Argentine in the side Roma can raise their technical level further. The manager is likely to field a three-man defence of Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso in front of goalkeeper Mile Svilar, with Wesley continuing at left-back. The right-back position remains a point of consideration: Sky reports Emanuele Lulli is marginally favoured to retain his place, though Gasperini is also evaluating Nahuel Molina, who would provide greater international experience. In midfield, Bryan Cristante and Manu Koné appear certain starters. Donyell Malen is the focal point of the attack, with Dybala operating behind him. The final attacking position remains open between Rodrigo Mora, who leads the selection indicators, and Matías Soulé, who was decisive in the Atalanta win and remains in contention. Fenerbahçe manager Ismail Kartal will be without Aurélien Guendouzi, suspended following events in the Lyon playoff, and Marco Asensio, who was not selected due to a muscle injury. The Turkish side will likely adopt a 4–2–3–1 formation with uncertainty over the central striker: Vedat Muriqi holds a slight edge ahead of Romelu Lukaku, though the Belgian is available and competing for the role. Sky Sport Uno and Sky Sport 253 will broadcast the match in Italy; streaming will be available via Sky Go and NOW. Booking odds favour Roma at 2.10–2.25 for a win, with the draw quoted at 3.40–3.60 and Fenerbahçe at 3.25–3.40. Goals are expected: both sides scoring is priced at 1.55–1.60, and Over 2.5 goals at 1.65–1.80. The referee is Jesús Gil Manzano of Spain.

Roma analysts and opinion makers reflected on the squad during radio appearances on 10 September. Claudia Bighi at Radio Romanista praised Mario Hermoso's concentration, saying: "Hermoso is very serious, he never laughed during the press conference, he is always focused." Alessandro Santoro at Radio Manà Manà called for more game time for Rodrigo Mora, noting that he has followed Gasperini's instructions well and performed effectively in his 20 minutes as a substitute against Lecce. Santoro also highlighted Matías Soulé as a potential key resource for the season. A contributor to Radio Manà Manà expressed concern about Soulé's confidence if he does not start, comparing his potential to Muriel's impact as a substitute scorer. The pundit suggested that Gasperini could develop Soulé into a player who "enters and scores important goals," while Mora was described as "pure talent" despite the competition for minutes.

Roma play their first Champions League match in seven years this evening at Fenerbahce, with kickoff at 18:45. The only absentee is Lorenzo Pellegrini due to injury, with the rest of the squad available for what will be their opening fixture in the league phase. Fenerbahce's forward line includes Romelu Lukaku and Mason Greenwood. Gasperini expressed confidence ahead of the tie despite acknowledging the scale of the competition. "The impact with this competition always creates particular tension. The victory against Atalanta gave us great joy," he said. "This is a new competition for us; we're keen to measure ourselves against the top clubs. Fenerbahce are an excellent side. The stadium will be hot and we'll see what our personality is like. It will be a test, but I'm confident because it will be tough for them too. We won't change our characteristics." He highlighted Paulo Dybala's form: "Paulo is well and showing consistency. With him on the pitch we are stronger. Now the squad has more quality and the substitutes make less of a difference." Defender Mario Hermoso reinforced the team's mindset in the pre-match press conference: "In this competition we'll discover our true strength, but nothing changes for us. We'll play with the same identity and mentality we showed on Saturday evening." The starting eleven is expected to closely mirror the Atalanta lineup, with Nahuel Molina favoured over Emanuele Lulli at right-back. Rodrigo Mora holds a slight edge over Matías Soulé in midfield to support the attack pairing of Donyell Malen and Paulo Dybala. Leonardo Balerdi is being considered for the defensive line, having direct knowledge of Greenwood from previous seasons at Marseille.

Roma face Fenerbahçe in Istanbul tonight at 18:45 in their opening UEFA Champions League fixture, marking the club's return to Europe's elite competition for the first time in seven seasons. Gasperini's side arrive in ideal form, with the full squad available except for Lorenzo Pellegrini. The Fenerbahçe squad includes former Roma target Greenwood alongside Lukaku. Gasperini acknowledged the weight of the occasion but expressed optimism about his team's prospects. "The impact with this competition always brings particular tension. The victory against Atalanta gave us greater joy. This is a new competition, we're curious to measure ourselves against the top clubs. Fenerbahçe is an excellent team. The stadium will be hot and we could see what our personality will be like. It'll be a test but I'm confident because for them too it will be difficult. We won't change our characteristics," he said. He expects to make only one change to the side that beat Atalanta, with Nahuel Molina likely to start at right-back ahead of Lulli. Rodrigo Mora is slightly favoured over Matías Soulé in attack, while Leonardo Balerdi has a chance to start in defence. Dybala and Donyell Malen will continue in attack. Gasperini noted: "Paulo is well and showing consistency. We're stronger with him on the pitch. But now it's not only him and Malen scoring—we're scoring more goals with everyone. The squad now has more quality and substitutes make less of a difference. We can cause problems for anyone." Defender Mario Hermoso said: "In this competition we'll discover our true strength, but nothing changes for us. We'll play with the same identity and mentality we showed Saturday evening."