Roma host Real Madrid at the Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday 14 October at 21:00 in the second matchday of the UEFA Champions League league phase. The fixture marks Roma's first home Champions League match in seven years and carries profound emotional weight: José Mourinho returns to the stadium where he managed the club for 987 days, winning the UEFA Europa Conference League in Tirana in 2022 and reaching a second European final in Budapest the following year before departing in January 2024. Roma enter on the back of a goalless draw with Como in Serie A and a 1–1 draw with Fenerbahce in their Champions League opener. Real Madrid won their opening match 2–1 against Inter and arrive unbeaten in the competition under Mourinho.
Gian Piero Gasperini will be without goalkeeper Mile Svilar, sidelined for approximately one month, and will deploy Pierluigi Gollini in his place. Gollini's last Champions League appearance came on 24 February 2021 when he played for Atalanta against Real Madrid in the round of 16, a match Atalanta lost 1–0 to a goal by Mendy in the 86th minute. In midfield, Bryan Cristante remains unavailable. Roma's attack will be led by Paulo Dybala, with Donyell Malen and Matías Soulé in support. Malen, who received a one-match domestic suspension for a red card against Como, will make his first Roma start in the Champions League. Multiple outlets expect Roma to deploy a 3–4–2–1 or 3–4–1–2 formation with Pierluigi Gollini in goal, a back three of Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka or Leonardo Balerdi, and Mario Hermoso, Nahuel Molina and Wesley at full-back, Marten De Roon and Manu Koné in midfield, and Soulé behind Dybala and Malen. Il Tempo and Il Messaggero favour Balerdi over N'Dicka, while other outlets including La Gazzetta dello Sport and Corriere dello Sport predict N'Dicka alongside Hermoso. Devyne Rensch and Molina compete at right-back, though Molina appears favoured.
Real Madrid will arrive with their principal attacking assets available. Kylian Mbappé and Federico Valverde, both carrying injury concerns into their weekend fixture against Villarreal, featured in that match and will be available. Thibaut Courtois is expected in goal, with a defence featuring Ibrahima Konaté, Antonio Rüdiger, Juan Cucurella and Trent Alexander-Arnold. Jude Bellingham, Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni are expected in midfield. Real Madrid will be without Eder Militão, Ferland Mendy, Rodrygo and Raúl Asencio. Former Roma defender Dean Huijsen is included in the squad after serving a domestic suspension but is expected to operate as a backup option.
The Stadio Olimpico will be at capacity, with approximately 60,000 to 67,000 supporters expected. The club has invited Francesco Totti to attend as a special guest. Mourinho's return will be marked by a special reception from Roma supporters, with plans for chants, banners and a tribute, though Mourinho told the press conference he requested only respect and did not expect singing. "My departure from Roma hurt my heart," he said, "but there will never be a word from me against Roma or its ownership: when I leave, I leave clean and with the feeling that it will be my home forever." On the prospect of the match itself, Mourinho acknowledged the emotional difficulty: "For ninety minutes we are opponents. Before and after perhaps my heart will beat faster, but during
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