Pietralata Stadium Conference begins as Salvini set to speak

Ultras fan groups UTR and AIRC have issued a fresh statement protesting the blanket ban on away travel for Roma supporters living in Rome and the surrounding Lazio province, calling the measure unjust and discriminatory. The groups argue the restriction is no longer tied to specific public-order risks at sensitive matches but has become a generalised policy applied routinely a few days before every away fixture, effectively preventing Lazio-based fans from supporting the team in the league—currently top of the table—and lacking any proportionate justification. UTR and AIRC contend that the Interior Ministry's approach has turned away-travel bans into a blanket public-order management tool rather than a targeted preventive measure. They draw a parallel to closing an entire motorway to prevent accidents, suggesting the policy is administratively crude. The groups also note that UEFA itself has criticised this method of managing public order and away-fixture issues in football. They point out that AS Roma itself has expressed opposition and intends to protest the ban applied to the Turin–Roma fixture. The statement from the organised fan groups represents their formal objection to what they describe as the Interior Ministry's flawed application of this policy to football.

Roma return to the Champions League for the first time in seven years as they face Fenerbahçe at the Chobani Stadium in the competition's opening match. Vincenzo Montella, the Roma legend and current Turkey national team coach, will be in attendance for the fixture. Corbin Friedkin, a member of the ownership group, will also be present in the stands—a visible show of support from the Texas-based Friedkin Group for Gasperini's squad. The CEO Galantic underlined the ownership's close involvement with the team in comments made shortly before kickoff.

Roma chief executive Jhon Galantic spoke to journalists before kick-off in Istanbul as the club made their Champions League return after seven years, facing Fenerbahçe in the league phase. Galantic stressed the significance of the competition for the club and its supporters, particularly in Roma's centenary year. "It is fundamental to return to the Champions League after seven years, especially in the centenary year. For the club and for the fans this is a very important evening," he said. On the summer transfer market, Galantic explained Roma's strategy of balancing sporting and financial requirements while respecting UEFA parameters. He praised the players who remained at the club and accepted reduced salaries to stay. "We have to seek an equilibrium, as many clubs do, that allows us to field the most competitive squad possible while respecting UEFA parameters. It is not easy. I thank the ownership and the players who renewed their contracts and reduced their salaries to stay. We are very happy they remained. We have lowered the wage bill while also increasing the quality of the squad," he said. On the Friedkin Group's involvement and emotional investment in the project, Galantic revealed: "Many messages today and there will be more during the match. One of them is here this evening. They are excited and are inside this project. They are silent; they will have their own style but they are really, really very involved also on an emotional level."

Roma kick off their Champions League campaign against Fenerbahce in Istanbul, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini confirming a strong starting lineup. Gasperini has retained the core of Roma's winning run this season, with one change: Devyne Rensch starts at left-back in place of Emanuele Lulli. Paulo Dybala takes his regular place in attack, flanking Matías Soulé behind Donyell Malen in a 3-4-2-1 formation. Rodrigo Mora is unused among the substitutes, expected to come on in the second half if needed. Nahuel Molina's first-team debut from the start is postponed. Roma field: Svilar; Mancini, N'Dicka, Hermoso; Rensch, Cristante, Koné, Wesley; Soulé, Dybala; Malen. Among the squad available from the bench are De Marzi, Gollini, Balerdi, Ghilardi, Koulierakis, Lulli, Molina, De Roon, Pisilli, Mora and Castro. Fenerbahce start with Ederson in goal and deploy Muriqi as their centre-forward, supported by Mason Greenwood and Ferdi Aktörkoglu in attacking midfield. The Turkish side's squad includes Raphaël Varane in their defensive ranks.

Roma returned to the Champions League for the first time in seven years on 10 September 2026, drawing 1-1 with Fenerbahçe in Istanbul in the opening match of the league phase. Bryan Cristante gave Roma the lead in the 38th minute with a long-range strike into the corner, but Fenerbahçe equalised in the 48th minute through Brown, who capitalised on a defensive error to beat Mile Svilar one-on-one. The draw ended a run of three consecutive Serie A victories for Gian Piero Gasperini's side ahead of their European return. Gasperini fielded Devyne Rensch at right-back on his first start in the competition, with Matías Soulé starting in the attacking midfield ahead of Rodrigo Mora alongside Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen. Roma controlled possession throughout the first half, forcing Fenerbahçe goalkeeper Ederson into saves from Dybala in the 20th minute and Malen in the 42nd, while Gianluca Mancini squandered a clear chance at the back post in the 33rd minute. Mason Greenwood posed the primary threat for the hosts on the counter-attack, and his influence continued into the second half until Fenerbahçe made changes in the 70th minute, introducing Romelu Lukaku and Ferdi Kahveci for Vedat Muriqi and Serdar Aktürkoğlu. Roma were awarded a penalty in the 69th minute which was then converted as a free-kick from the edge of the area, though Paulo Dybala's subsequent pass to Malen saw his effort blocked by the Fenerbahçe defence. Cristante received a yellow card in the 85th minute, as did Fenerbahçe's Yüksek for a hard challenge on Dybala in the 84th. Gian Piero Gasperini made three substitutions in the 74th minute, withdrawing Rensch, Mancini and Soulé to introduce Leonardo Balerdi, Nahuel Molina and Rodrigo Mora. The referee was Jesús Gil Manzano of Spain, with César Soto Grado operating as VAR. The draw left Roma's opening European campaign balanced at the first hurdle. Fenerbahçe named İsmail Kartal as their manager, while Roma's squad included Giorgio De Marzi, Pierluigi Gollini, Niccolò Pisilli and Santiago Castro among those available from the bench.

Vincent Candela has given Roma an upbeat assessment of their return to the Champions League, insisting the club's fixture list against Europe's elite represents a reward rather than a burden. Speaking on the day Roma began their League Phase campaign, the former defender praised the draw that will take the team to Paris, Manchester and Madrid, saying: "I prefer to face the big clubs: because I know where I'm going and I know how to prepare myself. Going to Manchester or Paris is beautiful, it's real Champions League." Candela added that he considers the draw "perfect" and that Roma have "been kissed by fortune" after finishing third in Serie A last season. Roma's first fixture is a trip to Turkey to face Fenerbahce, a match Candela does not underestimate. "In Turkey it's never a walk in the park, but you have to play as you have in the first three league matches and above all we must not get injured," he said. "The atmosphere will be heated, but it's all very fascinating. I believe we are on the right path. You could see it too with the comeback against Atalanta: this Roma never dies." Candela stressed that strong early results in the League Phase will be crucial to approaching later matches with greater serenity, and noted that Sporting, AEK and Lille could be decisive in determining Roma's European fate. However, the away trip to Manchester United concerns him more than the visits to Real Madrid or Paris. "The English reality goes at another speed," he explained. On the players, Candela reserved particular praise for Paulo Dybala, describing him as a treasure of football. "Yes. He is one of the few who has so much experience at these levels. At a technical level he is an asset of football. He still delivers things you barely see anymore, things in the style of Totti, Zidane, Ronaldo. He is in excellent physical condition after a year of work with Gasperini." Donyell Malen also earned strong backing: "He has rare qualities. He can do damage to Fenerbahce and I would not be surprised if he put difficulties in the defences of PSG or Real Madrid. Plus this year there is also Castro, so physically he can be managed better in such a long season." Candela also spoke about head coach Gian Piero Gasperini's connection to the club, noting that the manager has already built strong belonging despite his recent arrival. "He has won the Europa League and done the Champions with Atalanta, so he knows these stages. But above all he already has a strong sense of belonging with Roma. You don't need 15 or 20 years: if you are loyal, honest and put passion in, you prove it right away and people feel it and see it. Sometimes I go to watch training at Trigoria, he thinks about football from morning to evening and then wanted to know the symbols like me and Totti, going to dinner with us. It's not obvious. It's beautiful and he deserves everything he is receiving from the fans."