Roma bid to break Istanbul fortress as Fenerbahce perfect against Italian sides

Roma returned to the UEFA Champions League for the first time in seven years this evening, traveling to Istanbul to face Fenerbahçe in the opening match of the League Phase. Gian Piero Gasperini's side arrived on the back of three consecutive Serie A victories, while the Turkish champions looked to capitalize on home support at the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium. Gasperini deployed Roma in a 3–4–2–1 formation, selecting Devyne Rensch at right-back for the match. The manager settled an attacking midfield decision in favour of Matías Soulé, who won the contest with Rodrigo Mora to operate alongside Paulo Dybala behind striker Donyell Malen. Mile Svilar started in goal, with Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso in the back three. Bryan Cristante and Manu Koné anchored the centre of midfield, while Wesley held the left-back role. Fenerbahçe lined up as Ederson; Mert Müldür, Skriniar, Aké, Brown; Yüksek, Kanté; Aktürkoğlu, Elmaz, Greenwood; Muriqi, under manager İsmail Kartal. The Spanish referee Jesús Gil Manzano oversaw proceedings, with Valentín Gómez and César Soto Grado assigned to VAR duties. Roma's substitute bench included goalkeepers Pierluigi Gollini and Giorgio De Marzi, defenders Nahuel Molina, Konstantinos Koulierakis, Leonardo Balerdi and Daniele Ghilardi, midfielder Marten de Roon and attackers Niccolò Pisilli, Rodrigo Mora and Santiago Castro.

Gian Piero Gasperini has opted to start Devyne Rensch at right-back for Roma's Champions League opener against Fenerbahce in Istanbul this evening, moving away from earlier expectations. According to Sky Sport, the Dutch defender will be preferred to Nahuel Molina, who was among the principal candidates for a starting place on the right flank ahead of the match. The decision represents one of the key changes to Roma's lineup for their first game in this edition of the Champions League. Molina is expected to begin on the bench as Rensch takes responsibility for covering the right flank from the start of the fixture. The tactical adjustment comes just hours before kickoff and signals Gasperini's final selection for the contest.

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."