Roma depart for Istanbul as Gasperini plans rotations for Fenerbahçe Champions League opener

Gian Piero Gasperini has announced his squad for Roma's Champions League return at Fenerbahçe on 10 September at 18:45. Lorenzo Pellegrini is the only absentee from the travelling party to Istanbul but is expected to be available for Roma's Serie A match against Torino on Monday. Otherwise Gasperini has the full group at his disposal, including Devyne Rensch, and can select from: Goalkeepers Mile Svilar, Giorgio De Marzi and Pierluigi Gollini. Defenders Devyne Rensch, Konstantinos Koulierakis, Evan N'Dicka, Nahuel Molina, Mario Hermoso, Gianluca Mancini, Leonardo Balerdi, Wesley, Emanuele Lulli and Daniele Ghilardi. Midfielders Bryan Cristante, Marten de Roon, Manu Koné, Niccolò Pisilli and Rodrigo Mora. Forwards Santiago Castro, Donyell Malen, Matías Soulé and Paulo Dybala.

AS Roma flew to Turkey on 9 September 2026 for their opening match of the Champions League group stage. The squad gathered at Fiumicino airport in the morning and boarded a direct flight to Istanbul, where they will face Fenerbahce on 10 September in the first round of the tournament. Around forty supporters, mostly young fans, waited outside Terminal 5 to send off the team led by head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. The players stopped before boarding to sign autographs on official shirts and pose for photographs with the crowd. Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen drew the loudest acclaim from supporters, signing items and taking pictures before passing through security checks.

Radio commentary on Roma ahead of their Champions League campaign suggests Mario Hermoso will accompany head coach Gian Piero Gasperini at the pre-match press conference, with pundit Matteo Cirulli expecting Nahuel Molina and Matías Soulé to start. Stefano Impallomeni told Radio Romanista that Roma possess the quality to compete at the highest level in Europe. "Roma can compete in Champions," he said. "They have a recognisable and identifiable style of play. We should expect something even more beautiful from this squad. Intensity is the foundation of this Champions League and I'm sure Roma will settle well there. Application must be total—you can't find loopholes. You need intensity but also understanding of the match's moments." Impallomeni believes the team have both the tactical identity and the mental approach required to perform in the competition.

Gian Piero Gasperini has announced his squad for Roma's Champions League return at Fenerbahçe on 10 September at 18:45. Lorenzo Pellegrini is the only absentee from the travelling party to Istanbul but is expected to be available for Roma's Serie A match against Torino on Monday. Otherwise Gasperini has the full group at his disposal, including Devyne Rensch, and can select from: Goalkeepers Mile Svilar, Giorgio De Marzi and Pierluigi Gollini. Defenders Devyne Rensch, Konstantinos Koulierakis, Evan N'Dicka, Nahuel Molina, Mario Hermoso, Gianluca Mancini, Leonardo Balerdi, Wesley, Emanuele Lulli and Daniele Ghilardi. Midfielders Bryan Cristante, Marten de Roon, Manu Koné, Niccolò Pisilli and Rodrigo Mora. Forwards Santiago Castro, Donyell Malen, Matías Soulé and Paulo Dybala.

Radio commentary on Roma ahead of their Champions League campaign suggests Mario Hermoso will accompany head coach Gian Piero Gasperini at the pre-match press conference, with pundit Matteo Cirulli expecting Nahuel Molina and Matías Soulé to start. Stefano Impallomeni told Radio Romanista that Roma possess the quality to compete at the highest level in Europe. "Roma can compete in Champions," he said. "They have a recognisable and identifiable style of play. We should expect something even more beautiful from this squad. Intensity is the foundation of this Champions League and I'm sure Roma will settle well there. Application must be total—you can't find loopholes. You need intensity but also understanding of the match's moments." Impallomeni believes the team have both the tactical identity and the mental approach required to perform in the competition.

Roma begin their Champions League group stage with a trip to Fenerbahce in Istanbul—a match that reunites them with Mason Greenwood, the English forward Gian Piero Gasperini pursued at length as a key target to elevate the squad before negotiations dragged on and allowed Fenerbahce to complete the signing. The fixture carries immediate weight in Roma's European campaign. With Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid and a visit to Old Trafford looming in the group, Gasperini has signalled a tightly controlled approach to rotation: the need to gather points early is paramount given the calibre of opponents ahead. Gasperini's selection plan centres on defensive and midfield adjustments. Nahuel Molina will replace Lulli in defence, while in the attacking midfield role the coach favours deploying a central playmaker against a four-man defensive line. This calculation means Rodrigo Mora holds the edge over Matías Soulé in the battle for that berth. Mora has recently been named by the New York Times as one of ten Champions League debutants to watch this season. Approximately 2,300 Roma supporters will travel from the capital to back the team at the Turkish ground. A notable detail of the evening concerns the match kit: under local regulations that prohibit branding linked to gambling, the Eurobet.live logo will be absent from the shirt and will be temporarily replaced by the branding of a charitable organisation.