Roma face Fenerbahce in Champions League opener with Rensch and Dybala in starting XI

Roma played Fenerbahce in the UEFA Champions League on 8 September 2026 in Istanbul, with Spanish referee Jesús Gil Manzano in charge. The match saw several refereeing decisions under scrutiny in a detailed analysis of key moments. A significant VAR error occurred in the 31st minute when Gil Manzano correctly awarded Roma a corner, but the VAR team, led by César Soto Grado, chose to overturn the decision and award a throw-in to Fenerbahce instead. The error was compounded because Muldur had made the last contact with the ball, and there was no clear error to justify VAR intervention under protocol. In the 19th minute, Muldur committed a foul on Wesley after Wesley had already released the ball, but Gil Manzano did not caution the Fenerbahce player. Rensch received the first booking of the match in the 47th minute for a foul on Brown. Brown himself was cautioned in the 51st minute for a foul on Dybala. The full officiating team included assistants Diego Barbero and Guadalupe Porras Ayuso, with Valentín Gómez as AVAR and Juan Martínez Munuera as fourth official.

Roma faced Fenerbahce in Istanbul for the first matchday of the Champions League league phase, but the broadcast proved difficult for many supporters in Rome. Sky Sport channels experienced reception problems during the afternoon as a violent downpour struck the city, causing malfunctions that extended to television signal transmission throughout the capital.

The Friedkin ownership made sure not to miss Roma's opening Champions League fixture this evening against Fenerbahce in Turkey, with Corbin Friedkin, the younger brother of vice-president Ryan Friedkin, present in the stands. The attendance underscored the ownership's commitment to Gasperini's project. CEO Galantic said: "With the ownership there have been a lot of messages today and there will be more during the match. There is one of them here this evening, they are excited and they are inside this project. They are silent, they will have their own style but they are really very much involved also at an emotional level." Corbin had also been present at the Olimpico on 4 May for the 4–0 win over Fiorentina, an appearance Gasperini described at the time as "a signal for the future". The presence of the Texas-based ownership at tonight's match in Istanbul signals the continuity of their involvement in the club's European campaign and first-team affairs under the new head coach.

Roma played Fenerbahce in the UEFA Champions League on 8 September 2026 in Istanbul, with Spanish referee Jesús Gil Manzano in charge. The match saw several refereeing decisions under scrutiny in a detailed analysis of key moments. A significant VAR error occurred in the 31st minute when Gil Manzano correctly awarded Roma a corner, but the VAR team, led by César Soto Grado, chose to overturn the decision and award a throw-in to Fenerbahce instead. The error was compounded because Muldur had made the last contact with the ball, and there was no clear error to justify VAR intervention under protocol. In the 19th minute, Muldur committed a foul on Wesley after Wesley had already released the ball, but Gil Manzano did not caution the Fenerbahce player. Rensch received the first booking of the match in the 47th minute for a foul on Brown. Brown himself was cautioned in the 51st minute for a foul on Dybala. The full officiating team included assistants Diego Barbero and Guadalupe Porras Ayuso, with Valentín Gómez as AVAR and Juan Martínez Munuera as fourth official.

Devyne Rensch spoke to Sky Sport before Roma's Champions League match against Fenerbahce, expressing confidence in the team's preparation for the encounter. "I hope it's a good match," Rensch said. "There's no doubt that Fenerbahce are a good side with quality players. They're strong both defensively and offensively, we need to be ready and match the situation. We are. They'll start strong and we need to be strong for that and for the challenge ahead." On Gian Piero Gasperini's arrival and tactical approach, Rensch was positive. "It's going well, very well. I like it a lot, and the other lads in the dressing room do too. The most important thing is always victory of course, and the whole squad and I individually are very happy," he said. Rensch also praised the arrival of compatriot Marten de Roon. "My relationship with him is very good. I've already played with him for the national team and I'm pleased with his arrival. I think he can be a big help to this Roma, both in midfield and outside it. I'm very happy he's come to us," Rensch concluded.

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 played Fenerbahce in the UEFA Champions League on 8 September 2026 in Istanbul, with Spanish referee Jesús Gil Manzano in charge. The match saw several refereeing decisions under scrutiny in a detailed analysis of key moments. A significant VAR error occurred in the 31st minute when Gil Manzano correctly awarded Roma a corner, but the VAR team, led by César Soto Grado, chose to overturn the decision and award a throw-in to Fenerbahce instead. The error was compounded because Muldur had made the last contact with the ball, and there was no clear error to justify VAR intervention under protocol. In the 19th minute, Muldur committed a foul on Wesley after Wesley had already released the ball, but Gil Manzano did not caution the Fenerbahce player. Rensch received the first booking of the match in the 47th minute for a foul on Brown. Brown himself was cautioned in the 51st minute for a foul on Dybala. The full officiating team included assistants Diego Barbero and Guadalupe Porras Ayuso, with Valentín Gómez as AVAR and Juan Martínez Munuera as fourth official.

AS Roma's CEO Guido Galantic spoke ahead of the club's Champions League return on 10 September 2026, stressing the significance of competing in Europe again after seven years, particularly in the season leading to the club's centenary. Galantic addressed the club's summer transfer strategy, confirming that Roma did not sell any major players. "We must, like many clubs, seek a balance between sporting and economic equilibrium that allows us to field the most competitive squad possible while also respecting UEFA parameters, which is not easy," Galantic said. "I thank the ownership and also the players who renewed. Some like Dybala, Pellegrini, Cristante and Mancini took pay cuts to stay at Roma. We managed in the end to reduce the wage bill while increasing the quality of the squad." Galantic underlined that the Friedkin Group's commitment to the Champions League campaign was total, despite their characteristic restraint in public. "They are following us intensely," he explained. "Throughout the evening there will be exchanges of messages. They are excited. They are quiet, they have their own style, but they are really very, very involved also on an emotional level." The return to the continent's elite competition marks a watershed moment for the club under American ownership, coinciding with ambitious plans heading into Roma's centennial celebrations.

Roma return to the UEFA Champions League for the first time in seven years tonight, travelling to Istanbul to face Fenerbahce. Under head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, the club have framed their European campaign with the motto 'Ad astra' — towards the stars — as they contest football's most prestigious club competition. Dybala and his teammates will hear the competition's famous anthem at the Fenerbahce stadium. Gasperini's stated objective is to finish in the top 24 of the league-phase table to secure qualification for the knockout round playoff stage. According to the roadmap, Roma will need at least 12 points to guarantee a place in the last 16.

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 return to the UEFA Champions League on 10 September at 18:45 local time away to Fenerbahçe in the first matchday of the League Phase, with the match at the Şükrü Saracoğlu stadium in Istanbul. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has named an attacking formation, deploying a 3-4-1-2 shape with Matías Soulé operating behind the Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen pairing. The official Roma lineup reads: Mile Svilar in goal; Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso in defence; Devyne Rensch, Bryan Cristante (captain), Manu Koné and Wesley across the midfield; Soulé in the number ten role; and Dybala and Malen leading the attack.

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.