Roma face Real Madrid with Gasperini against Mourinho: three factors that will decide the match

Roma face Real Madrid at the Olimpico in their first major Champions League night, with Gasperini having settled most of his starting decisions ahead of kickoff. The only remaining selection question concerns the right-back position, where Rensch holds the advantage over Molina. Koulierakis has recovered from his injury and will be available, though he will start on the bench. Vásquez is included in the squad as backup cover in the absence of Svilar, while Cristante is also unavailable. The squad list confirms 14 outfield players and three goalkeepers have been named for the match. Vásquez, De Marzi and Gollini make up the goalkeeper contingent. The defence includes Rensch, Koulierakis, N'Dicka, Molina, Hermoso, Mancini, Balerdi, Wesley, Lulli and Ghilardi. Midfield is covered by Pellegrini, De Roon, Koné, Pisilli and Mora. The attack features Castro, Malen, Soulé and Dybala.

Roma face Real Madrid today, 14 October, in the second matchday of the Champions League league phase at the Stadio Olimpico, marking José Mourinho's return to the stadium. The fixture is one of the season's marquee European occasions. The stadium is being prepared extensively for the occasion. Grounds staff have laid Champions League branded matting, installed the Real Madrid crest on the dugout benches, and placed the competition logo on VAR monitor displays. More than 60,000 supporters are expected to fill the Olimpico for the European night.

Rai Sport commentator Alessandro Antinelli has assessed Roma's prospects in tonight's Champions League match against Real Madrid, noting that while the Spanish side faces internal difficulties and inconsistency in La Liga, they transform into a different proposition in European competition. "The Real when it plays the Champions transforms, becomes a team often totally different from what it expresses in La Liga, it seems almost to drink a sort of magic potion," Antinelli said. Antinelli highlighted the transformation Roma have undergone since last season's run to Champions League qualification. He traced the shift to the closing weeks of the previous campaign and their eventual qualification, which he said gave the group "a jump in mental quality" after understanding Gasperini's direction was correct. "The Roma have Gasperini's face, the public exalts itself and holds the coach dear, at this moment there is very strong synergy and scoring against Roma is not easy," he explained. Antinelli noted that Mourinho knows Gasperini well, recalling that Guardiola once said Atalanta under Gasperini felt like "the annoyance you experience going to the dentist." He added that Roma could potentially exploit Real Madrid's current difficulties, though their defensive cohesion remains a concern despite improvements.

Gian Piero Gasperini has named his squad for Roma's Champions League League Phase match against Real Madrid this evening at the Olimpico, with 23 players available. Mile Svilar is unavailable due to a fractured finger, leaving Pierluigi Gollini, Giorgio De Marzi and Devis Vásquez as the goalkeepers in contention. Konstantinos Koulierakis has returned to full training in recent days and is regularly available for selection. Bryan Cristante, however, remains unavailable. The squad spans all four outfield positions, with defenders including Devyne Rensch, Evan N'Dicka, Nahuel Molina, Mario Hermoso, Gianluca Mancini, Leonardo Balerdi, Wesley, Emanuele Lulli and Daniele Ghilardi; midfielders Lorenzo Pellegrini, Marten de Roon, Manu Koné, Niccolò Pisilli and Rodrigo Mora; and forwards Santiago Castro, Donyell Malen, Matías Soulé and Paulo Dybala.

Gian Piero Gasperini has named his squad for Roma's Champions League League Phase match against Real Madrid at the Stadio Olimpico this evening at 21:00. Konstantinos Koulierakis is fit and available, while goalkeeper Devis Vásquez has been included in the Champions League squad following Mile Svilar's injury, utilising the temporary replacement rule provided under UEFA regulations. Both Svilar and Bryan Cristante remain absent. The full squad list names Vásquez, De Marzi and Gollini as goalkeepers; Rensch, Koulierakis, N'Dicka, Molina, Hermoso, Mancini, Balerdi, Wesley, Lulli and Ghilardi in defence; Pellegrini, De Roon, Koné, Pisilli and Mora in midfield; and Castro, Malen, Soulé and Dybala in attack.

Roma face Real Madrid at the Olimpico in their first major Champions League night, with Gasperini having settled most of his starting decisions ahead of kickoff. The only remaining selection question concerns the right-back position, where Rensch holds the advantage over Molina. Koulierakis has recovered from his injury and will be available, though he will start on the bench. Vásquez is included in the squad as backup cover in the absence of Svilar, while Cristante is also unavailable. The squad list confirms 14 outfield players and three goalkeepers have been named for the match. Vásquez, De Marzi and Gollini make up the goalkeeper contingent. The defence includes Rensch, Koulierakis, N'Dicka, Molina, Hermoso, Mancini, Balerdi, Wesley, Lulli and Ghilardi. Midfield is covered by Pellegrini, De Roon, Koné, Pisilli and Mora. The attack features Castro, Malen, Soulé and Dybala.

Gian Piero Gasperini has named his squad for Roma's Champions League League Phase match against Real Madrid this evening at the Olimpico, with 23 players available. Mile Svilar is unavailable due to a fractured finger, leaving Pierluigi Gollini, Giorgio De Marzi and Devis Vásquez as the goalkeepers in contention. Konstantinos Koulierakis has returned to full training in recent days and is regularly available for selection. Bryan Cristante, however, remains unavailable. The squad spans all four outfield positions, with defenders including Devyne Rensch, Evan N'Dicka, Nahuel Molina, Mario Hermoso, Gianluca Mancini, Leonardo Balerdi, Wesley, Emanuele Lulli and Daniele Ghilardi; midfielders Lorenzo Pellegrini, Marten de Roon, Manu Koné, Niccolò Pisilli and Rodrigo Mora; and forwards Santiago Castro, Donyell Malen, Matías Soulé and Paulo Dybala.

Gian Piero Gasperini has named his squad for Roma's Champions League League Phase match against Real Madrid at the Stadio Olimpico this evening at 21:00. Konstantinos Koulierakis is fit and available, while goalkeeper Devis Vásquez has been included in the Champions League squad following Mile Svilar's injury, utilising the temporary replacement rule provided under UEFA regulations. Both Svilar and Bryan Cristante remain absent. The full squad list names Vásquez, De Marzi and Gollini as goalkeepers; Rensch, Koulierakis, N'Dicka, Molina, Hermoso, Mancini, Balerdi, Wesley, Lulli and Ghilardi in defence; Pellegrini, De Roon, Koné, Pisilli and Mora in midfield; and Castro, Malen, Soulé and Dybala in attack.

Roma face Real Madrid at the Olimpico in their first major Champions League night, with Gasperini having settled most of his starting decisions ahead of kickoff. The only remaining selection question concerns the right-back position, where Rensch holds the advantage over Molina. Koulierakis has recovered from his injury and will be available, though he will start on the bench. Vásquez is included in the squad as backup cover in the absence of Svilar, while Cristante is also unavailable. The squad list confirms 14 outfield players and three goalkeepers have been named for the match. Vásquez, De Marzi and Gollini make up the goalkeeper contingent. The defence includes Rensch, Koulierakis, N'Dicka, Molina, Hermoso, Mancini, Balerdi, Wesley, Lulli and Ghilardi. Midfield is covered by Pellegrini, De Roon, Koné, Pisilli and Mora. The attack features Castro, Malen, Soulé and Dybala.