# Roma face Real Madrid at home in Champions League after seven years; Mourinho returns as opponent
Roma host Real Madrid at the Stadio Olimpico on 14 October at 21:00 in the second matchday of the UEFA Champions League league phase. The fixture marks Roma's return to Champions League football at home for the first time in seven years, and will be broadcast on Amazon Prime Video. José Mourinho, who managed Roma until January 2024 and won the club the UEFA Europa Conference League in 2021–22, returns to the Olimpico in opposition as Real Madrid manager.
Gian Piero Gasperini will be without goalkeeper Mile Svilar, sidelined for approximately one month, and has turned to Pierluigi Gollini to start. Bryan Cristante is also unavailable. Gasperini's likely formation is 3-4-1-2, with Pierluigi Gollini in goal behind defenders Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso. The wing-back spots remain contested: Wesley and Nahuel Molina are favoured, though Devyne Rensch offers an alternative. Forza Roma's coverage names Rensch as the starter at left-back in a "surprise tactical choice" over Molina. Marten de Roon and Manu Koné will anchor midfield, with Matías Soulé deployed behind Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen in attack. Multiple outlets agree on Dybala and Malen leading the attack, with Soulé expected to start in their support. A defensive uncertainty persists between Leonardo Balerdi and N'Dicka for the third centre-back role, with different outlets predicting different lineups—La Gazzetta dello Sport lists Balerdi, while Corriere dello Sport backs N'Dicka and Hermoso, and Il Romanista favours N'Dicka and Hermoso.
Roma arrive following a 1-1 draw with Fenerbahce in their opening league-phase match and a goalless draw against Como in Serie A. Real Madrid beat Inter 2-1 in their opening fixture. Historically, Real Madrid lead the fixture record with eight victories to Roma's three and one draw, scoring 24 goals to Roma's nine across their meetings. Roma's last victory came in 2007–08 in the Champions League last-16. Cult of Calcio reports that Roma have won only three of their 14 meetings with Real Madrid overall and will seek to avenge a 2–0 defeat here in November 2018.
Mourinho addressed the emotional significance of his return at a press conference held at the Olimpico. "For ninety minutes we are opponents, but if they want to give me a special greeting I would also like to embrace the Roma fans," he said. He praised Roma as one of Serie A's strongest teams alongside Inter Milan and expressed his readiness to separate emotion from competition: "Before and after perhaps my heart will race, but during the match there is no room for doubt." He also addressed recent refereeing controversies involving Real Madrid, stating: "I trust all referees. The only thing that makes me raise an eyebrow is when you know the referee's name a day before or three weeks before." Real Madrid midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni told the press the match would be difficult playing away from home but that Real Madrid had enough quality to win.
Approximately 67,000 supporters are expected at the Olimpico. Francesco Totti has been invited by Roma as a special guest. Forza Roma reports that Mourinho arrived in Rome but has maintained complete secrecy, adhering to Real Madrid's protocol prohibiting contact with supporters outside the squad until after the match. Donyell Malen will make his first start despite receiving a red card against Como on Sunday; he missed Roma's previous match and will subsequently miss the Serie A fixture against Genoa. Malen scored twice against Real Madrid previously but has never
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