Roma prepare for Fenerbahçe Champions League visit

Roma will make their first appearance in the Champions League since 2019, facing Fenerbahçe in the League Phase on Thursday at 18:45 at the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium in Istanbul. The club's return to Europe's top competition marks a significant milestone after a seven-year absence from the continental stage. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini's squad will depart for Turkey on 9 September to begin preparations for the match. The timing comes after three consecutive Serie A victories in the opening three rounds, with Roma now turning their attention to their first European fixture of the season. The squad qualified for the Champions League following third place in Serie A last season. Upon arrival in Istanbul, Gasperini will hold a pre-match press conference at 17:00 Italian time, where he will preview the fixture and assess his squad's condition. The team will then train at 17:30 Italian time in their final session before the match, an opportunity to clarify remaining doubts over the starting XI for Thursday's opening European tie.

Paolo Di Canio has offered a cautiously optimistic assessment of Roma's prospects in the new Champions League campaign. The former Lazio striker, speaking to La Stampa, said Roma "can enjoy themselves" in the competition, though he stopped short of making bolder predictions for the club. Di Canio identified PSG as the main favourites for the trophy, with Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Arsenal as their principal challengers. On the Italian clubs in the competition, he said: "Inter can progress. Jones will have an impact similar to McTominay. The others, with fortunate draws, can aim for the quarter-finals." He also noted that Como could be the surprise package, while Napoli are hampered by tired central midfielders.

Lorenzo Pellegrini has recovered from a right thigh rectus femoris injury and will be included in Roma's squad for their Champions League trip to Fenerbahçe, though head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is managing his return cautiously. The midfielder has been sidelined during pre-season and the opening stages of the campaign but has spent the past week training at full intensity with his teammates, absorbing increasingly demanding physical work. His medical clearance comes at a crucial moment as Roma prepare for a congested fixture schedule spanning league and European commitments. Gasperini will have Pellegrini available as a key option from the bench in Istanbul, but the staff intends to handle his reintegration into match action with maximum care. The target date for his actual return to the pitch is next Monday in Roma's Serie A fixture against Torino. The number seven, who recently renewed his contract, is a central weapon in Gasperini's rotation system, offering versatility, playmaking vision and the ability to operate between the lines—assets essential for navigating the dense autumn calendar ahead.