Roma to discover Champions League opponents on 27 August, first match set for 8 September

Real Madrid have been dealt another injury setback with defender Raúl Asencio requiring surgery on a stress fracture to his right tibia. The 2003-born defender, who has not played a single official minute this season, will undergo surgery tomorrow and is expected to be sidelined for approximately three months, with a return anticipated in 2027. José Mourinho will be without Asencio for Real Madrid's fixture against Roma on 14 October at the Olimpico, adding to injury concerns that already include Konaté and Valverde. Asencio had initially been hopeful that conservative treatment following the tibia fracture would suffice, particularly with an expectation that Konaté's injury could have created opportunities for playing time. However, the approach proved insufficient, forcing the surgical intervention. Real Madrid confirmed in a statement: "Our player Raúl Asencio will undergo surgery tomorrow due to a stress fracture to the tibia of his right leg."

Real Madrid defender Raúl Asencio will undergo surgery in the coming 24 hours to treat a stress fracture of the tibia in his right leg, the club confirmed on 30 September. The operation means Asencio will miss Madrid's Champions League fixture against Roma on 14 October at the Stadio Olimpico, with recovery expected to take between two and four months, ruling him out until 2027. Roma are set to host José Mourinho's Madrid side in the second matchday of the Champions League after facing Como away in Serie A on 11 October, following the international break which ends on 6 October. Madrid arrive depleted, with Valverde, Konaté and Mbappé already doubtful through injury before Asencio's situation emerged. The Real Madrid statement read: "Our player Raúl Asencio will undergo surgery tomorrow due to a stress fracture of the tibia of his right leg." Asencio had been dealing with discomfort in his right tibia, prompting Real Madrid to convene a summit at Valdebebas between the player, Mourinho and the medical staff to determine whether conservative treatment or surgical intervention was necessary. The decision to operate removes another defender from Mourinho's squad for the fixture at Rome's Stadio Olimpico.

Dan Friedkin expressed satisfaction with Roma's position at the European Football Club Association general assembly in Copenhagen, telling representatives of major European clubs that the club is enjoying a fine moment. "Between the stadium and first place, it is truly a great moment for us," Friedkin said according to Corriere dello Sport. The Roma owner highlighted two key developments: progress on the new stadium project and the team's strong start to the 2026-27 season at the top of the Serie A table. Friedkin used the Copenhagen gathering to reinforce Roma's standing among Europe's elite. Manchester City chief executive Ferran Soriano jokingly asked whether Roma wanted to win the title this season, while Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi arranged to meet Friedkin during a Champions League fixture. Roma will face PSG on 25 November in the competition's league phase. The owner returns from the assembly with recognition from his counterparts across the continent, while overseeing a squad that has begun the campaign in pole position domestically.

Lorenzo Pellegrini is primed to return to action for Roma after recovering from injury, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini set to lean on him heavily during a congested fixture schedule. Pellegrini was included in the squad list for matches against Torino and Inter but will make his competitive return against Como. His last appearance came on 10 April against Pisa, a gap of nearly six months before Roma's big match at the Sinigaglia on 11 October. The summer transfer window failed to bring in the wide player or attacking reinforcement Gasperini sought, forcing the coach to rely on existing resources to manage the workload ahead. The Roma squad is stretched in attack, with Paulo Dybala and Matías Soulé occupying the playmaker positions on the trequarti, bolstered only by the addition of Rodrigo Mora. Pellegrini will have opportunities because of this shortage, particularly across October and November when Roma face a relentless sequence of Serie A and Champions League fixtures. He has shed the captain's armband over the past year but remains a squad leader. With Stephan El Shaarawy's departure, he is certain to serve as vice-captain to Bryan Cristante. Last season, despite some difficulties, Pellegrini was Roma's second-highest scorer with seven goals across Serie A and the Europa League, surpassed only by Donyell Malen, who netted 15 goals and has proved increasingly consistent in front of goal.

Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini exploded with emotion when Matías Soulé scored, sprinting toward the Curva Sud in a moment that recalled José Mourinho's famous touchline celebration in September 2021, when Stephan El Shaarawy netted in the 91st minute against Sassuolo. The comparison was striking: both managers had been unable to contain their joy at critical moments, running to embrace the supporters. Yesterday's display suggested Gasperini is restoring the emotional intensity that Mourinho once brought to the Olimpico. The exuberance was infectious, yet it came to an abrupt halt. A staff member physically stopped Gasperini before he could reach the touchline—not to dampen the celebration, but to protect him from a second yellow card. The coach was already on a caution, and a further offense would have meant a ban for Roma's next fixture, a sensitive away trip to Turin. The intervention, though it cut short the moment, was tactically essential. Gasperini's desire to celebrate was unmistakable, but the immediate need to preserve his availability for the coming matches took precedence. The incident encapsulated what has shifted at Roma: the club has rediscovered emotion and connection with its supporters under Gasperini's leadership. The Curva Sud will wait for their manager's unreserved embrace—though likely not for much longer.

AS Roma faces UEFA review of its settlement agreement compliance after a summer transfer window costing approximately 125 million euros in purchases and 30 million in sales, with capital gains reaching only 25 million. The club will defend its position to UEFA at Nyon by highlighting a dramatic reduction in the wage bill—the primary evidence it claims of its sustainability strategy. Last season the payroll exceeded 133 million euros gross; it has now fallen to around 113 million, moving closer to the 100-million target. The wage cuts stem largely from player departures including Zaragoza, Çelik, Angeliño, Tsimikas, El Shaarawy and Dovbyk. The signing of Santiago Castro, a younger player with a lower salary spread across multiple years, exemplifies Roma's shift in strategy. Significant savings also came from the exits of El Aynaoui, Vaz, Ziółkowski and Kumbulla. Contract renewals for Dybala, Mancini, Cristante and Pellegrini followed the same model, reducing the fixed portion of salaries in favour of performance and appearance bonuses; these four extensions alone saved approximately 15 million euros. New arrivals Castro, Mora, Koulierakis, Molina, Balerdi and De Roon will cost around 25 million euros gross combined. Roma's overall wage reduction stands close to 45 million euros, reflecting the club's revised commercial approach as it attempts to satisfy UEFA's conditions set out in the 2022 settlement agreement.