Roma train ahead of Real Madrid Champions League tie

Roma will host Real Madrid at Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday 14 October at 21:00 for the second matchday of the UEFA Champions League league phase. The fixture carries particular resonance with José Mourinho returning to face the Roma supporters as an opponent, bringing his Real Madrid squad to the Italian capital where he previously managed the club. Mourinho has named his squad for the clash against Roma, led by head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. Real Madrid will arrive with the majority of their key players available. Among those included are Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior, Jude Bellingham, Federico Valverde and Arda Güler, with Thibaut Courtois in goal. A notable addition to the squad is Dean Huijsen, the former Roma defender, who returns to availability after completing a domestic suspension. Ibrahima Konaté and Antonio Rüdiger are also included, while Rodrygo, Éder Militão, Raúl Asencio and Ferland Mendy do not feature in the squad list. Real Madrid's full squad includes defenders Huijsen, Trent, Konaté, Cucurella, Á. Carreras, Rüdiger and Dumfries; midfielders Bellingham, Camavinga, Valverde, Tchouameni, Arda Güler, Bernardo and Thiago; and forwards Vinícius Júnior, Endrick, Mbappé, C. Espí, Brahim and Yan Diomande.

Mario Somma praised Roma's performance in the Como match, describing it as further evidence the side are becoming a major force. Como began with organised pressing to disrupt Roma's game, but the visitors imposed their football and won the tactical battle as the home side dropped deeper. "This means they are becoming a great squad," Somma said on Retesport. On Paulo Dybala's display, Somma was upbeat despite a missed chance. "He provided an important performance in intensity, running and work rate. It's normal that when you have to be decisive technically you can be less sharp. I don't recall a Dybala so willing to work for the team. I'm not worried — I believe at the end of the season the numbers will arrive." Pierluigi Gollini received praise for his goalkeeping: "He had a very good match, was calm in goal. I've known him for many years and Sunday he showed he's a great goalkeeper." On Lorenzo Pellegrini and Gasperini's approach, Somma offered analysis of the manager's thinking. "Pellegrini has Bellingham-like qualities. He reached important numbers at a crucial point in his career without playing for Real Madrid but in a mediocre Roma. At Como he played a containing role and created a crossbar. I think it's normal Gasperini is trying to recover him — on the attacking midfield line, long-term, he can deliver more goals than Mora and Soulé on the left wing." Somma also contrasted the midfield pair: De Roon "runs after everyone," while Cristante is "more a preventing midfielder who thinks a lot." Somma concluded by noting Roma's ability to contain with quality — as demonstrated at Como — could have been replicated in their home fixture with Inter, which the article implies did not occur.

Real Madrid have announced their squad for Wednesday's Champions League fixture at Roma, with José Mourinho returning to the Olimpico in opposition. The match kicks off at 21:00 and will see Mourinho face Gian Piero Gasperini's side in what marks his first return to the capital as an away manager. Mourinho has named a full-strength travelling party, with all of Real Madrid's principal attacking assets available. Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior, Jude Bellingham and Endrick are among those included in the 23-man squad. The squad list comprises: goalkeepers Courtois, Lunin and Mestre; defenders Huijsen, Trent, Konaté, Cucurella, Álvaro Carreras, Rüdiger and Dumfries; midfielders Bellingham, Camavinga, Valverde, Tchouaméni, Arda Güler, Bernardo and Thiago; forwards Vinícius Júnior, Endrick, Mbappé, C. Espí, Brahim and Yan Diomande.