Roma training resumed ahead of Torino trip

Fenerbahce manager İsmail Kartal announced his resignation at the post-match press conference immediately after his side drew 1–1 with Roma in the Champions League first matchday on 10 September. Bryan Cristante had given Roma an excellent first-half lead, but Archie Brown equalised in the second half, and Fenerbahce came close to a late winner. Despite the respectable result and Fenerbahce's first point in a return to the Champions League after 18 years, Kartal chose to step down at once. Roma's performance impressed before the draw, continuing the form that has established Gian Piero Gasperini's side as Champions League participants this season. The unexpected resignation in Istanbul capped a remarkable turnaround after Kartal had expressed full confidence in his squad on the eve of the match, explaining that he had studied Roma's tactical setup in detail ahead of the fixture. At the press conference, Kartal said: "I resign so as not to put the club and my players in difficulty." The decision shocked observers given that Fenerbahce had equalled Roma after conceding to Cristante and mounted genuine pressure late on. Kartal's tenure ended on the night of Fenerbahce's return to Europe's elite club competition, just hours after he had demonstrated such detailed preparation for the encounter.

Fenerbahçe coach Ismael Kartal announced his resignation in a stunning moment during the post-match press conference following the 1–1 Champions League draw with Roma on 8 September. Kartal left the room abruptly after telling journalists: "Me ritiro dal mio compito. Non voglio domande: mi dimetto per il bene del club e della squadra" (I am retiring from my task. I do not want questions: I am resigning for the good of the club and the squad). The Turkish press room was left stunned when he refused to take further questions and walked out. Fenerbahçe president Aziz Yildirim was unaware of the decision and made an immediate statement to journalists. Yildirim attributed Kartal's resignation to an incident during the match: "Gli hanno tirato una bottiglia quando stavamo sull'1-1. È per questo che è triste, questa è la ragione. La squadra ha giocato bene, abbiamo preso un punto" (They threw a bottle at him when we were 1–1. That is why he is upset, that is the reason. The squad played well, we took a point). Yildirim refused to accept the resignation, saying: "Ho appena parlato con Ismail Kartal. Finché sarò qui, lui resterà l'allenatore. Non può andarsene. Mi ha detto che sente la pressione, che prende dei medicinali. Anch'io ne prendo trenta" (I have just spoken with Ismail Kartal. As long as I am here, he will remain the coach. He cannot leave. He told me he feels the pressure, that he takes medication. I take thirty myself). Fenerbahçe began the Süper Lig with six points from four matches, holding ground against Galatasaray and Beşiktaş. The major achievement has been qualification to the Champions League group stage—their first since 2008—achieved by eliminating Górnik Zabrze, Sturm Graz, and Olympique Lyonnais.

Rodrigo Mora came off the bench in Roma's Champions League opener away at Fenerbahçe and spoke positively about the team's display despite the draw. A single point was not the outcome Roma sought, but Mora felt the performance on a difficult pitch in a demanding atmosphere represented a solid start to the competition. He acknowledged that Roma needed to be more clinical in response to Fenerbahçe's attacking pressure. Mora reflected on the team's concentration levels and drew a parallel to their recent Serie A match against Atalanta. "I think it's normal that in a match there are better phases and worse phases. What matters is the reaction, both with Atalanta and today it was seen, and we must try to maintain the level for all 90 minutes," he said. He emphasized the importance of consistency across the full duration of fixtures going forward. The midfielder also spoke of the significance of representing Roma in European football. "The dream of any footballer is to play in the Champions League. I'm very happy to have done it today with Roma's shirt," Mora reflected on his first night in the competition for the club.

Fenerbahce manager İsmail Kartal announced his resignation at the post-match press conference immediately after his side drew 1–1 with Roma in the Champions League first matchday on 10 September. Bryan Cristante had given Roma an excellent first-half lead, but Archie Brown equalised in the second half, and Fenerbahce came close to a late winner. Despite the respectable result and Fenerbahce's first point in a return to the Champions League after 18 years, Kartal chose to step down at once. Roma's performance impressed before the draw, continuing the form that has established Gian Piero Gasperini's side as Champions League participants this season. The unexpected resignation in Istanbul capped a remarkable turnaround after Kartal had expressed full confidence in his squad on the eve of the match, explaining that he had studied Roma's tactical setup in detail ahead of the fixture. At the press conference, Kartal said: "I resign so as not to put the club and my players in difficulty." The decision shocked observers given that Fenerbahce had equalled Roma after conceding to Cristante and mounted genuine pressure late on. Kartal's tenure ended on the night of Fenerbahce's return to Europe's elite club competition, just hours after he had demonstrated such detailed preparation for the encounter.

Roma drew 1–1 with Fenerbahce in their Champions League opener at the Chobani Stadyumu, with Bryan Cristante scoring for the Giallorossi and Brown replying for the Turkish side. Mason Greenwood, who was heavily linked with Roma during the summer transfer window before joining Fenerbahce, was one of the standout figures in the match. After the final whistle, Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini sought out Greenwood and the pair embraced, marking the end of an extended summer pursuit that had aimed to bring the winger to the capital.

Roma drew 1–1 with Fenerbahçe in their first Champions League match in seven years, played in Istanbul on 8 September 2026. Bryan Cristante opened the scoring in the first half with an assist from the Dybala-Malen axis, with Cristante notable as the sole survivor from Roma's last Champions League outing—the Porto match in 2019. Brown equalised for Fenerbahçe in the second half, and late pressure saw Akè hit the crossbar. Mile Svilar made crucial saves to secure the point. Gasperini's side controlled the opening 45 minutes with tactical maturity and patient possession, demonstrating awareness of their strengths without forcing play. The second half exposed the demands of the competition as Fenerbahçe, driven by their home crowd and chasing their first Champions League appearance since 2009, raised their intensity. Roma conceded ground but held firm defensively. The result leaves Gasperini with a lesson: the first-half display represents the standard required to compete at this level, while the second-half vulnerability to an opponent's pressure illustrates the growth still needed. The point earned away from home represents a significant restart for Roma's European ambitions. Gasperini must rebuild from the first 45 minutes in Istanbul—that performance, he indicated, is the template for Roma's Champions League path. The fixture list offers no respite: Roma's next continental match will see Real Madrid, managed by former Roma boss José Mourinho, visit the Olimpico.