Roma's Istanbul hotel fortified with metal detectors and police patrols ahead of Fenerbahce clash

Roma travel to Istanbul this evening for their opening UEFA Champions League match of the 2026-27 season against Fenerbahce, managed by Mason Greenwood, whom the club tracked closely during the summer transfer window. The squad is staying at the Marriott Hotel, a five-star property in Istanbul's Asian district, which has been placed under extensive security measures. Police patrols maintain a 24-hour presence at the hotel entrance. Access requires passage through metal detectors, temporary surrender of mobile phones, and luggage screening via airport-style equipment. All vehicles are subject to rigorous checks, preventing rival supporter groups from approaching the building. The stringent security protocol reflects local anti-terrorism prevention measures adopted by Turkish authorities. The precautions remain elevated following the 2017 attack in the Besiktas district, which killed 39 people and injured 69, keeping vigilance high around major international events and delegations in the city. The comprehensive protective framework is designed to ensure safe passage for Paulo Dybala and his teammates during their stay. The match kicks off at 18:45 this evening as Roma begin their Champions League campaign after qualifying third in Serie A last season.

Gian Piero Gasperini takes Roma to Istanbul tonight to face Fenerbahce in his first Champions League match as Roma head coach, marking the culmination of the club's push for continental football since his appointment. The Grugliasco-born coach brings 33 previous European banches with Atalanta and one with Inter in 2011 to the fixture. Roma qualified for this season's Champions League by finishing third in Serie A last season. Gasperini has framed the club's approach with clarity on what success looks like in the competition. "Partaking in this competition is already something important and it is clear that it is different from the league," he said. "What I can ask is for us to be ourselves, because we have arrived to play it with our characteristics and with what we had put on the pitch during the year." The competition presents unfamiliar challenges—opponents from different leagues, elite players capable of shifting match momentum instantly—but Gasperini views his return to Champions League football with Roma as a source of personal satisfaction. Paulo Dybala features centrally in Roma's tactical setup and has impressed early this season. Gasperini praised his consistency: "He is already demonstrating his continuity, because his value is recognised. He has more continuity and when he is on the pitch we are better too." For the manager, this Champions League campaign represents a meaningful milestone: "Even for me it is a satisfaction to find the Champions League again with Roma, it is a greater source of gratification."

Roma's return to the Champions League will be backed by a full away allocation in Istanbul. Approximately 2,300 giallorossi supporters are set to fill the visiting section for the clash against Fenerbahce, with many having already arrived in the Turkish capital to support the squad in the European fixture. The atmosphere is expected to be intense, and according to Il Messaggero, police have advised Roma fans not to wear Roma scarves or shirts while moving around the city due to concerns over potential contact between the two supporter groups. The situation differs markedly for Roma's Serie A trip to Turin. There will be no time to pursue an appeal against the travel ban imposed on residents of Rome province, meaning the restriction will remain in force. Torino have already sold approximately 900 of the 1,000 tickets available to supporters from outside Rome province, who face no additional restrictions on attendance.