Somma: Dybala's goals will come; Pellegrini has Bellingham-like qualities

Roma will host Real Madrid at Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday in their first UEFA Champions League fixture at the ground in over six years. Gian Piero Gasperini has led the Giallorossi back to Europe's elite competition for the first time since 2018–19, but their league-phase campaign has stuttered. After a dramatic 1–1 draw with Fenerbahce on matchday one, Roma extended their winless run in European football to four matches (three draws, one loss). They beat Torino 2–0 in Serie A but have since drawn back-to-back league games against Como and Inter, though they notably held a scoreless stalemate at Como on Saturday despite playing with a numerical disadvantage. The Olimpico has not hosted a Champions League match since February 2019, and Roma will need to reverse a troubling home record in continental competition—five defeats across their last five European outings in Rome (two wins overall). However, Gasperini's side remain unbeaten across their last eight competitive games at the stadium (six wins, two draws) stretching back to late March, and have scored at least two goals in their last five home matches. Roma have won only three of their 14 meetings with Real Madrid (one draw, eight losses) and will seek to avenge a 2–0 defeat here in November 2018. Real Madrid, managed by Jose Mourinho—who won the UEFA Conference League with Roma in 2021–22—have dominated Italian opposition in the Champions League, winning 19 of their last 21 clashes against Serie A sides (two losses). They opened their league-phase campaign with a 2–1 win over Inter and have lost only one match in the Champions League main draw under Mourinho (15 wins, three draws), though their recent away form has been inconsistent: four losses in their last eight Champions League away games (four wins). Los Blancos have beaten Roma in five of their six away European showdowns at the Olimpico in the 21st century (one loss), scoring at least two goals in each victory. Summer signing Yan Diomande scored his maiden La Liga goal in a 1–0 win over Villarreal, a response to a 2–1 derby defeat at Atlético Madrid on the international break. Gasperini will have his full Roma squad available except goalkeeper Mile Svilar, who is struggling with a toe injury; Pierluigi Gollini is expected to start in his place. Donyell Malen is expected to lead the line despite picking up a red card against Como at the weekend. Real Madrid will be without Eder Militao, Ferland Mendy, Rodrygo, and Raul Asencio. Former Roma defender Dean Huijsen returns after serving a domestic suspension but should start on the bench, with Ibrahima Konate likely to partner Antonio Rudiger in defence.

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.

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.

Roma's mental fortitude was the standout quality in their Matchday 6 performance against Como, where they resisted the hosts' attacks even while playing with ten men following Donyell Malen's expulsion. The match produced spectacular goals, disputed refereeing decisions, and memorable individual displays across the weekend's Serie A action. Roma's defensive discipline and composure in possession neutralized Como's numerical advantage and made their attacks predictable—a performance that drew the highest rating of the round. Pierluigi Gollini's assured goalkeeping, which included shutting out Nico Paz with a low save, reinforced confidence across the backline. Marten de Roon patrolled midfield with tactical precision both before and after Malen's dismissal, winning every duel with intensity. Paulo Dybala's second-half contribution brought technical quality to a midfield battle, though a missed chance near goal remains unanswered. Malen's red card—for which he apologized—was preceded by an earlier sequence that should have been stopped with a free kick to Roma, a technical distinction that separates the dismissal from justification. Referee Marco Fabbri's overall management of the match drew sharp criticism for inconsistency: he appeared unsettled early, then adopted a pattern of compensation that inflamed tensions further. Midfield infractions went undetected, and calls he did make were often misinterpreted. Fabbri sustained a knee injury during Malen's tackle and later received criticism alongside VAR official Luca Marelli for the application of foul standards, with suggestions that decision-making criteria shifted between seasons. Elsewhere, Riccardo Orsolini's near-bicycling kick finish for Lecce exemplified the round's aesthetic moments, while a Naples penalty—technically correct by regulation—raised questions about consistency in enforcement across the weekend.

Roma's radio stations examined the club's upcoming Champions League tie against Real Madrid on Wednesday, with tactical debate and nostalgia dominating discussion among broadcasters ahead of José Mourinho's return to the Stadio Olimpico. Gianluca Piacentini of Rete Sport flagged Paulo Dybala's missed goal as serious, saying: "The thing that gave me relief is that in 11 against 10 Gollini didn't make a serious save despite missing three fundamental players. De Roon's performance gave me great encouragement—he proved you can play even without Cristante." David Rossi warned of the danger: "If you play soft against Real Madrid you risk waking up to find yourself losing, because they have too many strong players. If Real Madrid gave Roma even one of those champions, Roma would win the Serie A title." Francesca Ferrazza of Tele Radio Stereo placed the match in context: "The emotional meanings are greater than the sporting ones, emotional not only for Mourinho but also for the squad, to understand its consistency and make it grow by comparing itself with Europe's best. There are few sporting meanings, because Roma will play well but Real is much stronger and so I don't expect anything special." Daniele Lo Monaco of Radio Romanista offered tactical insight, saying: "Of the three matches—Inter, Como and Real—the one with Madrid would be tactically the easiest. Not in absolute values, because Real has stunning players who can win matches alone, but tactically. Real Madrid won't have tactical surprises like Como and Inter might have. Rome will go and press them, widening an attacker on one side and a full-back on the other. I expect Rensch with Wesley, or Molina because he knows the opponents." Lorenzo Pes believed the team carried momentum: "I perceive confidence, and knowing Gasp he'll play the match as usual. What happened at Como is a beautiful proof of knowing how to change skin." Alessio Nardo of Tele Radio Stereo offered perspective on Mourinho: "Real Madrid this year are struggling especially away from home. Mourinho? I've already said it, but in my opinion he's never been this emotional in 30 years of a career." Roberto Pruzzo of Radio Radio predicted a warm reception: "The stadium will welcome Mourinho very well; he represented a great deal to Roma's fans. He seems very grateful and remembers this experience with great affection, even more than Milan." Mario Corsi of Tele Radio Stereo cautioned: "Real Madrid is a team that doesn't like being attacked, though clearly you must be careful and 100 per cent concentrated because if they start moving, they have players who are the number ones in the world." Giulia Mizzoni of Rete Sport marked the moment's significance: "Roma-Real Madrid is the standout match of this Wednesday's Champions League. It's five years since I've waited to experience an evening like this at the Olimpico. It's a match with many stories inside it: Mou's return, Gasp's first at home." The match was set for Wednesday 13 October, with stadium officials preparing a reception for Mourinho, the manager who guided Roma to the 2022 UEFA Europa Conference League title.

Donyell Malen will lead Roma's attack alongside Paulo Dybala in tomorrow's Champions League match against Real Madrid, with Matías Soulé deployed behind them. The Dutch forward is chasing redemption after his red card in the Como fixture. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini will hold a press conference at 13:30 alongside Malen, with a training session scheduled for 15:00. Santiago Castro is expected to start in Malen's place on Saturday against Genoa, with a possible rotation between the two for the Real Madrid encounter. Defensive decisions remain fluid: Leonardo Balerdi is pushing for a starting role, while either Evan N'Dicka or Mario Hermoso could be rested. José Mourinho is due to speak at 18:00.

Roma will host Real Madrid at Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday in their first UEFA Champions League fixture at the ground in over six years. Gian Piero Gasperini has led the Giallorossi back to Europe's elite competition for the first time since 2018–19, but their league-phase campaign has stuttered. After a dramatic 1–1 draw with Fenerbahce on matchday one, Roma extended their winless run in European football to four matches (three draws, one loss). They beat Torino 2–0 in Serie A but have since drawn back-to-back league games against Como and Inter, though they notably held a scoreless stalemate at Como on Saturday despite playing with a numerical disadvantage. The Olimpico has not hosted a Champions League match since February 2019, and Roma will need to reverse a troubling home record in continental competition—five defeats across their last five European outings in Rome (two wins overall). However, Gasperini's side remain unbeaten across their last eight competitive games at the stadium (six wins, two draws) stretching back to late March, and have scored at least two goals in their last five home matches. Roma have won only three of their 14 meetings with Real Madrid (one draw, eight losses) and will seek to avenge a 2–0 defeat here in November 2018. Real Madrid, managed by Jose Mourinho—who won the UEFA Conference League with Roma in 2021–22—have dominated Italian opposition in the Champions League, winning 19 of their last 21 clashes against Serie A sides (two losses). They opened their league-phase campaign with a 2–1 win over Inter and have lost only one match in the Champions League main draw under Mourinho (15 wins, three draws), though their recent away form has been inconsistent: four losses in their last eight Champions League away games (four wins). Los Blancos have beaten Roma in five of their six away European showdowns at the Olimpico in the 21st century (one loss), scoring at least two goals in each victory. Summer signing Yan Diomande scored his maiden La Liga goal in a 1–0 win over Villarreal, a response to a 2–1 derby defeat at Atlético Madrid on the international break. Gasperini will have his full Roma squad available except goalkeeper Mile Svilar, who is struggling with a toe injury; Pierluigi Gollini is expected to start in his place. Donyell Malen is expected to lead the line despite picking up a red card against Como at the weekend. Real Madrid will be without Eder Militao, Ferland Mendy, Rodrygo, and Raul Asencio. Former Roma defender Dean Huijsen returns after serving a domestic suspension but should start on the bench, with Ibrahima Konate likely to partner Antonio Rudiger in defence.

AS Roma have registered Devis Vásquez in their Champions League squad to cover for Mile Svilar, who is sidelined with a fractured toe expected to keep him out for over a month. UEFA regulations permit clubs to temporarily replace a goalkeeper on their A-list when injury requires an absence of at least 30 days, and Roma have exercised this option to provide cover during Svilar's recovery. Vásquez was already back in the squad after Svilar's injury and was included in the squad for Roma's away trip to Como. His Champions League registration now means he will serve as the alternative to Pierluigi Gollini throughout the period when Svilar is unavailable. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini will therefore have an additional goalkeeper option during what the club describes as a delicate Champions League cycle ahead. The arrangement is temporary: once Svilar recovers and returns to availability, he will replace Vásquez on the European list. The Colombian goalkeeper's reinstatement comes as Roma manage a crucial phase of their European campaign with full squad depth restored at the goalkeeper position.

Mile Svilar is determined to return to action as quickly as possible after suffering a stress fracture to the fifth toe of his right foot ahead of Roma's match against Como. The goalkeeper will be sidelined for several weeks, but posted images on social media showing him working in the gym with a protective brace on his foot, alongside video of upper-body exercises. He accompanied the content with a message: "Tenere sotto controllo ciò che è possibile nonostante le battute d'arresto" — keeping control of what is possible despite setbacks. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini acknowledged the blow Svilar's absence represents. "It is a bad setback," Gasperini said in his press conference. "It is not a displaced fracture, but it will require at least a month of recovery." Against Como, Pierluigi Gollini stepped in as substitute goalkeeper and delivered a convincing performance, offering Roma some reassurance ahead of the next fixture against Real Madrid while Gasperini awaits the return of his number one.

Gian Piero Gasperini will deploy Roma's full attacking quality against Real Madrid, eschewing caution in favour of an open tactical approach that reflects his philosophy of competing through football rather than speculation. The manager drew confidence from Roma's draw at Como despite playing with ten men, and intends to harness the energy of the Olimpico crowd against the defending European champions. Gasperini's last meeting with Real Madrid came on 10 December 2024, when leading Atalanta to a 2–3 defeat in an entertaining, wide-open contest. Matías Soulé, who came off the bench at Como with positive impact, is set for a starting place. Paulo Dybala completed the league match with a hand injury but instrumental checks ruled out serious damage; he will feature from the first minute. Donyell Malen, suspended for Roma's next Serie A fixture against Genoa following his red card at Como, sees the Real Madrid match as a major opportunity for redemption. The formation will be a 3–4–2–1 capable of switching to an aggressive 3–4–1–2, with Marten de Roon and Manu Koné forming the midfield shield and Emanuele Lulli and Wesley operating on the flanks. Rodrigo Mora and Lorenzo Pellegrini are lower in the pecking order for this fixture but available as replacements. Santiago Castro is also primed to feature either in the Champions League or the subsequent Serie A matches against Genoa and Napoli. Gasperini's approach mirrors the guidance offered by his fellow manager: "Advance and do not change according to your opponent." In European competition, teams that play defensively and seek a result against elite opponents typically fare poorly; attacking with courage and imposing play remains the surest path to avoiding being overwhelmed.

Gian Piero Gasperini will hold his pre-match press conference at 13:30 on 13 October ahead of Roma's Champions League fixture against Real Madrid on Wednesday. The only remaining tactical uncertainty concerns a contest between Lorenzo Pellegrini and Matías Soulé for the attacking midfield role behind Paulo Dybala. UEFA has appointed French referee Francois Letexier to oversee the match at the Olimpico; Letexier has officiated Roma four times in European League competition (two wins, two defeats) and has six previous Champions League appointments with Real Madrid, most recently their victory over Benfica through a Vinicius goal. Dybala spoke to UEFA Champions League Magazine Show on Prime Video about the challenge ahead and his connection to Italy. He said: "We are facing one of the most decorated sides in the world, but with our supporters behind us we will have something extra." The Argentine expressed his feelings about both the fixture and his long-term ambitions in Italian football. Nicolò Zaniolo, now at Udinese, reflected on his Roma career and praised Gasperini's ability to extract maximum performance from his players. Zaniolo identified the attacking midfielder role as his natural position and spoke warmly of his time with the club. He credited José Mourinho, with whom he maintains contact, for the relationship they built during his spell in the Giallorossi shirt. Zaniolo expressed regret about the manner in which his time at Roma ended.

Roma face Real Madrid in a Champions League match on 13 October at 21:00 at the Olimpico. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini will hold his pre-match press conference at 13:30 alongside one of the squad, before the team undertakes its final training session. Gasperini has few tactical doubts to resolve, with the main question mark on whether Lorenzo Pellegrini or Matías Soulé will start on the attacking third alongside Paulo Dybala. In his press conference remarks, Gasperini reflected on the timing of facing Real Madrid: "For us it is a good moment, undoubtedly, but we measure that tomorrow. We want to measure ourselves against them, they have need of a bit of running-in. It is a match of prestige and one that counts for the standings." On Roma's path to matching Europe's elite, he said: "It is difficult to have Real Madrid as a measuring stick. What we must take as a measuring stick is what happens on the pitch, measuring ourselves against them. We have played Inter and Como, among Italy's best, now we find one of Europe's best, we can understand how competitive we can be." Gasperini acknowledged the significance of facing José Mourinho, Roma's former manager, and the reception he will receive from the Olimpico crowd: "It is right that it should be so; there was important affection toward Mourinho. He deserves all the recognition they will give him. Then the match begins, Roma fans will support Roma." On Mourinho's methods, he added: "It depends. There was a very strong Inter under Mourinho; other times I have met him with Atalanta when he was at Roma. His results speak for themselves. I would take his empathy and his ability to have extraordinary players bought for exorbitant fees, and it is fantastic." Regarding tactical approach, Gasperini stressed: "Roma must not change its nature. We have characteristics we must not distort. Real Madrid needs little to create dangerous situations, but Roma must not distort itself."