Overview
After 9 defeats in the qualifiers since their first Champions League appearance in 2008, Fenerbahce finally won a spot to participate in the League Phase this season.
The Turkish team was eliminated by Benfica in the qualifiers last year, the result led to the departure of Jose Mourinho and the appointment of Domenico Tedesco. However, Tedesco could not help Fenerbahce compete for the Super Lig championship with Galatasaray, before Ismail Kartal returned to lead the team.
Under Kartal, Fenerbahce successively overcame Gornik Zabrze and Sturm Graz in the second and third qualifying rounds, before defeating Lyon in a dramatic play-off.
After 154 matches in UEFA tournaments since their last appearance in the Champions League, Fenerbahce finally ended the waiting period to return to the most prestigious European arena.
However, Kartal's team did not have a favorable start in the domestic league. Fenerbahce lost to Genclerbirligi in the opening match, then won 2 consecutive matches but suffered a home defeat against Besiktas last weekend.
While Fenerbahce had to wait 18 years, Roma took 7 years to return to the Champions League. The Italian capital team once won the Conference League title right in the first season of the tournament, before finishing third in Serie A last season.
Roma surpassed AC Milan and Juventus in the top 4 race thanks to a 5-game winning streak at the end of the season. They scored at least 2 goals in each match and conceded only 2 goals, thereby closing Gian Piero Gasperini's first season as head coach in third place.
Gasperini also has a lot of experience in the Champions League after leading Atalanta. The Italian coach won the Europa League in 2024 and only lost 4 in the last 23 Champions League group stage matches with this team.
Roma is maintaining impressive form right from the beginning of the new season. They have won all 3 matches, scored 10 goals and just had a late comeback against Atalanta - Gasperini's old team.
Three consecutive victories help Roma rise to the top of Serie A, ranked above defending champion Inter Milan. Donyell Malen is also in high form when scoring 5 goals since the beginning of the season.
Personnel situation
Fenerbahce will not have the service of Matteo Guendouzi in the match against Roma after the brawl that occurred after the victory over Lyon in the play-offs. Mason Greenwood's ban has been suspended until next year, but Guendouzi is still sidelined due to involvement in this incident.
Jayden Oosterwolde is also absent. This defender has just undergone a hamstring injury surgery after failing a medical examination at Roma recently.
On Roma's side, Donyell Malen will be one of the notable attacking spearheads when coordinating with Paulo Dybala. The Dutch striker has scored 19 goals in his first 21 appearances in Serie A.
Roma only lacks Lorenzo Pellegrini because this midfielder is still recovering from a thigh injury. This helps Gian Piero Gasperini have almost the full force for the away match in Istanbul.
Expected lineup:
Ederson, Muldur, Skriniar, Ake, Brown, Kante, Yuksek, Aydin, Akturkoglu, Greenwood, Muriqi.
Svilar, Mancini, Ndicka, Hermoso, Molina, Cristante, Kone, Wesley, Dybala, Mora, Malen.
The match between Fenerbahce and Roma takes place at 11:45 PM on September 10th (Vietnam time).
