Fenerbahçe and Roma meet for the first time ever in the Champions League
On Thursday, 10 September, Istanbul hosts the first-ever official match between Fenerbahçe and Roma, as both clubs return to the UEFA Champions League after a long absence.
Match basics
On Thursday, 10 September 2026, Fenerbahçe host Italian side Roma in the opening round of the UEFA Champions League league phase. The match is played at the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium in Istanbul, kicking off at 18:45 CEST (17:45 UK time). It is the first-ever competitive meeting between the two clubs — their only previous encounter was a 2014 pre-season friendly that ended 3-3.
Both clubs return to Europe's top table
Fenerbahçe and Roma are both back in the Champions League after long absences. Fenerbahçe are playing in the competition for the first time since the 2008/09 season, while Roma's last appearance was in 2018/19. Sources differ slightly on how long Roma have been away — some describe it as a seven-year absence, others as eight years.
Contrasting form
Roma arrive in excellent shape, having scored 10 goals in their last three Serie A matches (an average of 3.3 per game) and won all three, beating Atalanta 2-1 last weekend. They have scored at least twice in each of their last eight competitive fixtures. Fenerbahçe, by contrast, have had a tougher spell, losing the Istanbul derby to Beşiktaş last weekend and sitting ninth in the Süper Lig, four points behind leaders Galatasaray. Still, Fenerbahçe have scored 10 goals in their last five home games and opened the scoring in four of them.
Lineups and officials
Ismail Kartal's Fenerbahçe are set up in a 4-3-3, while Gian Piero Gasperini's Roma will use a 3-4-2-1. Roma's expected lineup includes Paulo Dybala, Matias Soulé and Donyell Malen, who joined permanently from Aston Villa in January and has already scored five goals in three Serie A appearances this season. According to RomaPress, Lorenzo Pellegrini is missing from Roma's squad list. The match is officiated by Spanish referee Jesús Gil Manzano, with César Soto Grado on VAR.
Predictions
Several outlets, including Goal.com, predict a close, goal-heavy contest, tipping a 2-2 draw with goals from Romelu Lukaku and Mason Greenwood for Fenerbahçe and a brace from Malen for Roma. These are expert predictions rather than confirmed facts.
