Fenerbahce vs Roma Preview: Team News & Prediction | 2026-27 UEFA Champions League | League Phase
by Alex Lawes ·
Turkish giants Fenerbahce are back in the UEFA Champions League and they begin their campaign against returning Italian outfit Roma in Istanbul on Thursday.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV & online: UK – TNT Sports & HBO Max / USA – CBS Sports & Paramount+
Fenerbahce preview: Back in the UCL
Fenerbahce haven’t reached the proper stage of the UEFA Champions League since the 2008-09 campaign but the Turkish giants have done so this time around with dramatic victories against Gornik Zabrze, Sturm Graz and then Olympique Lyonnais.
Their controversial defeat of Lyon saw a fracas at the end of the game between the two sets of players as Fener return to Europe’s elite club competition with an extremely recognisable squad under the management of Ismail Kartal.
Roma preview: Brilliant Romans
Gian Piero Gasperini held off the challenge of director Claudio Ranieri to ensure he remained in charge of Roma at the end of last season – and the former Atalanta boss led the Giallorossi to a third place finish in Serie A.
The Romans have started this campaign exceptionally well, too, with 4-0 hammerings of both Fiorentina and Lecce before Gasperini’s side defeated his former side Atalanta by two goals to one at the Stadio Olimpico at the weekend.
Fenerbahce team news: Guendouzi suspended
Matteo Guendouzi was at the forefront of those fracas’ against Lyon and the former Olympique de Marseille defensive midfielder is now suspended for their league phase opener as a result.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Ederson; Muldur, Skriniar, Ake, Brown; Yuksek, Kante; Greenwood, Aydin, Akturkoglu; Muriqi
Unavailable: Oosterwolde (Injured), Guendouzi (Suspended)
Questionable: Asensio (Injured)
Roma team news: Couple of injuries
Roma have no fresh injury concerns or suspension issues with Lorenzo Pellegrini still sidelined but the visitors will be able to name an unchanged eleven for their trip to Turkiye.
Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Svilar; Mancini, Ndicka, Hermoso; Molina, Cristante, Kone, Wesley; Dybala, Soule; Malen
Unavailable: Bah (Injured), Pellegrini (Injured)
Questionable:
Fenerbahce vs Roma prediction
Even in his debut season at the Olimpico, Gasperini still got a tune out of his Roma side and now, after a year of bedding in, they are looking as though they could even be title challengers domestically. This is a fascinating contest with Fenerbahce capable of challenging anyone in Europe based on their squad on paper and so both teams scoring may well be a decent bet – but so is siding with the in-form Romans in Istanbul.
Fenerbahce vs Roma Tip: Double chance – Roma to win or draw & both teams to score
