UEFA Champions League Preview: Fenerbahce vs Roma – Team News, Lineups & Prediction | OneFootball

Back to the Champions League after a seven-year absence, Roma head to the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium to take on Fenerbahce on Thursday. It’s been a dream start to the season for the Giallorossi, as they now look to translate their red-hot domestic form to the continental front.

Fenerbahce had to navigate a grueling qualifying process to return to the Champions League proper for the first time since the 2008/09 season. Ismail Kartal’s side overcame Gornik Zabrze, Sturm Graz, and Lyon to join fierce rivals Galatasaray in the main draw of Europe’s most prestigious club competition.

With the signings of former Roma star Romelu Lukaku and ex-Manchester United teenager Mason Greenwood, the Turkish giants added serious firepower to an already dangerous attack. They’ll now face an equally formidable Roma team, whose last Champions League experience came in 2018/19.

Gian Piero Gasperini’s men have got their Serie A season off to a flying start. After a pair of 4-0 victories over Fiorentina and Lecce, Roma pulled off a stunning late comeback to beat Atalanta 2-1 on Saturday.

Despite generating an eye-catching 2.94 xG and making 39 attempts on goal, the Giallorossi were 1-0 down in the 89th minute, only for Mario Hermoso and Matias Soule to turn the game on its head right at the death. Buoyed by another high-scoring win, Roma will be out to carry that momentum into their long-awaited Champions League return.

Match Preview

Fenerbahce

A six-game qualifying campaign extended Fenerbahce’s tally to 154 European matches since their last appearance in the Champions League proper, including qualifiers (W72, D42, L40). Needless to say, the 19-time Super Lig winners will be heavily motivated to impress in their curtain-raising fixture, which will also mark the first-ever meeting between Fenerbahce and Roma.

Kartal’s men must defy a worrying historical trend if they’re to take three points here, having lost five of their six Champions League clashes against Italian opposition (W1). However, the home team’s morale took a hit last weekend as former Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic inspired Besiktas to a 2-1 derby win at this venue.

Against this backdrop, Fenerbahce boast a superb Euroepan record on home soil. They’ve lost only five of their last 32 UEFA fixtures in Istanbul (W20, D7), which should inspire confidence around Kartal’s camp. Furthermore, the Yellow Canaries have opened the scoring in four of their five home outings this season, highlighting the potential for a quick-fire start.

Roma

Gasperini’s high-flyers have been firing on all cylinders this term, with Donyell Malen hauling five goals in the first two Serie A rounds. Despite drawing a blank against Atalanta, the Dutch forward is likely to lead the line at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium as Roma bid to become the first Italian side to secure an away Champions League win over Turkish opposition since November 2005 (D2, L3).

However, Gasperini must help Roma avoid another slow Champions League start. Indeed, the Giallorossi have won just one of their last six day-one fixtures at Europe’s top table (D2, L3), courtesy of a 5-1 rout of CSKA Moscow in 2014/15. Few Serie A coaches are better suited for this job, with the 68-year-old suffering just four defeats in his last 23 group/league phase games in this competition (W10, D9).

Another encouraging sign is Roma’s intimidating scoring capacity. The Serie A heavyweights have netted at least two goals in eight consecutive matches across all competitions. More importantly, they emerged victorious on each occasion, which makes for promising reading ahead of this exciting showdown.

Team News

With Anderson Talisca gone, Lukaku could spearhead Fenerbahce’s attack against his former club, though Vedat Muriqi is more likely to get the nod. Ex-Lazio midfielder Matteo Guendouzi must serve a red-card ban, while Jayden Oosterwolde, who failed medicals at Roma in late August, remains on the sidelines with an Achilles injury.

As for Roma, Lorenzo Pellegrini is the only high-profile absentee. Gasperini is likely to field the same starting lineup that faced Atalanta last weekend, with Nahuel Molina expected to start on the right wing ahead of Emanuele Lulli.

Fenerbahce vs Roma Potential Starting Lineups

Fenerbahce (4-2-3-1): Ederson; Muldur, Skriniar, Ake, Brown; Kante, Yuksek; Aydin, Akturkoglu, Greenwood; Muriqi.

Roma (3-4-2-1): Svilar; Mancini, Ndicka, Hermoso; Molina, Cristante, Kone, Wesley; Dybala, Mora; Malen.

Fenerbahce vs Roma Prediction

Both teams boast plenty of firepower and have been prolific in front of goal at the start of the season. Therefore, we expect a high-scoring contest, with the spoils likely to be shared in an entertaining draw.