2,745 is a pretty substantial figure, and fortunately, it's one Roma will no longer need to dwell on. That was the number of days between their last Champions League game, against Porto in 2019, and Thursday's clash with Fenerbahçe upon their return to the competition.
Roma claimed a 1-1 draw away from home, going ahead via Bryan Cristante before Archie Brown equalised for the hosts.
So, what were the numbers that stood out from the game?
As in the number of Champions League debutants Roma had on the pitch, including three in their starting lineup. Of course, everyone except Cristante, a veteran of the 2018-19 season, was playing in the Champions League for Roma for the first time. But Gianluca Mancini, Manu Koné and Wesley were newcomers to the competition altogether. So were substitutes Niccolò Pisilli and Rodrigo Mora, who were aged 14 and 11 respectively when Roma last played a Champions League fixture.
As it happens, the last time Roma had five Champions League debutants in the same game was against Atlético Madrid in September 2017, when Alisson Becker, Bruno Peres, Juan Jesus, Grégoire Defrel and Lorenzo Pellegrini made their bows in Europe's premier competition. The only time Roma have had more Champions League debutants on the pitch in a single game was their first game in the competition in 2001.

#last #time #cristante #number

Ismail Kartal resigned as head coach of Fenerbahce just minutes after the Turkish side's 1-1 draw with Roma in the Champions League.
Kartal made the surprise announcement in his post-match news conference, stating he plans to never return to the club he also served as a player and **** istant coach.
He came back to Fenerbahce for a fourth spell as manager in June 2026, with the club returning to the Champions League for the first time in 18 years.
Now he departs with the team sitting ninth in the Turkish Super Lig after two wins and two defeats, and after only one Champions League match.
"I have been here three months. From the beginning of the season until today, the training sessions and camps we held with the players, and the efforts of our president, have been very helpful. Those were wonderful days," Kartal said.

#club #ismail #roma

Fenerbahçe returned to football's biggest stage, the Champions League, after 18 years. After a fairly solid opening draw against Roma, a memorable press conference followed. Fener coach Ismail Kartal announced his resignation completely out of the blue. Clearly and without speaking to his players beforehand. One of them, Archie Brown, was caught off guard by the news live during a TV interview.
"What do you mean he resigned?" the 24-year-old asked several times in disbelief. The decision is final. Who will take over on the Fenerbahçe bench remains unclear for now.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.

#champions #ismail

Cesc Fabregas admits he is 'honoured to be the first coach in the history of Como to participate in the Champions League,' but some RB Leipzig decisions surprised him.
It kicks off at the Stadio Sinigaglia at 20.00 UK time (21.00 CEST).
You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from this game and Fenerbahce vs. Roma on the Liveblog.
COMO, ITALY – MAY 17: Cesc Fabregas Head coach of Como 1907 celebrates the win at end of the Serie A match between Como 1907 and Parma Calcio 1913 at Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium on May 17, 2026 in Como, Italy. (Photo by Giuseppe Cottini/Getty Images)
This is truly an historic occasion, as it is the first ever European fixture for this club, not to mention in the most prestigious tournament in club football.

#coach #champions

Roma open the Champions League campaign with a creditable 1-1 draw away to Fenerbahce, as Bryan Cristante's opener was cancelled out by Archie Brown.
The Giallorossi returned to the tournament after seven years and coming off three consecutive Serie A victories. Only Lorenzo Pellegrini was still out of action. Devyne Rensch was back, with Donyell Malen, Paulo Dybala and Matias Soulé.
Fenerbahce's last Champions League proper game was 18 years ago, but Matteo Guendouzi was suspended after insulting French fans during the fiery play-off with Lyon. Jayden Oosterwolde and Marco Asensio were injured, with ex-Serie A players Milan Skriniar, Romelu Lukaku and Mert Muldur in the squad, plus Mason Greenwood, who chose the Turkish side over Roma this summer.
See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.
ISTANBUL, TURKEY – SEPTEMBER 10: A TIFO of Frankenstein's Monster is displayed by fans as players of AS Roma line up before the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD1 match between Fenerbahce SK and AS Roma at Fenerbahce Sükrü Saracoglu Spor Kompleksi on September 10, 2026 in Istanbul, Turkey. (Photo by Burak Kara/Getty Images)

#league

Watch highlights from this week's Champions League
Man Utd v Sabah at 20:00 BST
Read the remarkable journey of Sabah's coach
Bayern Munich v Bodo/Glimt, Como v RB Leipzig & Slavia Prague v Lens
England's Archie Brown scores for Fenerbahce against Roma

#champions #bayern

After seven years away, Roma are back in the Champions League. Gian Piero Gasperini's Giallorossi are ready to test themselves against some of Europe's best teams, including Real Madrid, PSG and Manchester United. In short, their return could hardly be more exciting!
Their opener is set for Thursday, 10 September, away at Fenerbahce. A strong start will be important, especially with the Galacticos of José Mourinho coming to the Olimpico on matchday 2. It will be a special night, as it will mark the first time the Giallorossi faithful welcome back the Portuguese coach since his departure in January 2024.
MATCHDAY 1 (10 September 2026, 18:45): Fenerbahce-Roma
MATCHDAY 2 (14 October 2026, 21:00): Roma-Real Madrid
MATCHDAY 3 (20 October 2026, 21:00): Roma-Slovan Bratislava

#roma #real #madrid #away

Uefa has banned Fenerbahce midfielder Matteo Guendouzi for his team's opening two Champions League fixtures following a series of provocations and insults during a chaotic play-off victory away at Lyon last month.
The 27-year-old, previously a player for Lyon's major rivals Marseille, found himself at the centre of unrest before and after Fenerbahce's 2-1 win on 26 August, which included a mass brawl.
The victory secured the Turkish side a place in the Champions League for the first time in 18 years. Guendouzi, who previously made 82 appearances for ****** nal between 2018 and 2020, is set to sit out Fenerbahce's home encounter against Roma next Thursday alongside their trip to Aston Villa on 14 October.
He will be available for Fenerbahce's final six games in the league phase of the Champions League, starting with his side's match against Slavia Prague on 20 October.
Disciplinary verdicts released late on Friday detailed charges against Guendouzi for violating decent conduct rules, "insulting players or others present at the match" and provoking spectators.

#league #previously #uefa

Dominik Livakovic is one of many signings Barcelona have made this summer and at least on paper, it is the one which has generated the least amount of buzz as the goalkeeper will merely be serving as a backup for Joan Garcia.
That being said, Livakovic has had to sacrifice a great deal in his bid to join Barcelona this summer, notably declining a lucrative offer from Dinamo Zagreb, a club he was playing for on loan last season.
According to Croatian newspaper Jutarnji List (h/t SPORT), the option of rejoining Dinamo Zagreb was seriously considered by Livakovic if Barcelona had truly struggled to give him a registration guarantee.
Livakovic brings a wealth of experience to the table. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
The Croatian outfit were supremely impressed by Livakovic's performances last season and wanted to sign him permanently from Fenerbahce this summer.

#summer #least #last #season

ISTANBUL (AP) — Mattéo Guendouzi and Mason Greenwood have been charged by UEFA over alleged provocations of Lyon fans at a Champions League qualifying playoff, their club Fenerbahce said Thursday.
Both players have played for Lyon's French rival Marseille and were seen making offensive gestures last week. Fenerbahce won 2-1 in the second leg at Lyon to advance to the Champions League main phase for the first time in 18 years.
Guendouzi raised his middle finger to Lyon fans during the warmup and after the game and shouted "Allez l'OM" ("Go Marseille"), also grabbing his crotch, in wild post-match scenes. He said Lyon fans insulted his family before and during the game.
It was unclear if UEFA's disciplinary judges will sanction the players before Fenerbahce opens the Champions League main phase next Thursday, hosting Roma. Fenerbahce's second game is at Aston Villa on Oct. 14.
Fenerbahce did not specify the charges against Guendouzi and Greenwood though it said it will "protect the rights and interests" of them and the club.

#fenerbahce #league #fans #game

Roma will make their Champions League debut on Thursday, September 10th, a week from now, away to Fenerbahçe.
The Turkish team advanced to the playoffs against Lyon and were drawn in the same round as the Giallorossi. Following the match they won against Fonseca's team, a brawl broke out on the pitch.
It was a complete mess, with mockery, physical abuse, and verbal abuse, with former Lazio player Mattéo Guendouzi among the culprits.
This is why the French midfielder and Mason Greenwood are at risk for the Champions League match against Roma. UEFA has initiated disciplinary proceedings.
Fenerbahçe announced that UEFA has initiated disciplinary proceedings against players Mattéo Guendouzi and Mason Greenwood: "Following the second leg of the UEFA Champions League play-off round, UEFA has initiated disciplinary proceedings against our club in relation to our players Mattéo Guendouzi and Mason Greenwood."

#champions #league #disciplinary #proceedings

Atlético de Madrid on Tuesday pulled out of negotiations with Olympique Lyonnais to sign veteran left-back Nicolás Tagliafico before the summer transfer window shut.
Atlético's interest in Argentina international Tagliafico first came to us via David Medina and Isaac Suárez in Marca. Atlético were seeking a backup for Alejandro Grimaldo after long negotiations for Racing Santander teenager Jorge Salinas fell apart Tuesday; Salinas is staying at Racing after no club paid his €16 million release clause.
Tagliafico had been in negotiations to join Juventus before Atlético entered the race. According to Fabrizio Romano **** ociate Matteo Moretto, Tagliafico spoke directly to Diego Simeone and prioritized a move to Atleti, having accepted his role would be as a substitute. To make room for Tagliafico and his roughly €3 million gross salary, Mateu Alemany had to clear **** e in the squad by finding new destinations for multiple players, including Josema Giménez, Thomas Lemar, Carlos Martín and Obed Vargas.
While the sporting director moved out Giménez and Lemar on deadline day, Vargas and Carlos Martín stayed. That meant Atleti could not move forward with a Tagliafico transfer, especially as Lyon could not secure a replacement. French media first reported its collapse before Spanish media corroborated later in the day.
Tagliafico, who turned 34 on Monday, has spent the previous four seasons playing for Lyon, but the French side's aggregate loss to Fenerbahçe in the UEFA Champions League play-off round last week has put it in a bind. With Champions League income lost, Lyon need to sell players, and Tagliafico — entering the final year of his contract — was poised to be one of the casualties.

#negotiations

Inter and Roma begin their Champions League campaign away at Real Madrid and Fenerbahçe, respectively, while Napoli will host ****** nal and Como will meet RB Leipzig at the Stadio Sinigaglia.
UEFA has released the fixture list for the league phase of the Champions League.
Inter will start their Champions League journey away in Madrid. They'll face José Mourinho's Real Madrid on September 8 at 21:00 CET, reuniting with the Portuguese coach at the same stadium, the Santiago Bernabéu, where the Nerazzurri and Mou won the Champions League Final in 2010. That was also the last time a Serie A club won the Champions League.
Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho lifts the trophy in front of his team after winning the UEFA Champions League final between Bayern Munich and Inter Milan at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, 22 May 2010. EPA/EMILIO NARANJO NO MOBILE DEVICES
Games against Club Brugge (home) and Shakhtar Donetsk (away at Stamford Bridge) will be played on October 13 and October 21, respectively.

#real

Roma may decide not to replace Jayden Oosterwolde.
After the failed Fenerbahçe deal, the Giallorossi had left open the possibility of another move for a winger, but with the transfer window closing just days away, the situation appears to have changed.
According to today's newspapers, Gian Piero Gasperini's evaluation has also been influenced by the growth of Emanuele Lulli, who made a convincing debut against Fiorentina.
The youngster could provide an additional option on the right flank alongside Nahuel Molina, while on the opposite flank, the coach can count on Wesley and Devyne Rensch.
Roma could therefore decide to stick with the current wingers in the squad, possibly postponing the investment to further complete the midfield until January.

#oosterwolde #gian

The Champions League draw is another reminder that Aston Villa are back among the elite - but also how much change there has been.
Europa League winners Villa, returning to the competition after a season away, will host defending champions Paris St-Germain and Borussia Dortmund.
Trips to Barcelona and Galatasaray add an extra sparkle while Unai Emery's side also face Club Brugge, Fenerbahce, Viking and Slavia Prague.
PSG's visit will naturally evoke the memories of the 2025 quarter-final when Villa so nearly upset the eventual winners with a memorable comeback.
Although it will be a very different Aston Villa side which will face the defending champions, with Emi Martinez's move to Chelsea and Ollie Watkins' switch to Al-Hilal due to go through before the deadline.

#villa #side

Roma have decided to not proceed with Oosterwolde's signing.
The Dutch defender arrived to the Italian capital a few days ago to undergo his club medical.
The tests, however, revealed an injury that appeared more serious than was initially believed.
After a new round of discussions between Roma and Fenerbahce, Sky Sport reports that the Giallorossi have decided to send the player back to Turkey.

#giallorossi

Arsenal will face Real Madrid and Bayern Munich in the league phase of the 2026/27 Champions League.
Mikel Arteta's side have been handed one of the toughest schedules of the five Premier League representatives, with Real Madrid visiting the Emirates Stadium and ****** nal travelling to Bayern Munich.
Arsenal will also host Borussia Dortmund, Lille and Sabah, while travelling to Real Betis, Napoli and Slavia Prague.
Aston Villa face a similarly demanding campaign on their return to the Champions League, with Unai Emery's side travelling to Barcelona and hosting holders Paris Saint-Germain.
Villa will also take on Borussia Dortmund, Club Brugge, Fenerbahce, Galatasaray, Viking and Slavia Prague.

#arsenal #real #dortmund

Matteo Guendouzi was attacked by furious Lyon players and fans after sparking a mass brawl in a chaotic Champions League tie.
The fiery French midfielder claimed "disrespect" and insults towards his family throughout the match, given his affiliation to Lyon's fierce rivals Marseille, where he spent three seasons.
The 27-year-old let out relief at the final whistle, celebrating wildly, lifting his arms and taunting the fans in the stands before dozens of players and staff rushed towards the player in a chaotic brawl.
The Champions League play-off second leg saw the Turkish giants prevail on the night at Lyon's Groupama Stadium, advancing 3-2 on aggregate to the league phase, with the draw taking place later on Thursday.
Guendouzi was supported by some of his Fenerbahce team-mates, including Romelu Lukaku and former Man City goalkeeper Ederson.

#guendouzi #champions #fans #chaotic

Lyon's elimination from the Champions League could help Roma complete their transfer window.
The Giallorossi are looking for a left winger and have identified the perfect fit in Malick Fofana.
The 2005-born player also delivered a convincing performance yesterday, scoring the winner to make it 2-1 for the French side, who failed to overturn Fenerbahçe.
Now OL will need to make a sale, and they're willing to negotiate for around €35 million to part ways with the Belgian winger. This isn't a risky prospect for Roma.
Roma, as Corriere dello Sport reports, will be able to bring Gian Piero Gasperini another signing if the investment remains between €10 and €12 million annually. And the numbers are looking good for the club.

#looking #winger #champions #league

The final teams to qualify for the 2026/27 Champions League league phase were confirmed this Wednesday (26).
Seven clubs secured their spots this week after coming through the final playoff round.
The biggest clash was between Fenerbahce and Lyon, with the Turkish side coming out on top and returning to the main phase of the Champions League for the first time in 18 years.
Slovan Bratislava (Slovakia), AEK Athens (Greece), LASK (Austria), Sabah (Azerbaijan), Bodo/Glimt (Norway) and Viking (Norway) also qualified this week.
The league phase draw takes place this Thursday (27), determining the eight matchups for each participating team.

#norway #coming

The cold shower.
On a mission to qualify for the Champions League, OL are enduring a nightmare start against Fenerbahçe.
Fonseca's men, who had secured a draw in the first leg in Turkey, were no doubt hoping to put the Istanbul side under pressure at home.
Nothing has gone as planned.
After half an hour, Lyon are trailing 2-0.

#turkey #istanbul #shower

Jayden Oosterwolde is having the second stage of his medical with Roma on Wednesday, but there are growing reports that there are concerns about the injury that the Dutchman suffered in a recent Champions League qualifier with Fenerbahce.
Roma and Fenerbahce have shaken hands over a season-long loan deal with a potential €18m obligation to buy for versatile full-back Oosterwolde. The 25-year-old arrived in the Italian capital for his medical on Tuesday.
ROTTERDAM, NETHERLANDS – AUGUST 06: Jayden Oosterwolde of Fenerbahce in action during the UEFA Champions League Third Qualifying Round First Leg match between Feyenoord and Fenerbahce at Feyenoord Stadium on August 06, 2025 in Rotterdam, Netherlands. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
According to reports from the Corriere dello Sport, Oosterwolde had the first part of his medical on Tuesday, which was routine and focused on his general physical health.
Oosterwolde is having the second stage of his medical on Wednesday, which will reportedly include an in-depth examination of the injury that the former Twente and Parma man suffered during Fenerbahce's 2-0 victory over Sturm Graz in the first leg of their Champions League third-round qualifier on August 5.

#jayden #wednesday

Barcelona have completed the signing of Dominik Livakovic, but the Croatian goalkeeper's future for the coming season remains unresolved as the club's preferred loan arrangement has hit an unexpected obstacle.
The 31-year-old has joined Barcelona from Fenerbahce in a deal worth €2 million plus a possible €500,000 in variables.
After arriving in Barcelona on Tuesday, Livakovic is scheduled to undergo his medical examination on Wednesday before putting pen to paper on a contract running until 2030.
The signing itself is not the issue. The question Barcelona must now answer is where their new goalkeeper will spend the season.
According to SPORT, Barcelona initially planned to send Livakovic out on a one-year loan before integrating him into the first-team setup in 2027, when Wojciech Szczesny's spell at the club comes to an end.

#Barcelona #signing #dominik

Dominik Livaković is set to sign for FC Barcelona, although it's still not clear whether he'll play for the Catalans this season or join Dinamo Zagreb on loan.
Barcelona already have Wojciech Szczęsny and Joan Garcia as goalkeepers, and there are rumors that they wanted to loan Livaković for a season while Szczęsny remains as backup to Garcia. However, competing whispers say that he could stay with Barça as Garcia's backup without going on loan first.
"I'm very happy to be here," the keeper said, having landed in Barcelona. When asked whether he would stay or go out on loan, he simply said, "we'll see."
The main deciding factor is reportedly whether Barça will have enough **** e within the FIFA Fair Play salary limit. If there's room, he'll stay, if not, he'll go out on loan and re-join in a year.
The keeper comes from Fenerbahçe, it's understood Barcelona will pay four million euro to sign him from the Turkish giants.

#he 'll #szcz

Xabi Alonso is at Stamford Bridge. Serie A giants Napoli are making a concerted push to sign Marc Guiu, tabling a €16 million bid for the Chelsea striker, according to Gianluca Di Marzio.
Guiu has emerged as Napoli's top target to replace Romelu Lukaku, who recently joined Fenerbahce.
While Napoli are offering €16m, Chelsea reportedly value Guiu at closer to €29m. The Blues signed the striker from Barcelona's La Masia in 2024 for €6m, meaning even a deal near Napoli's bid would represent a significant profit.
The 20-year-old was initially loaned to Chelsea last summer, but was recalled early after Liam Delap's injury.
However, Guiu struggled for regular minutes and made just one league start throughout the campaign.

#napoli #striker #alonso #stamford

Jayden Oosterwolde will be a new Roma player.
The deal with Fenerbahçe is now finalized, and only the final step remains before he officially begins his adventure with the Giallorossi.
As reported by TuttoMercatoWeb.com, Oosterwolde is expected in the capital tomorrow.
Once he arrives, he will undergo the usual medical and then sign the contract that will bind him to Roma.
The Dutchman will arrive from Fenerbahce on loan with an option to buy, which could become a mandatory deal if certain conditions are met. These include reaching a minimum number of appearances, a threshold that is unlikely to be particularly high.

#oosterwolde

Late August is typically the most interesting point of silly season—not the most exciting, mind you, but the proximity to the new season makes every rumor and update feel more consequential. By now, all of Roma's top targets are long gone, and those who have replaced them—in this instance, Malick Fofana and/or Alessio Cacciamani—are intriguing enough to keep the club (and fans) on the hook.
The problem, as we see seemingly every year, is that negotiating for these second options is incredibly difficult, especially after Roma invested heavily in other positions. With a specific need to fill (in this case, left wing), little money to spend, and even less time to pull it off, the club has virtually no leverage in negotiations.
(Sorry, did I say this was an interesting time of year?)
According to the latest rumors, Roma has abandoned its pursuit of Fofana (which I don't believe for a second) and is instead focusing its efforts on Fenerbahçe's Jayden Oosterwolde. While the 25-year-old Dutchman can't fill the void left by Fofana, he's a handy little full-back/center-back hybrid with ample top-flight experience, including nearly 90 appearances for Fenerbahçe over the past three seasons.
Earlier today, Fabrizio Romano reported that the two clubs are working on an €18 million loan deal with an option that becomes mandatory under certain conditions. Oosterwolde may not be the most exciting name we've discussed this summer, but he would provide the club with the fourth wing-back they've pursued all summer. Additionally, his ability to play centrally could make Jan Ziolkowsi expendable, which could, in turn, generate enough capital to push the Fofana deal over the finish line.

#club #back #oosterwolde

FC Barcelona have made a major splash in the transfer market after reaching a full agreement with Turkish side Fenerbahçe for the signing of goalkeeper Dominik Livaković. This was reported by Carlos Monfort in Sport.
The Blaugrana sporting department, led by Deco, has accelerated talks in recent hours. The Turkish club has given the final green light to Barça's financial offer.
Both clubs are currently exchanging the required documentation to finalize the transfer in the coming days. The deal has been set at a fixed fee of two million euros, plus another two million in add-ons.
With this move, Deco secures the generational transition between the posts for Barça. The Croatia international is shaping up as the chosen man to take over as first-choice goalkeeper once the Wojciech Szczęsny era comes to an end.
The goalkeeper will bring international experience and reliability to the squad after standing out both for his club and for the Croatia national team. His arrival strengthens the medium- and long-term planning of the sporting project.

#turkish #croatia #transfer #Barcelona

Toulouse and Lyon go head-to-head at Stadium de Toulouse this Saturday in the Ligue 1. Toulouse mark their 56th participation in the competition, whilst Lyon go into their 69th.
In their last fixture, Toulouse suffered a 1-2 reverse against Hamburger SV (Pre-season 2026/27). In their last game, Lyon drew 1-1 with Fenerbahçe (Champions League [Qualification] 2026/27).
The last meeting between the two teams ended with Toulouse winning 2-1.
Alejandro Gomes - No Eligibility
Toulouse ( vs Nantes 2026-05-17): Guillaume Restes, Mark McKenzie, Seny Koumbassa, Rasmus Nicolaisen, Djibril Sidibé, Pape Demba Diop, Cristian Cásseres Jr, Dayann Methalie, Santiago Hidalgo, Emersonn, Yann Gboho

#toulouse #mark #saturday

Xabi Alonso is at Stamford Bridge with the Blues. Chelsea and Napoli are in contact over a potential transfer for striker Nicolas Jackson, according to Gianluca Di Marzio.
Napoli manager Max Allegri has made signing a new striker his top priority for the final weeks of the transfer window. Following Romelu Lukaku's permanent move to Fenerbahce, Napoli are keen to add depth and competition for Rasmus Hojlund. Alongside exploratory enquiries for ***** nal's Gabriel Jesus and Manchester United's Joshua Zirkzee, Jackson has emerged as a highly feasible and attractive option for the Partenopei.
Chelsea are open to selling the Senegal international, provided their steep valuation is met. Jackson spent the 2025/26 season on loan at German champions Bayern Munich, but they opted not to make the deal permanent. Since returning to West London, Jackson's place in Xabi Alonso's plans is uncertain, especially after being omitted from Chelsea's final pre-season fixtures.
With the Blues keen to trim their squad and generate funds, Chelsea have placed a £65 million price tag on the forward. Napoli's entry into the race could prove highly beneficial for the Blues, as it threatens to spark a genuine bidding war.
Atletico Madrid, Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa have all monitored Jackson's situation this summer, but so far, interested parties have been reluctant to meet Chelsea's asking price.

#napoli #final #keen