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UCL | Fenerbahce 1-1 Roma: A solid point in Istanbul
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- UCL | Fenerbahce 1-1 Roma: A solid point in Istanbul
UCL | Fenerbahce 1-1 Roma: A solid point in Istanbul
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.
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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)
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The Italians dominated possession early on, but it was the hosts who stung Mile Svilar 's gloves with a Kerem Akturkoglu counter-attack, while Dybala stung Ederson 's gloves at the near post.
ISTANBUL, TURKEY – SEPTEMBER 10: Bryan Cristante of AS Roma celebrates scoring his team's first goal with teammates during 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)
Ismael Yuksek made a decisive tackle on Malen inside the penalty area, but Roma had the breakthrough when Malen cut inside from the left and laid it off for Bryan Cristante to drill right-footed through a sea of legs into the far bottom corner from the edge of the box.
It could've been 2-0 moments later, but Wesley hit a fresh-air volley from 12 yards on the Dybala cross from the right.
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Fenerbahce equalised at the dawn of the second half, as Archie Brown sprung the offside trap on a smart Greenwood disguised pass through the centre, dinking a delicate finish over on-rushing Svilar.
They threatened a second moments later, Svilar sprinting off his line to narrow the angle on Muriqi after a N'Golo Kante slide-rule pass.
Dybala had penalty appeals rejected for a Milan Skriniar shirt tug, while Greenwood hit the side-netting after shrugging off Wesley and Malen fired over from a tricky angle on the Soulé assist.
Roma thought they had a penalty on 68 minutes when Dybala was tripped by Kerim Aktarkoglu, but VAR showed the contact was just outside the area.
ISTANBUL, TURKEY – SEPTEMBER 10: Paulo Dybala of AS Roma gestures during 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)
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Moments later, Wesley was also brought down inches outside the box, but this time there wasn't even a free kick to show for it.
Romelu Lukaku came on and within 60 seconds had rolled across for Oguz Aydin's deflected effort, forcing Svilar into a desperate save with cat-like reflexes.
Malen withdraws from Netherlands squad after Roma injury scare
ISTANBUL, TURKEY – SEPTEMBER 10: Donyell Malen of AS Roma is challenged by Ismail Yuksek of Fenerbahce during 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)
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Dybala's solo finish was too weak to trouble Ederson, but Fenerbahce were fresher as the game wore on and Nathan Ake's header on a free kick thumped the frame of the goal, with Brown offside on the rebound.
Fenerbahce 1-1 Roma
Cristante 39 (R), Brown 48 (F)
