Champions League: Roma vs. Real Madrid – probable line-ups, where to watch on TV
ROME, ITALY - AUGUST 24: Donyell Malen with Paulo Dybala and Wesley Franca of AS Roma celebrates during the Serie A match between AS Roma and ACF Fiorentina at Stadio Olimpico on August 24, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
Donyell Malen and Paulo Dybala start for Roma as the Giallorossi host José Mourinho’s Real Madrid in their first home Champions League game since 2019.
It kicks off at 21:00 CET [20:00 BST] at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.
It’s a much-anticipated game not only because the Giallorossi return home for the first time in seven years with a Champions League match, but also because José Mourinho is back at the Olimpico for the first time since his sacking in January 2024.
Roma’s Bryan Cristante and Mile Svilar are injured and will be replaced by Marten de Roon and Pierluigi Gollini, respectively, as happened against Como in Serie A last Sunday.
Malen will start up front alongside Paulo Dybala, while Matias Soulé is expected to take the third slot in attack.
According to Gazzetta, Devyne Rensch will start at right midfield, with Wesley on the opposite flank. Leonardo Balerdi is the favourite over Mario Hermoso at centre-back, joining Evan Ndicka and Gianluca Mancini.
Sky and Corriere dello Sport, however, maintain that Nahuel Molina will get the nod as right midfielder, while Hermoso will start at the back.
The match is available on TNT Sports 4, TNT Sports 10 and HBO Max in the UK and Ireland and on Paramount+ in the USA. Football Italia will provide live updates via a live blog, with Roma-Real Madrid coming right after Feyenoord-Como.
Roma vs. Real Madrid – probable line-ups
Roma (3-4-2-1): Gollini; Mancini, Ndicka, Hermoso; Molina, Konè, de Roon, Wesley; Dybala, Soulé; Malen.
Real Madrid (4-2-3-1): Courtois; Dumfries, Konaté, Huijsen, Cucurella; Valverde, Tchouameni; Guler, Bellingham, Vinicius; Mbappé.
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