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Fenerbahce and Roma meet for the first time in a competitive fixture as both clubs open their 2026-27 Champions League league-phase campaigns at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium on Thursday evening.
Ismail Kartal's side reached this stage after eliminating Gornik Zabrze, Sturm Graz and Lyon in qualifying, but they arrive out of form domestically, sitting ninth in the Super Lig after losing two of their opening four matches, including the 2-1 derby defeat to Besiktas last time out.
Roma, by contrast, come into the tie having won all three of their matches and sitting top of Serie A, with their attacking form under Gian Piero Gasperini showing no signs of slowing after Saturday's dramatic 2-1 comeback win over his former club Atalanta.
Read our prediction, preview and betting tips for the game below, and make sure to check out our today's betting tips page for more of our expert predictions.
Fenerbahce vs. Roma key stats
- Roma have won all three competitive matches this season and have scored 10 goals.
- Fenerbahce have lost two of their opening four Super Lig matches this season.
- Five of Roma’s last seven competitive matches produced over 2.5 goals.
- Fenerbahce have lost five of their six UCL matches against Italian teams (W1).
Fenerbahce vs. Roma preview: League phase opener at Sukru Saracoglu
Fenerbahce vs. Roma — Tale of the Tape
| Fenerbahce | vs | Roma |
|---|---|---|
| 9th (Super Lig) | Position | 1st (Serie A) |
| 6 | Points | 1st |
| 8 | Goals For | 10 |
| 6 | Goals Against | 1 |
| 1 | Clean Sheets | 2 |
| 9th | Home / Away Rank | 4th |
Fenerbahce dragged themselves to a Champions League ticket, edging past Lyon thanks to a fierce 3-2 aggregate win built on a 1-1 home draw and a 2-1 second-leg victory in France.
Once again settling for a runners-up finish domestically last season, Kartal's side carry heavy expectations into this campaign, and Thursday represents an early chance to make a statement.
Domestically, though, results have been inconsistent, with a 4-2 win over Konyaspor and a 2-0 away victory at Samsunspor offset by defeats to Genclerbirligi and, most recently, Besiktas in the derby.
Muriqi should lead the line after his decisive play-off strike, while Mason Greenwood — with four goals and two assists in 10 appearances across all competitions — is set to be a key outlet after Talisca, their top scorer in qualifying, left for Al Jazira.
However, Matteo Guendouzi is suspended after his part in a post-match brawl following the Lyon tie, while Marco Asensio, Jayden Oosterwolde and Caglar Soyuncu are all sidelined through injury.
Roma, meanwhile, arrive in Istanbul full of confidence after a blistering start to the new season under Gasperini, a Europa League winner with Atalanta in 2024.
His new side have won all three of their opening Serie A fixtures, scoring 10 goals and conceding just one, and they sit top of the table ahead of reigning champions Inter Milan heading into Europe.
The visitors will be counting on some experienced heads like Paulo Dybala, who returns to the Champions League for the first time since March 2022, and has been directly involved in 12 goals across his last 16 appearances in the competition.
However, the Italian side are set to remain without Lorenzo Pellegrini, who is also unavailable due to a thigh injury.
Donyell Malen will be looking to continue his fine start to the season, having scored five times in three matches, forming a strong partnership with the experienced Dybala.
Fenerbahce vs. Roma form guide & betting tips
| Fenerbahce | vs | Roma |
|---|---|---|
D
W
W
W
L
|
Form | L
D
W
W
W
|
| 10 | Goals For | 15 |
| 5 | Goals Against | 3 |
N/A |
UCL | N/A |
Whispers predicts: Fenerbahce 1-2 Roma
Roma's superior current form and defensive solidity make the away win market at 2.25 (5/4) the most well-supported angle here, even accounting for a hostile atmosphere in Turkey.
The over 2.5 goals at 1.79 (79/100) is also a good option to look at, with the game pointing toward an open, high-tempo contest rather than a cagey affair.
For value, a correct score of 1-2 to Roma at 9.40 (42/5) reflects the visitors' attacking edge while respecting Fenerbahce's strong recent home record in European qualifying matches at this ground this season.
> Over 2.5 goals at 1.79 (79/100) | Likelihood: Probable
> Match result — Roma win at 2.25 (5/4) | Likelihood: Probable
> Correct score — Fenerbahce 1-2 Roma at 9.40 (42/5) | Likelihood: Outsider