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. 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) 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. 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) 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. 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) 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)