José Mourinho brings Real Madrid to the Stadio Olimpico to face Roma in the UEFA Champions League league phase on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, six points behind La Liga leaders Barcelona.
Mourinho Returns to Face Former Club
The fixture marks a high-profile reunion for José Mourinho, who delivered the UEFA Conference League trophy to the club in 2022. Now leading Real Madrid, the Portuguese coach takes charge of the Spanish giants at a venue where he remains a central figure in recent club history.
Discussing his return during the pre-match press conference, Mourinho noted his special bond with the local supporters, though he also joked about the divided loyalties of local transit drivers.
Roma will always be my home,
Mourinho reflected in remarks ahead of the match, noting the enduring connection he shares with the supporters in the Italian capital.
It’s only right because the fans adored Mourinho. He deserves everything they want to show him. There are feelings you can’t always control. However, I’m sure that when the match kicks off, all those feelings will be put aside and the Roma fans will cheer only for their team.
Paulo Dybala, Roma Forward
Mourinho arrives following a narrow 1-0 victory over Villarreal over the weekend, secured via a goal from Yan Diomande. That recent domestic fixture also featured a controversial red card for Vinícius Júnior after a VAR review spotted him pulling an opponent’s hair.
Gasperini Restores Roma to European Elite
Under the guidance of manager Gian Piero Gasperini, Roma secured a third-place finish in Serie A last season to return to the Champions League after a seven-season absence.
Roma enter this contest following a scoreless stalemate on the road against Como at Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia, where they played with a numerical disadvantage after a straight red card issued to forward Donyell Malen. Gasperini emphasized that reaching the Champions League provides resources for the club to keep improving and aiming higher over the long term.
I think our approach has got us to where we are now — finishing third last season and finally getting the club back into the Champions League,
Gasperini told reporters during his pre-match press conference at the Stadio Olimpico.
Data analysis of Roma’s tactical setup reveals a team registering 2.14 non-penalty expected goals per match while maintaining a high defensive line and an aggressive 10.0 PPDA, indicating intense man-to-man pressing across the pitch. Paulo Dybala has recorded four assists in league play alongside expected threat metrics, and Wesley.
Real Madrid Welcomes Back Banned Players
Both sides face roster adjustments heading into Wednesday’s kickoff. Real Madrid welcomes back Arda Güler, Eduardo Camavinga, and Bernardo Silva after the trio served Champions League bans.
Real Madrid’s traveling squad features Jude Bellingham—who joined from Borussia Dortmund in 2023—alongside French forward Kylian Mbappé, who is approaching appearance milestones in the competition. However, Los Blancos lack Eder Militão, Ferland Mendy, Rodrygo, and Raúl Asencio due to injuries, while defender Dean Huijsen is eligible to return after serving a domestic suspension.
Defender Konstantinos Koulierakis is also out with a leg injury.
Historical Head-to-Head Record in Europe
The fixture carries a historical advantage for the Spanish side. The Italian club has struggled against Spanish opposition on home soil in recent continental outings, and Los Blancos have kept a clean sheet in each of their last four Champions League encounters against the Giallorossi.
Kick-off is scheduled for 8:00 PM British Summer Time (9:00 PM local time) on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at the Stadio Olimpico, with live television coverage available on TNT Sports in the United Kingdom and streaming via HBO Max, revisiting a rivalry where Roma returned to the competition after a seven-season absence.