Real Madrid arrive at the Stadio Olimpico for a 21:00 Champions League meeting with Roma carrying both a major European scoring chase and the return of José Mourinho to a city where he left an indelible mark.
A night shaped by Roma connections
Mourinho is expected to receive a warm welcome from the Roma support when he returns with Madrid. The Portuguese coach delivered the 2021-22 Conference League, still Roma’s only European trophy, and became the first manager to win the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League.
There is also a personal link in Madrid’s squad. Dean Huijsen was among Mourinho’s young projects during his time in the Italian capital, after the coach brought him in from Juventus.
Mourinho spoke highly of the defender after his Roma debut, saying: “He has only played 10 minutes in Serie A, but he is among football’s biggest talents. He will become a great player.” The pair have since reunited in Spain.
- Roma completed their final training session before the match at the Olimpico.
- Madrid travelled to the Italian capital ahead of Tuesday night’s fixture.
- Vinicius Junior is expected to return to the visiting starting line-up after beginning the Villarreal match on the bench.
- The Brazilian is set to miss several LaLiga matches following the red card he received against Villarreal, making his European availability especially significant.
Madrid’s midfield and Mbappé’s European pursuit
Federico Valverde is expected to move back into the double pivot alongside Aurélien Tchouaméni. The Uruguayan was used at right-back during the changes against Villarreal, where his running from the flank added thrust to Madrid’s play, but Mourinho has increasingly settled on Valverde and Tchouaméni in central areas.
At the other end, Kylian Mbappé has reached a landmark in the competition. His latest Champions League goal took him level with Raúl González on 71, leaving him 19 behind Karim Benzema.
Benzema scored 90 Champions League goals across spells with Lyon and Real Madrid. Mbappé, wearing Madrid’s number 10, now has the chance to keep reducing that gap on a demanding European away night.
Roma’s form and its attacking threat
Roma enter the match unbeaten in Serie A, with four wins and two draws leaving them two points behind leaders Lazio and Inter. Milan are also undefeated, although they have drawn as many games as they have won.
Donyell Malen has been Roma’s most productive league forward, scoring six Serie A goals despite failing to find the net in his past two appearances. In the Champions League, he supplied Bryan Cristante’s goal in the opening-match 1-1 draw with Fenerbahce.
The Dutchman has formed a potent partnership with Paulo Dybala under Gian Piero Gasperini. Roma’s draw at Como while reduced in numbers reinforced the resilience of a side in strong form.
Dybala has made Italy his footballing home and has said he would like “an Italian-style farewell” when his career ends. After leaving Juventus, the club he had once expected to represent for life, he rebuilt his standing in Roma colours and sees his future remaining in Italian football.
Manu Koné is also expected to start, as he has in every match apart from the Torino fixture. The French midfielder attracted interest after impressing for France in place of Tchouaméni at the World Cup, but remained in Rome. He has already scored twice in Serie A, both goals coming in the draw against Inter.
Gasperini’s old lieutenant and Roma’s next generation
Marten de Roon remains Gasperini’s most trusted old hand. Across their time together at Atalanta and Roma, the Dutch midfielder has made 362 appearances under the Italian coach over nine seasons, a record built on reliability, work rate and technical quality.
Roma also have a young forward beginning to make an impression around the first team. Miguel Romero, a 17-year-old striker from Madrid, has been promoted twice to senior training and match involvement without previously passing through the academies of Real Madrid, Atlético Madrid, Getafe or Rayo Vallecano.
Rodrigo Mora, meanwhile, arrived from Porto for €25 million after breaking through at only 19. He started the season in the side but has lost ground in the rotation, remaining unused in Roma’s last two matches against Como and Inter.
For Madrid, the task is to contain Serie A’s leading scorer; for Roma, it is to stop Mbappé’s climb towards Benzema. Around the Olimpico, Mourinho’s homecoming gives the fixture an extra layer, but the Champions League points will matter most once the noise fades.
