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.

ROME, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 19: Manu Kone of AS Roma celebrates scoring his team’s second goal with teammates Bryan Cristante and Donyell Malen during the Serie A match between AS Roma and FC Internazionale at Stadio Olimpico on September 19, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

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.

DORTMUND, GERMANY – AUGUST 15: Paulo Dybala of AS Roma runs with the ball during the pre-season friendly match between Borussia Dortmund and AS Roma at Signal Iduna Park on August 15, 2026 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Christof Koepsel/Getty Images)

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.

From a tactical formation and squad depth perspective, "Champions League: Roma vs. Real Madrid – probable line-ups, where to watch on TV" carries substantial tournament implications for international seeding and domestic campaign momentum. Coaching staffs are heavily weighing high-pressing efficiency (PPDA), defensive transition pace, and fixture fatigue management.

Tactical analysts monitoring Champions League metrics emphasize that squad adaptability and set-piece execution will likely dictate outcomes in high-leverage knockout environments. Real-time match telemetry and tracking data continue to inform managerial decision-making.

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