The Champions League season got off to a bad start for the Italian teams. After Inter Milan lost 2-1 to Mourinho's Real Madrid in Madrid, last night at the Maradona, it was Max Allegri's Napoli's turn to suffer the disappointment of a defeat against English champions Arsenal. A 75th-minute goal from Odegaard proved fatal for the Napoli side. Up until then, Napoli had held firm, but it wasn't enough.
After Inter and Napoli, the deal is completed today first day of the Champions League debut of the other two Italians, Rome e Just likeThe Giallorossi return to Europe's top club competition after seven years, starting in Istanbul, where they'll face Fenerbahçe at 6:45 PM. This evening, however, it will be the turn of a first: at 9 PM, Como will make their European debut, hosting Leipzig at a sold-out, renovated Sinigaglia stadium.
For Gian Piero Gasperini it will be a tricky away match, made even more special by the clash with Mason Greenwood, a striker long pursued by Roma during the summer and then ended up at Fenerbahçe. For Cesc Fabregas, however, the match against the Germans will be a night destined to go down in the club's history books.
Rome, seven years later, returns to the Champions League: Greenwood's Fenerbahce are in Istanbul.
I have passed seven years since Roma's last Champions League matchTheir last appearance was in the second leg of the round of 16 against Porto, which ended in extra time. 2.742 days have passed since then and the Giallorossi's European campaign now restarts from Sukru Saracoglu from IstanbulGasperini's team's goal is to finish at least in the top 24 of the league table and thus secure a playoff spot.
The first obstacle is also one of the great regrets of the Giallorossi summer transfer market: Mason GreenwoodLong courted and considered by Gasperini to be one of the ideal attacking profiles, the Englishman then slipped away for financial reasons. Fenerbahce offered a higher salary, and Greenwood chose Turkey, where he has already scored four goals and two assists in ten games between European qualifying and the league. Today, he will be one of the main threats to Roma's defense. Gasperini did not hide his regretWe tried to sign him and Summerville, but it wasn't possible. The summer was torture, constantly reviewing transfer options and letting go of players who were enthusiastic about coming to Roma, for salary reasons.
As for the field, the only absentee will be Lorenzo Pellegrini, who will miss the trip to Istanbul and is aiming to return against Torino. Gasperini will have the entire European squad available. Mancini, N'Dicka, and Hermoso are expected to start in front of Svilar, with Molina favored on the right and Wesley on the left. Koné and Cristante will play in midfield, while Soulé and Mora remain uncertain. Dybala and Malen are set to lead the attackFenerbahce, on the other hand, will have to do without the suspended Guendouzi and will rely on several old acquaintances from Italian and European football, from Skriniar to Amrabat, including Asensio and former Lazio player Muriqi.
Probable lineups
Fenerbahce (4-2-3-1): Ederson Moraes; Semedo, Skriniar, Aké, Archie Brown; Kante, Amrabat; Greenwood, Marco Asensio, Akturkoglu; Muriqi. Trainer: Kartal.
Rome (3-4-1-2): Svilar; Mancini, N'Dicka, Hermoso; Molina, Koné, Cristante, Wesley; Mora; Dybala, Malen. Trainer: Gasperini.
Como, a night in history: European debut against Leipzig at the Sinigaglia stadium.
If for Roma it is a return, for the Como is an absolute first. to 21 The Como club will make its debut in European competitions and will do so directly in the Champions League, in front of their own fans, against Leipzig.
The stage will be a Sinigaglia renovated and already sold outThe works carried out after the last home game of last season allowed the stadium to obtain the suitability of UEFA and FIGC, with a capacity of 10.884 spectators for the Champions League matchesFor such a special night, president Mirwan Suwarso and some of the club's officials even decided to give up their seats in the stands to give them to the oldest and most loyal fans. “We want them to be awarded to the fans who have waited the longest.”, Suwarso explained, referring specifically to supporters born in 1950 or earlier.
The European debut is another step in the Como's very rapid growth, who added international experience to an already talented squad this summer. Among the new arrivals are Champions League-accustomed players such as Moise Kean, Chalobah, Yan Couto, and Sanchez. The most experienced is Kean, who made his debut in the competition in 2016 with Juventus at just 16 years old. It will also be a special evening for Cesc FabregasAs a footballer, the Spaniard won everything except the Champions League, which he will now chase as a coach.
On the pitch, Como is expected to deploy a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Butez in goal and Couto, Chalobah, Ramon, and Valle in defense. Perrone and Da Cunha are expected to operate in midfield, with Diao, Nico Paz, and Baturina in the attacking midfield. Douvikas is the favorite over Kean for the role of centre-forward.
Leipzig can count on greater European experience, even if its last participation in the Champions League ended with seven defeats and only one victoryMartin Demichelis is expected to start in a 4-3-3 formation, with Nkunku at the center of the attack. Reitz, Romulo, and Baumgartner are all out, while Gruda remains a doubt.
Probable lineups
Como (4-2-3-1): Butez; Couto, Chalobah, Ramon, Valle; Perrone, Da Cunha; Diao, Paz, Baturina; Douvikas. Trainer: Fabregas.
Leipzig (4-3-3): Vandevoordt; Baku, Orban, Lukeba, Raum; El Aynaoui, Seiwald, Banzuzi; Bakayoko, Nkunku, Nusa. Trainer: Demichelis.
