In the opening matchday of the new Champions League season, Fenerbahce hosted Roma, managed by Gian Piero Gasperini, in Istanbul. The match ended in a goal-filled 1-1 draw: the visitors led at the end of the first half, but the Turkish side equalized in the second half and held on to the point. A detailed breakdown of the match and a video review are published on the Sport RBC.UA portal, where the best moments of the game are also available.

Match flow and scoring events

The first half belonged to the visitors: towards the end of the opening half, a pass from Donny van de Beek — wait, correction — from Donny Malen set up Bryan Cristante, who put Roma ahead. After the break, the hosts responded with a combination in the pure English style — Mason Greenwood laid it off to Archie Brown, who left Roma's goalkeeper Mile Svilar with no chance to equalize — 1-1. Neither side was able to change this result before the final whistle.

Controversial penalty and VAR intervention

The most discussed moment came in the 68th minute, when Kerem Akturkoglu fouled Paulo Dybala. The referee initially awarded a penalty to Roma, but after the incident was reviewed by the VAR system, the decision was overturned. This episode proved decisive in the battle for victory and, in effect, sealed the final draw.

Head coach's comment

After the match, Gian Piero Gasperini praised the high level of play from both teams, stating that both Roma and Fenerbahce produced excellent football. The coach did not dwell on the disallowed penalty, emphasizing above all the quality of the game and the even contest throughout the match.

Teams' upcoming fixtures

For Fenerbahce, the next test will be an away Turkish Super Lig match against Gaziantep, scheduled for September 14 with a 20:00 kickoff. On the same day, September 14 at 19:30, Roma will face Torino away in the domestic league. In the next Champions League matchday, on October 14, Roma will host Real Madrid at home, while Fenerbahce will travel to Aston Villa on the same day.

Matchday context: Shakhtar's result

In parallel with the match in Istanbul, Donetsk's Shakhtar played in the opening Champions League matchday, drawing away at PSV Eindhoven. Thus, in the tournament's first matchday, the Ukrainian club also managed to pick up points in an away game, adding context to the overall picture of the first matchday of the new season.