--- title: "Fenerbahce and Roma Split Points in Istanbul: Greenwood Rescues the Hosts, VAR Disallows Roma's Penalty" description: "In the opening Champions League matchday, Fenerbahce and Roma drew 1-1 in Istanbul. Cristante opened the scoring, Brown equalized after a Greenwood pass, and VAR disallowed a penalty for Roma." date: 2026-09-10T19:08:01.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/fenerbahce-roma-draw-champions-league-istanbul tags: [champions-league, fenerbahche, roma, gasperini, greenwood, shakhtar] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Fenerbahce and Roma Split Points in Istanbul: Greenwood Rescues the Hosts, VAR Disallows Roma's Penalty ![Mason Greenwood in the Fenerbahce vs Roma Champions League match](https://xab.info/media/2026/09/11/fenerbahche-roma-nichya-v-lige-chempionov-stambul/fenerbahche-roma-nichya-v-lige-chempionov-stambul-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - Fenerbahce and Roma drew 1-1 in the opening Champions League matchday in Istanbul. - The goals were scored by Bryan Cristante (assisted by Donny Malen) and Archie Brown (assisted by Mason Greenwood). - VAR overturned a penalty awarded to Roma after Kerem Akturkoglu's foul on Paulo Dybala in the 68th minute. - On September 14, Fenerbahce will play away at Gaziantep, while Roma will face away at Torino; on October 14, Roma will host Real Madrid. 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](https://www.sport.rbc.ua), 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. ## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification - [Roma fail to hold on to a lead against Fenerbahce in Istanbul](https://sport.rbc.ua/ukr/football/roma-vtrimala-peremogu-fenerbahche-stambuli-1789066986.html) - Подтверждает счет 1:1, авторов голов (Кристанте, Браун), эпизод с отмененным VAR-пенальти и даты ближайших матчей. - [Fenerbahce — Roma: Champions League match video review](https://www.sport-express.net/football/champions-league/news/fenerbahche-roma-videoobzor-matcha-ligi-chempionov-i-luchshie-momenty-igry-10-sentyabrya-2026-goda-2454247/) - Фиксирует дату матча 10 сентября 2026 года и статус встречи в рамках Лиги чемпионов. - [Video review of the draw between Fenerbahce and Roma in the Champions League](https://www.championat.ru/football/news-6615912-videoobzor-nichi-mezhdu-fenerbahche-i-romoj-v-lige-chempionov.html) - Независимо подтверждает итоговую ничью в матче Лиги чемпионов. - [Gasperini: "Both Roma and Fenerbahce produced excellent football"](https://www.sport-express.ru/football/champions-league/news/dzhan-pero-gasperini-kommentariy-po-nichey-romy-i-fenerbahche-v-lige-chempionov-2454243/) - Подтверждает постматчевый комментарий тренера о высоком уровне игры обеих команд. ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: What was the final score of the Fenerbahce — Roma match? **A:** The match ended in a 1-1 draw. The goals were scored by Bryan Cristante for the visitors and Archie Brown for the hosts. ### Q: Why did Roma not take the penalty? **A:** In the 68th minute, the referee awarded a penalty after Kerem Akturkoglu's foul on Paulo Dybala, but VAR overturned the decision, so the kick was not taken. ### Q: When will the next matches for both teams take place? **A:** On September 14, Fenerbahce will play away at Gaziantep (20:00), while Roma will face away at Torino (19:30). On October 14, Roma will host Real Madrid, and Fenerbahce will travel to Aston Villa.