Gian Piero Gasperini spent his pre-match press conference praising Real Madrid as “a team of incredible champions”, but the message around AS Roma was just as firm. Roma host Madrid at the Stadio Olimpico in UEFA Champions League Matchday 2, after drawing 1-1 away to Fenerbahce in their opening league-phase game.

The coach’s point was not that Roma should attack the fixture blindly. He said the team have to defend themselves against Como and hope to play a different kind of match against Madrid, while also stressing that Roma “have characteristics we don’t change” and should not distort them just because the opponent is elite.

Roma's home case

The numbers give Gasperini something concrete to lean on. Roma have won 8 of their last 9 Champions League matches at the Stadio Olimpico, and they arrive with 1 point from the opening round while Madrid already have 3. Roma are also 17th in the league phase table, so this is not just a glamour night, it is a live early test of their campaign.

The Mourinho backdrop is there too. Gasperini acknowledged the affection Roma supporters still have for José Mourinho, but kept returning to the present group and its identity. That is the cleaner line from his comments, because he is not asking Roma to become a different side for one opponent, only to trust what they have built.

The challenge Madrid bring

Gasperini did not underplay the opposition. He described Madrid as dangerous very quickly and repeated that they are one of the valuable teams Roma can face, with Kylian Mbappé's 7 La Liga goals and 7.77 rating underlining the threat if they are given space.

There is still reason for Roma to feel they can compete at home. The blend of their recent resilience, the Olimpico record and the coach’s insistence on staying recognisable gives this a different feel from a surrender job. Mile Svilar is out for about a month with a stress fracture, which is a problem, but the broader message stays the same: Roma are being asked to stand up to Madrid without becoming a copy of them.

The match between AS Roma vs Real Madrid kicks off at 21:00 on Thursday, 14 October 2026, and Gasperini’s side go into it with a clear home argument and no intention of abandoning their own shape.

Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 4 outlets. How we work →