Jose Mourinho and Real Madrid travel to the Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday, 14 October — kick-off at 8:00pm BST — for a Champions League 2026/27 league phase clash that carries more than the usual weight. Mourinho, of course, managed Roma between 2021 and 2024, guiding them to Conference League glory in 2022 and the Europa League final in 2023.

Mourinho's record against former clubs

This is not the first reunion of the campaign for the Portuguese manager. Real Madrid opened their Champions League account with a 2-1 victory over Inter Milan — another club Mourinho once steered to European success — and he will be determined to extend that run against his former employers in Rome.

Roma's situation ahead of kick-off

Gian Piero Gasperini's Roma are back in the Champions League for the first time since 2018/19. They drew 1-1 at Fenerbahce in their opening league phase fixture, then endured a difficult run domestically — squandering a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 with champions Inter Milan, before a goalless stalemate at Como last Sunday.

Striker Donyell Malen, currently Serie A's leading scorer, picked up a red card in that Como draw but is eligible to feature tonight. Goalkeeper Mile Svilar, however, remains sidelined with a fractured toe, leaving Pierluigi Gollini to continue between the posts.

Real Madrid's team news

Madrid also had a player sent off at the weekend. Vinicius Junior was controversially dismissed during the 1-0 win over Villarreal after an incident in which he pulled an opponent's hair while scoring a goal that was subsequently disallowed. Like Malen, Vinicius is free to play in European competition. Eduardo Camavinga, Arda Guler, and Bernardo Silva all return from domestic suspensions to strengthen Mourinho's squad.

Mbappe chasing history

Kylian Mbappe is set to reach 100 Champions League appearances tonight, which would make him the youngest player to achieve that milestone at 27 years and 298 days — surpassing Lionel Messi's record by approximately five months.

Prediction

Roma and Real Madrid are expected to share the spoils in a 1-1 draw. Madrid carry greater attacking threat, but their defensive record this season has been fragile — and Roma will be fuelled by the occasion of hosting a Champions League night for the first time in more than seven years.