Champions League Real Madrid vs Roma: Europe’s best Take a Bow

Champions League Real Madrid vs Roma: Europe’s best Take a Bow

Real Madrid vs Roma

The undisputed kings of Europe open their 2018/19 campaign at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday, when it’s Champions League Real Madrid vs Roma.

Both teams will have high hopes of progressing from Group H, which also contains CSKA Moscow and FC Viktoria Plzen from the Czech First League. But getting off to a good start takes the pressure off before the next round of games at the beginning of October.

Julen Lopetegui’s side comes into the game with more momentum, having made a strong start to their La Liga season, while Roma’s domestic form has been rather patchy.

But I Giallorossi will be well up for this, you can be sure of that.

Talking Points

Okay, let’s get it out of the way, the difference between this Real Madrid team and the one which has carried off Europe’s biggest prize for the last three years is that this group of players doesn’t contain ‘You- Know-Who’!

All you SBOBET football fans will know full well that the transfer of Cristiano Ronaldo to Juventus has instantly made the Bianconeri one of the three favourites to win this Champions League, ahead of Los Blancos. But the reigning champions won’t give up their crown without a fight.

So far Karim Benzema has stepped up to fill Ronaldo’s shoes, scoring four in the first four league fixtures, while Gareth Bale has also made an impressive start to the new season. Lopetegui’s team had its first real test away to Athletic Bilbao at the weekend and came away with a hard-fought draw, thanks to a second half Isco equaliser.

Roma has made some key changes in personnel over the summer and no-one can doubt the impact of losing players such as Brazil goal-keeper Alisson and midfield enforcer Radja Nainggolan. But Eusebio Di Francesco has brought in some proven talent in the form of keeper Robin Olsen, and Steven N’Zonzi and Javier Pastore. The former PSG midfield man has looked a class act since his £24m summer switch and has already opened his goal account.

I Giallorossi has finished in the top three in Serie A for the last five seasons, but the league looks to be ultra competitive this time and Di Francesco will do well to improve on last season.

The Roma defence will be kicking themselves having surrendered a 2-0 halftime lead to Chievo on Sunday at the Stadio Olimpico, and that will worry their fans when they think about the threat they face on Wednesday. They have conceded nine goals over their four league games.

History

Roma’s performance in last season’s Champions League competition was superb and they were unlucky to go out in the semi-finals after a breath-taking two legs, against Liverpool, which they eventually lost seven to six.

But Real’s domination in the competition is indisputable. Los Blancos beat Jurgen Klopp’s Reds in the final to make it three tournament wins on a run, the fourth triumph in five years, and 13 in total, six more than anyone else.

Di Francesco’s team arrives in Madrid without a win in four, in all competitions, and sits in mid-table in Serie A with five points from four games, the only win being an opening day 1-0 away to Torino.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid won their first three league games, but the draw in Bilbao has left them trailing Barcelona already, as Lopetegui tries to bring the domestic crown back to Madrid.

The head-to-head Real Madrid vs Roma results stand at five each with no draws, so Los Blancos have a good chance to nudge ahead this week. The Spaniards were adrift of Roma but have won the last three meetings, putting their opponents out of the 2016 Champions League and then winning 2-1 this summer in the ICC Cup, thanks to goals from Marco Asensio and Gareth Bale.

Betting Tip

AS Roma Asian Handicap +1.50 @ 1.93

The Real Madrid vs Roma odds tell a worrying story for the Italian visitors, with a home win as low as 1.35, Roma is at 7.60 to spring a surprise and the draw is at 5.20.

But I think Roma will provide another tough test for Lopetegui’s men. The hosts’ three La Liga wins have come against modest opposition Leganes, Getafe and Girona, while Roma’s only league defeat has been against potential title contenders, Milan.

Real Madrid to be ahead at the break is available at 1.82, while a draw is at 2.63 and that could well be on if Roma quietens the Bernabeu crowd in the opening minutes.

And 2-1 is the most likely scoreline, but it is still quite long at 7.80.

Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.

Do you want to be informed about bookmakers' latest promotions? Click  and subscribe!