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UEFA Champions League 2018/19: Real Madrid v AS Roma - Match Preview

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Real Madrid starts the defense of their Champions League title, a trophy they've won a record 13 times, with a home match against AS Roma. Los Blancos can be perceived to be weaker than the all-conquering team that ruled Europe for the past three years.


Shortly after winning their third Champions League title on the trot iconic manager Zinedine Zidane stepped down and the undisputed king of the UCL Cristiano Ronaldo joining Juventus over the summer. A chink in their armor of supremacy in Europe is surely present as can be read from the fact that they lost the UEFA Supercup crown to fierce rivals.
Putting that debut loss behind them Julen Lopetegui's white army has started off positively in La Liga winning 3, drawing 1 and gathering 10 points in the progress. Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema have struck top form early on this season and will be looking to extend their exploits into the Champions League tonight.
Roma had one of their best ever run in the Champions League last time around reaching the semi-finals overcoming strong favorites Barcelona in the quarterfinals. Their dramatic comeback at home overturning a 4-1 deficit against Barcelona was one of the fairytale stories of last season.


All that seems a distant time ago as they have had an abysmal start to their Serie A campaign winning only one of their opening four matches. 

Real Madrid v AS Roma: Prediction 
Both teams have a history of playing out high scoring matches. It looks to be a mouthwatering tie at the Santiago Bernabéu. But you have to a fool to bet against Real Madrid in a Champions League tie. My prediction is that Madrid are going to do what they do best, run havoc in the Champions League.
Real Madrid 4-1 AS Roma (Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema to get a brace apiece)

Real Madrid v AS Roma: Team News
Both teams do not have any major injury worries ahead of their Champions League opener. Real Madrid is still without Jesus Vallejo. Roma will be without Javier Pastore, who picked up an injury over the weekend. And they are without Ante Coric. No suspensions for this match for either side.
But it is interesting to note the Julen Lopetegui has fielded a different XI In all his 5 matches as Real Madrid manager. So it will be a question of who will be given a nod and who will be shown the bench. For Roma, the starting XI looks to be pretty straightforward.
Real Madrid v AS Roma: Predicted XI
Real Madrid: Courtois, Marcelo, Ramos, Varane, Carvajal; Modric, Casemiro, Kroos; Asensio, Benzema, Bale
Roma: Olsen; Florenzi, Manolas, Juan Jesus, Kolarov; Pellegrini, N'Zonzi, Cristante; Under, Dzeko, El Shaarawy

Real Madrid v AS Roma: Match Details
Date : 20/09/18
Time : 12.30 a.m (IST)
Venue : Santiago Bernabéu


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