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

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

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

Comments

Top 26 leading goal scorers in First Division English football : 22- 17

The next set of players in the list contains two of whom have played in the Premier League. Here is the next set of players. 21. Wayne Rooney - 208 goals White Pele Arguably the most recognisable names on this list, Wayne Rooney burst onto the scene as a 16-year-old. The Merseyside born lad made his league debut in 2002 for boyhood club Everton and scored an impressive 15 goals in two seasons before completing, then world-record fee for a teenager, a move to Manchester United. At the Theatre of Dreams, Rooney formed an impressive partnership with a certain Cristiano Ronaldo as the Red Devils dominated the late 2000s. Rooney took on the goalscoring responsibilities once his Portuguese counterpart left for Real Madrid in 2009. The forward went onto spent eight more seasons at the Theatre of Dreams as he became the Red Devils all-time leading scorer. Wayne Rooney ended his stay Manchester in 2017 to return back to his boyhood club Everton after winning five Premier Lea

Top 15 Leading goalscorers in the Seria A: 6-11

The next set of five players contains many familiar names with four of them playing in this Millenium. 11. Alberto Gilardino - 188 goals One of the youngest members in Italy's 2006 World Cup-winning squad An Italian journeyman striker, Alberto Gilardino started his career Piacenza in 2000 after coming through its youth academy. The striker made his debut in 2000 and spent a season with the club before moving to North Eastern Italy to join Hellas Verona. At Verona, Gilardino enhanced his reputation as one of the best young talents in the country. The striker played two seasons for the Gialloblu before moving to Parma. It did not take long for Gilardino to get back on the road as a move after an offer AC Milan saw the striker moving to the Rossoneri in 2002. It was during his time at Milan, that the striker enjoyed his trophy-laden stretch in his career. Gilardino won the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and the Club World Cup with Milan as well as the World Cup

Valencia and Italian forward joins Torino on loan

Valencia and Italy striker Simeone Zaza has joined Seria A side Torino on loan from Valencia after 2 seasons with the La Liga side. Source: Forever West Ham The 31-year old former Juventus and West Ham player made 59 appearances and scored 19 goals for the Los Che.

Seria A giants announce deadline day signing of Uruguayan World Cup star

Seria A giants AC Milan has announced the capture of Uruguayan World Cup star Diego Laxalt with Gianluca Lapadula making his loan move to Genoa permanent. Source: Internation House Uruguay The Uruguayan and former Inter Milan defender Diego Laxalt joins 7-time Champions League winners, in a reportedly 18million euro deal, after 3 seasons including a season on loan with Genoa that saw the wing-back making 117 appearances and scoring 8 goals for the Seria A side. Italian forward Gianluca Lapadula has made his move to Genoa from Milan, after pending last season on loan at Genoa, after making 29 appearances and 8 goals for Seria A giants.

Valencia signs France striker

2-time champions league finalists Valencia has confirmed the transfer of French international striker Kevin Gameiro from Atletico Madrid on a 20 million euro deal. Source: Marca The French striker joins the Los Che on a deal that keeps him till 2021. The French end a rather 2-year disappointing stay with the Los Colchoneros. The striker who joined La Liga giants Atletico Madrid from Sevilla made 87 appearances and scored 27 times for the club from the Spanish capital.

FOOTY BLAZE

Search This Blog