AS Roma vs Real Madrid
Competition: UEFA Champions League
Date: 17 February 2016 - Time: 19:45 GMT
Date: 17 February 2016 - Time: 19:45 GMT
Venue: Stadio Olimpico, Roma
AS Roma team enter the match on the back of 4 consecutive wins in Serie A and
now sit fourth in the Italian top flight. They beat 3-1 Carpi away last
Friday and have lost just one of the 16 competitive fixtures they have
played at home this term. Anyway, the Giallorossi were extremely
fortunate to qualify to the knockout stage of the UCL. They
won just one of their six Group E games and had a worse goal difference
than Bayer Leverkusen, but the head-to-head fell in their favour thanks
to a 3-2 win on home soil. Their poor defensive record saw them concede
16 times in 6 matches - a record for a team reaching the knockout
stages.
Luciano Spalletti is set to have veterans Totti and De Rossi available for the match but only the midfield has chances to start the match. Egyptian winger Mohamed Salah is doubtful while Kevin Strootman has returned to training, but remains sidelined with his long-term injury. Should Salah be passed fit, he could either start on the right or up front at the expense of Edin Dzeko.
Luciano Spalletti is set to have veterans Totti and De Rossi available for the match but only the midfield has chances to start the match. Egyptian winger Mohamed Salah is doubtful while Kevin Strootman has returned to training, but remains sidelined with his long-term injury. Should Salah be passed fit, he could either start on the right or up front at the expense of Edin Dzeko.
Real Madrid team have made a solid start under the guidance of Zinedine
Zidane. The Frenchman has led his side to four victories and one draw in
his first five La Liga games in charge. Under Rafa Benitez, Los Blancos
collected 16 points from a possible 18 as only PSG managed
to take something off them when the two clubs drew at the Parc des
Princes. Anyway, they have conceded in seven of their last nine matches
in all competitions and on the road they have only kept one clean sheet
in their last eight fixtures. In La Liga, they have a four-point deficit
to in-form league leaders Barcelona, who have a game in hand.
The Galacticos travel to Italy without Gareth Bale, Marcelo and Pepe, who are both out through injury. Danilo is expected to start as right back while Isco has been tipped to return to the midfield three, with Rodriguez likely to continue on the right of Benzema in a 4-3-3 formation. Cristiano Ronaldo, the Champions League leading scorer this season with 11 goals, will complete the attack for the visitors.
Roma were turned over 6-1 by Real's rivals Barcelona earlier in this competition. Real Madrid, meanwhile, have failed to win any of their last eight away games against Italian teams, drawing four and losing four of those.
The Galacticos travel to Italy without Gareth Bale, Marcelo and Pepe, who are both out through injury. Danilo is expected to start as right back while Isco has been tipped to return to the midfield three, with Rodriguez likely to continue on the right of Benzema in a 4-3-3 formation. Cristiano Ronaldo, the Champions League leading scorer this season with 11 goals, will complete the attack for the visitors.
Roma were turned over 6-1 by Real's rivals Barcelona earlier in this competition. Real Madrid, meanwhile, have failed to win any of their last eight away games against Italian teams, drawing four and losing four of those.
Probable lineups:
Real Madrid: Navas – Danilo, Varane, Ramos, Carvajal – Kroos, Modric – Rodriguez, Isco, Ronaldo – Karim Benzema.
Roma: Szczesny – Rudiger, Manolas, Zukanovic – Florenzi, Pjanic, Nainggolan, Digne – Salah, Dzeko, Perotti.
Roma last 5 matches:
24/01/16 Juventus 1 – 0 AS Roma30/01/16 Roma 3 – 1 Frosinone
02/02/16 Sassuolo 0 – 2 Roma
07/02/16 Roma 2 – 1 Sampdoria
12/02/16 Carpi 1 – 3 AS Roma
Real Madrid last 5 matches:
17/01/16 Real Madrid 5 – 1 Sporting Gijón
24/01/16 Betis 1 – 1 Real Madrid
31/01/16 Real Madrid 6 – 0 Espanyol
07/02/16 Granada 1 – 2 Real Madrid
13/02/16 Real Madrid 4 – 2 Athletic Club
24/01/16 Betis 1 – 1 Real Madrid
31/01/16 Real Madrid 6 – 0 Espanyol
07/02/16 Granada 1 – 2 Real Madrid
13/02/16 Real Madrid 4 – 2 Athletic Club
