Real Madrid vs Roma - UEFA Champions League
Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain
Tuesday, 08 March 2016 - 19:45 GMT
Real Madrid team enter this match after a 7-1 destruction of Celta Vigo at
the weekend, a game in which Cristiano Ronaldo netted four times. The
Blancos remain a massive 12 points behind Barcelona and four behind
local rivals Atletico, having lost in the Santiago Bernabeu to both
sides. At this stage of the competition, last year the Galacticos
returned from Gelsenkirchen with a 2-0 win over Schalke 04 and then lost
the second leg 4-3 at the Bernabeu, coming very close to a humiliating
elimination. Anyway, it was their only UCL defeat at the
Bernabeu in the last five years. Furtheremore, this year they have kept
three clean sheets in three home games in the group stage.
Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, Marcelo and Gareth Bale should all return in the starting XI while Karim Benzema remains sidelined with a hamstring injury. James Rodriguez and Mateo Kovacic are competing for a place in the side, though the former could get the nod. Should Zidane decides to rest a some of the recovered players, Casemiro and Jese could both start.
Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, Marcelo and Gareth Bale should all return in the starting XI while Karim Benzema remains sidelined with a hamstring injury. James Rodriguez and Mateo Kovacic are competing for a place in the side, though the former could get the nod. Should Zidane decides to rest a some of the recovered players, Casemiro and Jese could both start.
AS Roma also enjoyed high-scoring domestic victory at the weekend as they
beat Fiorentina 4-1 with an impressive performance. They will be full of
confidence as they have recorded straight Serie A wins under new
manager Luciano Spalletti. The Giallorossi were thumped 6-1 by Barcelona
back in November during Rudi Garcia's reign. They won just one of six
group matches. suffered a 3-2 fedeat at BATE and drew 4-4 at Leverkusen.
The domestic winning streak has been fueled by Mohamed Salah, El Shaarawy and Diego Perotti, and the trio is expected to start up front. Edin Dzeko will be benched once again. Seydou Keita could start alongside Radja Nainggolan and Miralem Pjanic in the middle of the park. No chances to see Kevin Strootman and Francesco Totti playing at some stage. Defender Antonio Rudiger is doubtful while De Rossi, Ezequiel Ponce and Norbert Gyomber all miss the trip due to injury.
The domestic winning streak has been fueled by Mohamed Salah, El Shaarawy and Diego Perotti, and the trio is expected to start up front. Edin Dzeko will be benched once again. Seydou Keita could start alongside Radja Nainggolan and Miralem Pjanic in the middle of the park. No chances to see Kevin Strootman and Francesco Totti playing at some stage. Defender Antonio Rudiger is doubtful while De Rossi, Ezequiel Ponce and Norbert Gyomber all miss the trip due to injury.
Probable lineups:
Real Madrid: Navas – Carvajal, Ramos, Varane, Marcelo – Kovacic, Casemiro, Isco – Bale, Ronaldo, Jese.
AS Roma: Szczesny – Florenzi, Rudiger, Manolas, Digne – Pjanic, Keita, Nainggolan – Salah, Perotti, El Shaarawy.
