Champions league: Roma vs. Real Madrid

The Champions League makes a welcome return this week and there are some mouth-watering games on offer. Roma play hosts to Real Madrid in a first leg tie that is completely up in the air. Real Madrid are showing signs of weakness when they play away from their Bernabeu stadium and lost by two goals to one at struggling Betis at the weekend. Bernd Schuster’s men only have themselves to blame, though. Drenthe scored the opener after just seven minutes and Madrid’s dominance was total for the first thirty minutes but them seemed to fall sleep, allowing Betis to turn the game around with two goals in four minutes. Madrid still have a five point lead at the top of La Liga, but maybe this is leading them into a false sense of security. They are treating away games with a blatant lack of compromise as they are under the (false) impression that they can resolve everything at home. This may be the case here against Roma as well. Madrid won’t be too upset if they were to lose this match, as long as they get on the score sheet.

Roma meanwhile are doing very well in the Serie A and are in second place, with a huge eleven point gap between leaders Inter. They have only lost three league games all season, but two of those have come in February, including a one nil away defeat at the hands of Juventus at the weekend. More importantly though is the fact that Roma haven’t conceded a goal at their Olímpico stadium since the one – one draw against Manchester United at the beginning of December.

Madrid will be without some key players in this first leg. Central defender Pepe is still side lined with a calf strain, and Robinho, Wesley Sneijder and Marcelo will also be absent. Roma on the other hand have an almost fully fit squad for coach Luciano Spalletti to choose from, with only Juan and Mirko Vučinić on the sidelines, although the latter may be fit enough for this clash.

Real Madrid have never lost in Italy against Roma, but curiously have only won one Champions League away game in nine attempts. I’m going for a narrow one – nil home victory here and I can see Madrid going through to the next round with a good win in the Bernabeu stadium.

Prediction: Home win (1-0)