Roma and Real Madrid fighting for Group G top spot

Marco Iacobucci / EPP Shutterstock.com

Roma and Real Madrid meet on Tuesday night in the Champions League with the winner taking control of Group G. Real Madrid defeated Roma in their previous meeting at the Santiago Bernabeu on matchday 1. Los Blancos have since suffered a shock Champions League loss to CSKA Moscow and sacked manager Julen Lopetegui.

Both clubs are guaranteed a place in the Europa League knockout round, but of course, neither wants to miss out on the next stage of the Champions League. The winner of their matchday 5 encounter will qualify for the knockout stage with one match to go.

Neither side is in good form going into the game and both suffered losses at the weekend. Roma fell 1-0 away to Udinese. Despite outshooting their opponents 26-9, Roma were unable to find he back of the net. Real Madrid endured one of the most embarrassing losses in their history on Saturday. The reigning Champions League winners lost 3-0 to La Liga minnows Eibar. The sale of Cristiano Ronaldo cannot be understated in the team’s continued poor form this term.

Roma were up against a very defensive Udinese. The Giallorossi played couldn’t break down their opponent’s five-man defence, which nullified everything they attempted to do. Winger Diego Perotti has been missing due to injury. His lose has been felt by Eusebio di Francesco’s team as Roma lack a winger willing to – or brave enough – to run at opposing full-backs.

Real Madrid will not sit back at the Stadio Olimpico. Nor will Santiago Solari’s Los Blancos attempt to soak up pressure and counterattack like Udinese did. Real Madrid dominated their last meeting with Roma in the Champions League with a 3-0 win. They had little difficulty defeating Roma and had the game wrapped up, 2-0, by the hour-mark. Real Madrid go into the match as the sportsbooks’ favourite despite facing injuries in defence. Nacho Fernandez is out until 2019, Casemiro isn’t fit from an ankle injury, Sergio Reguilon won’t return until December, and it is unknown when back-up goalkeeper Keylor Navas will be ready to play.

All areas of Real Madrid’s team are in crisis. The attack was non-existent against Eibar. Los Blancos’ midfield lacks creativity and with an injured Casemiro, there is no one to break up play. Sergio Ramos has been overall poor this term and hasn’t played well with fellow centre-back Raphael Varane. Yes, Real Madrid are vulnerable at the moment and star players who have been counted on for several Champions League campaigns look tired from their World Cup adventures.

Yet, despite their flaws, Real Madrid will eke out a win in Rome. Expect goals as Madrid have trouble defending. Roma were unable to stop Madrid last time around and Solari will go at the Italians in a similar way. Neither side is in-form and goals should fly in on Tuesday night.