Roma paid the price for some shocking misses, losing 2-0 away to Real Madrid to end their Champions League dreams.
See how it all unfolded and give your views on our Liveblog.
The statistics will read 4-0 on aggregate, but the performances over both legs certainly did not reflect that.
Roma paid the price for some shocking misses, losing 2-0 away to Real Madrid to end their Champions League dreams.
See how it all unfolded and give your views on our Liveblog.
The statistics will read 4-0 on aggregate, but the performances over both legs certainly did not reflect that.
The Merengues won the first leg 2-0, even if Alessandro Florenzi was denied a clear penalty, but Karim Benzema was out injured, while Pepe and Gareth Bale returned. The Giallorossi missed Daniele De Rossi, Radja Nainggolan and Antonio Rudiger, so switched to a 4-2-3-1 formation.
It was an aggressive line-up and an attacking start from Roma, as Edin Dzeko and Stephan El Shaarawy just failed to get on the end of an Alessandro Florenzi cross.
Dzeko really should’ve opened the scoring after 14 minutes when Mohamed Salah’s pass was let through by an El Shaarawy dummy to find him unmarked, but the Bosnian fired wide with only the ‘keeper to beat.
Luka Modric’s deflected screamer stung Wojciech Szczesny’s palms, but Roma had a second fantastic chance with Salah on the counter only to hit the side-netting with his weaker foot.
Bale blasted over and Ronaldo’s angled drive was beaten away by Szczesny, then the goalkeeper smothered at CR7’s feet. Keylor Navas blocked as Salah didn’t quite catch his shot properly on a Miralem Pjanic assist.
William Vainqueur came on after the restart, as Pjanic suffered a knock to the ankle and could not continue. Szczesny needed a one-handed save on James Rodriguez after panicked defending on Marcelo, but on the counter Salah unmarked side-footed wide from 12 yards in another shocking miss.
Szczesny beat away a Ronaldo long-range snapshot and Keylor Navas needed a great save after Alessandro Florenzi skipped past his marker. On the resulting corner, Navas was again alert to parry from Kostas Manolas’ fierce left-foot half-volley at the near post.
After so many wasted chances, somewhat inevitably Real Madrid broke the deadlock. Substitute Lucas Vazquez flashed in a cross from the right and Ronaldo got in front of Manolas to fire into the roof of the net from six yards. The three-way collision also left Szczesny with a nasty bruise and cut under his eye.
Moments later, Real Madrid got their second, as James Rodriguez nutmegged Szczesny at the near post with a low drive. The belief had already visibly drained from Spalletti’s side.
It should’ve been three on the counter from a Roma corner, but Ronaldo remarkably turned wide with only Szczesny to beat.
Francesco Totti was given one final swansong at the Bernabeu and received a warm round of applause from the fans. Manolas intercepted a dangerous cross with Ronaldo waiting to tap in.
Roma’s night was summed up in the 88th minute when Diego Perotti’s strike hit the inside of the upright and bounced off Keylor Navas.
Real Madrid 2-0 Roma (4-0 agg)
Scorers: Ronaldo 64 (RM), James Rodriguez 68 (RM)
Real Madrid: Keylor Navas; Danilo, Pepe, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo; Modric (Jese 75), Casemiro (Kovacic 83), Kroos; James Rodriguez, Bale (Lucas Vazquez 61), Cristiano Ronaldo
Roma: Szczesny; Florenzi, Manolas, Zukanovic, Digne; Keita (Maicon 86), Pjanic (Vainqueur 46); Salah, Perotti, El Shaarawy (Totti 74); Dzeko
Ref: Marciniak (POL)