Real Madrid vs Roma Prediction and Preview – 08/03/16
Champions League preview – Real Madrid vs Roma prediction.
Gareth Bale came off the bench to score for Real Madrid on Saturday and is set to make his first start since injuring his calf muscle against Gijon on 17 January. Luca Modric sat out the 7-1 victory at the weekend after bruising his foot. The Croatian midfielder’s absence was precautionary and he is expected to be given the all clear to face Roma on Tuesday. Toni Kroos is a doubt after being sent home with flu last week and Alvaro Arbeloa is racing against time to prove his fitness. Striker Karim Benzema has already been ruled out with his hamstring problem.
Roma central defender Antonio Rudiger injured his thigh playing against Fiorentina on Friday and will miss the trip to Madrid. Injured Norbert Gyomber is not an option leaving Ervin Zukanovic as favourite to replace the German international with Leandro Castan an alternative. William Vainqueur was given the midfield holding role in the first leg but may have to settle for a place on the bench after Seydou Keita’s promotion to first choice in the absence of Daniele De Rossi.
Possible Line-ups
Real Madrid 4-3-3 formation: Navas; Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo; Modric. Kroos, Isco; Bale, Ronaldo, Rodriguez
Roma 4-3-3 formation: Szczesny; Florenzi, Manolas, Zukanovic, Digne; Pjanic, Keita, Nainggolan; Salah, Perotti, El Shaarawy
Statistics
- Real Madrid have won 7 drawn 2 and lost 1 of their last 10 matches
- Roma have won 7 drawn 1 and lost 2 of their last 10 matches
- Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Real Madrid have scored an average of 3.1 goals and conceded an average of 0.9 goals per game
- Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Roma have scored an average of 2.3 goals and conceded an average of 0.9 goals per game
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 6 of Real Madrid’s previous 10 matches
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 6 of Roma’s previous 10 matches
Prediction
Real Madrid have one foot in the Champions League quarter-finals after winning the first leg 2-0 in Rome a fortnight ago. Zidane’s side has only failed to win one game so far in this season’s competition when playing a 0-0 draw against PSG in the Parc des Princes in October. Madrid stuttered after the win in Rome, picking up one point from the next two league games against Malaga and Atletico but go into Tuesday’s encounter having scored 10 goals while defeating Levante and Celta Vigo in the last two.
Roma have responded well to the disappointment of the first leg defeat. Luciano Spalletti’s side has won all three Serie A games since while putting 12 goals past the opposition. Friday’s 4-1 victory over Fiorentina put them in the driving seat for the third champions league place and sent out a message that their involvement in this season’s competition may not be dead in the water. Roma will also take heart from the fact they have two and drawn one of their last three trips to the Bernabeu.
Roma were unable to cope with Barcelona when travelling to Spain in November and could be in for another reminder of the difference in class between the top teams La Liga and Serie A
Tips
Real Madrid to win at 2/5 with bet365
Over 2.5 goals at 8/15 at Sky Bet
Real Madrid to win 3-1 at 21/2 with BetVictor
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