Zinedine Zidane Arrival Has Changed Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid Better for It

STADIO OLIMPICO, Rome — The ball was sitting in the back of Wojciech Szczesny's net and a look of delight was spread across the face of Cristiano Ronaldo.

Typically, in such circumstances, Ronaldo would head toward the corner flag tapping his chest, before launching into his jump-spin-flex routine. 

But not here. 

Here, the Portuguese broke from habit and turned toward the sideline, making a beeline for only one man. Stood in his suit, Zinedine Zidane was there waiting for him, the Frenchman a picture of identical delight.

Zidane knew. 

Ronaldo knew. 

This was big, and the pair's embrace and the image of it said much. 

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Until this point, this had been a difficult night for Real Madrid.

Inside a packed Stadio Olimpico—the only empty seats were those next to a small slither of travelling Madrid fans—Roma had been pesky and opportunistic, a palpable sense of "could they?" hanging in the stands. 

Out on the right, Mohamed Salah was giving headaches to Marcelo and Sergio Ramos. On the other flank, Stephan El Shaarawy grew into the contest. Up front, a false nine in Diego Perotti meant Madrid didn't have a typical forward to mark. 

Roma had something about them; Raphael Varane had to be excellent; Keylor Navas was called into action. 

Now under Luciano Spalletti, this is a different Giallorossi outfit to the one that was embarrassed by Barcelona in November under Rudi Garcia.

Spalletti, a renowned innovator, has changed them. Roma are now mobile and pacey, threatening and unpredictable. A lack of stardust is evident, but they're capable of tussling with those stronger than them. 

Just as Madrid discovered. 

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Two of the themes of Real's season have been an indifference away from home and an inability to channel into a very-Madrid quality: The something-from-nothing capacity. The knockout blow from nowhere. Unlike their rivals from Catalonia, Madrid historically don't land thousands of relentless jabs; instead, they hit you with sporadic haymakers. 

But this season, that's been a little absent. 

To date in 2015-16, Los Blancos have been frustrated by Sporting Gijon, Malaga and Real Betis in scrappy draws. Granada have pushed them twice. Villarreal have stifled them.

For Madrid, particularly away from the Bernabeu, finding something when below their best has been problematic, the knockout blows in close encounters escaping them. 

On Wednesday, though, that changed. 

In the opening exchanges of the second half, Roma had been bright. Navas had denied El Shaarawy. Salah had continued being a pest. Miralem Pjanic was growing in influence. And then it happened. 

Latching onto Marcelo's ball, Ronaldo got in behind Alessandro Florenzi down the left flank. With one neat, backheeled touch, the Portuguese shifted it from his left side to his right. With his next, he blasted it into the top-right corner. 

A deflection off the boot of Florenzi had undoubtedly helped, but the speed with which space had been created was notable; one touch had created a crucial chance.  

From nothing, Madrid had found a killer blow. 

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Witnessing such moments in colossal arenas can be pulsating, but there's something compelling about them when they occur in enemy territory.  

Here, inside an iconic structure of throbbing steel and glass packed with locals, Ronaldo's strike brought an eerie silence. Sighs followed. Then exasperation. Then the quiet recognition that, despite the pain, brilliance had just been witnessed. 

Ronaldo had struck. 

For the Portuguese, this was a symbolic moment. Since Zidane replaced Rafa Benitez in early January, there's a notable emotional shift in Ronaldo. Suddenly, he looks happier. Free. Relaxed. Under Benitez, though he'd remained largely effective, a sense of disconnect or disengagement had been palpable. 

Now, though, Ronaldo looks back to himself. Against Athletic Club Bilbao on Saturday, the 31-year-old had shown glimpses of peak-Ronaldo. Here in Rome, he did so again—away from home, in a marquee clash, in characteristic knockout fashion, when Madrid needed it. 

Zidane's arrival has changed Ronaldo.

The picture of the pair's embrace said everything, and Madrid are better for it.

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