Roma vs. Real Madrid: Team News, Predicted Lineups, Live Stream, TV Info
It starts here. Fresh. For both of them.
For Real Madrid and AS Roma, the return of the Champions League brings with it a new beginning. On Wednesday, the two teams meet at the Stadio Olimpico in the Italian capital for the first leg of their round-of-16 tie, both of them led by new managers and carrying new looks, the difficulties of late 2015 suddenly a distant memory.
At Madrid, Zinedine Zidane has overseen a dramatic shift in mood. Having replaced Rafa Benitez on January 4, the Frenchman has galvanised a club and a squad that had been gripped by institutional tension. With just one change, Madrid look joyous and vibrant, harmonious and unshackled.
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Zidane's aura or gravitas has had the desired effect. In six games under the club icon, Madrid have won five and drawn one. In that time, the team's aggregate score is 23-5, their bulldozing work regular, the sensations backed up by the numbers.
This is now a different Madrid. A new and better one. A Madrid starting afresh and with Europe as their primary focus.
The thing is, though, Roma are something similar.
When the Italians drew the heavyweights from the Spanish capital, this tie immediately looked like a lost cause.
Under Rudi Garcia, the final months of 2015 were painful for the Giallorossi. In a 10-game stretch at the end of the Frenchman’s tenure, Roma won once; in a five-game run in November and December, they scored once.
Sluggish, disjointed and prosaic, Roma were in a spiral, and after consecutive losses to Barcelona and Atalanta, fans blockaded the club's training ground with crates of carrots and a banner that read "Eat up, rabbits."
But like Madrid, Roma have changed and moved on.
Now under Luciano Spalletti, who's back at the club for a second time after leading it to its most successful period of the last decade between 2005 and 2009, Roma have taken on a new existence.
Utilising a new system—Garcia's 4-3-3 has been replaced by both a 4-2-3-1 and 3-4-2-1 thus far—the Italians have looked different; faster, happier, innovative and more dynamic. After one draw and one loss (to a strong Juventus) to begin Spalletti's reign, Roma have won four straight—their best run of the season.
Arriving in the January transfer window, Stephan El Shaarawy and Diego Perotti have made an immense difference in attack. Now, Roma are mobile and pacey, their threat varied and a little more unpredictable.
This team isn't formidable, but it is capable of causing Madrid problems even if the odds are stacked in the visitors' favour.
"We need a miracle," Roma midfielder Radja Nainggolan told Jose Felix Diaz of Marca. Perhaps they do, but Spalletti is buoyant anyway.
"We're on the right track and my players have the opportunity to make another leap forward," the manager said on Tuesday, per the club's official website. "I wouldn't be surprised if Roma win in the last minute of the second leg to qualify for the next round. I wouldn't be surprised if we're still in the competition at the end of this tie."
Match Details
Date: Wednesday, February 17
Time: 7:45 p.m. GMT/2:45 p.m. ET/8:45 p.m. local
Venue: Stadio Olimpico, Rome
TV Info: BT Sport (UK), Fox Sports (U.S.)
Live Stream: BT Sport Online Player (UK), Fox Soccer 2GO (U.S.)
Form Lines
| W: 3-1 vs. Carpi | W: 4-2 vs. Athletic Bilbao |
| W: 2-1 vs. Sampdoria | W: 2-1 vs. Granada |
| W: 2-0 vs. Sassuolo | W: 6-0 vs. Espanyol |
| W: 3-1 vs. Frosinone | D: 1-1 vs. Real Betis |
| L: 0-1 vs. Juventus | W: 5-1 vs. Sporting Gijon |
| D: 1-1 vs. Verona | W: 5-0 vs. Deportivo La Coruna |
Team News
For Real Madrid, the major news is that Marcelo has been included in the club's 20-man squad despite having dislocated his shoulder in Madrid's 2-1 victory over Granada on February 7.
Consequently, the Brazilian could return to his left-back position and would replace Danilo in the back four if he were to do so. Also in defence, Raphael Varane is available despite being red-carded on the weekend against Athletic Club Bilbao, given that Wednesday's meeting with Roma comes in a different competition.
In midfield, Isco could return to the lineup in place of Mateo Kovacic after the Spaniard started on the bench against Athletic, while a front three of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and James Rodriguez will continue. Gareth Bale remains out.
For Roma, Daniele De Rossi is expected to be fit after sitting out their team's 3-1 victory over Carpi on Friday. If Spalletti opts for a conventional back four, the Italy international could partner Miralem Pjanic in midfield, but if the Roma boss opts for a back three, the 32-year-old could be the central man between Kostas Manolas and Antonio Rudiger or Ervin Zukanovic.
In attack, El Shaarawy will start on the left, Perotti will float across the front line from a central starting position and Salah should occupy the right flank.
Up front, Edin Dzeko could start despite a poor record this season to give Roma an outlet and a set-piece threat.
Predicted Lineups
In the Spotlight
Ronaldo, Benzema, Rodriguez and Isco: The depth of invading talent set to light up the Stadio Olimpico is immense.
And yet Wednesday's clash could easily be shaped by elsewhere, away from that bunch.
In midfield, Luka Modric has been sublime for Madrid since Zidane was appointed. Packing together vision, ingenuity, savvy and a brilliant range of passing, the 30-year-old is Madrid's architect. But in a top-heavy system, the Croatian can also be isolated and exposed in brief moments when Madrid get it wrong.
Roma must seize those moments, and Pjanic might just be the man capable of doing so.
We broke down Pjanic's vital positional battle with Modric here.
Odds (via Odds Shark)
Roma: 7-2
Draw: 29-10
Real Madrid: 5-6
