Champions' League Group G
Real Madrid vs. Roma
Thursday, September 19th 2018
04:00 am (GMT+8 Timing)
Stadium: Santiago Bernabéu Stadium
Real Madrid:
Last five matches form: L W W W D
17/18 Average goals per match: 2.47
17/18 Average goals against per match: 1.16
17/18 Top Scorer: Gareth Bale (16)
Roma:
Last five matches form: W D L L D
17/18 Average goals per match: 1.61
17/18 Average goals against per match: 0.74
17/18 Top Scorer: Edin Džeko (16)
Another good one in the opening round of Champions League fixtures as Roma travel to the Bernabéu to take on Julen Lopetegui's Real Madrid.
This will be the 14th meeting between the sides with Real just edging the previous 13 with seven wins to Roma's five. The most recent clash came in August of this year, with Real winning that International Champions Cup matchup 2-1.
Real have adjusted relatively well to life without CR7 and under their new coach; winning three and drawing one so far in La Liga. It was often on the European stage that Cristiano Ronaldo shone brightest of all though, will he be missed here?
Roma really excelled themselves in this competition last season when counting the mighty Barcelona amongst their victims. They haven't exactly lit up Serie A just yet though, winning just one of their four games to date.
Real Madrid look a solid outfit now playing under the Lopetegui system and we fancy will prove very tough for Roma to break down. It's much harder to be confident about the Italian side keeping things tight at the other end though, with the Wolves having shipped seven goals in their past three games.
Overall we expect the defending champions to make a solid start with a routine home win.
Prediction: Real Madrid 3 - 1 Roma