Zidane urges Real Madrid to look out for Roma
Monday, March 7, 2016
Article summary
"It's not true that Roma have no chance," said Real Madrid coach Zinédine Zidane, who is urging his side not to get complacent despite holding a 2-0 lead from the first leg.
Article top media content
Article body
- Zinédine Zidane says Gareth Bale and Marcelo will play
- Madrid lead 2-0 after first leg in Rome, when Cristiano Ronaldo was on scoresheet
- Spanish side aiming to reach quarter-finals for sixth season in a row
- Ronaldo became Spanish Liga's second-highest scorer of all time on Saturday
- Roma have won last seven Serie A matches
Possible lineups
Real Madrid: Navas; Carvajal, Ramos, Pepe, Marcelo; Kroos, Casemiro, Modrić; James, Ronaldo, Bale.
Out: Benzema (hamstring)
Doubtful: none
Misses next match if booked: Casemiro, Sergio Ramos
Roma: Szczęsny; Florenzi, Manolas, Zukanovic, Digne; Keita, Pjanić; Salah, Perotti, El Shaarawy; Džeko.
Out: De Rossi (calf), Rüdiger (thigh)
Doubtful: Nainggolan (groin)
Misses next match if booked: De Rossi, Nainggolan
Zinédine Zidane, Real Madrid coach
Of course we are excited about the possibility of winning this competition but we should only be thinking about this difficult match ahead. Roma are a good team but I'm more worried about what we are going to do. Their forwards are very good. If you don't do your job properly, you can be eliminated.
For me the most important match is always the next one. As a coach, you want to be involved in games like this. You can't explain with words what you feel. We have to defend when we don't have the ball and try to hurt our opponents when we do have it. It's not true that Roma have no chance.
Luciano Spalletti, Roma coach
I'm asking my team to do the impossible. The way they are training allows me to ask that. We have to score early then we'll see what happens; it could change the balance of the tie. We mustn't be weak mentally and play to lose. If anyone thinks like that with me, they won't even train.
We must be able to choose when to attack or hold off. We must be confident when taking the initiative. The result in the first leg was harsh seeing how we performed. We were unlucky. We've been improving game by game and this team has enormous potential.
Weekend results
Real Madrid 7-1 Celta Vigo (Pepe 41, Ronaldo 50 58 64 76, Jesé 77, Bale 81; Aspas 62)
Zidane's side stayed within four points of second-placed Atlético Madrid. Back from a calf injury, substitute Gareth Bale netted on his first outing since 17 January.
Roma 4-1 Fiorentina (El Shaarawy 22, Salah 25 58, Perotti 38; Iličić 45+3pen)
Stephan El Shaarawy struck for the fifth time since joining Roma on loan from Milan in January.
Form guide (all competitions, most recent first)
Real Madrid: WWLDWW
Roma: WWWLWW
Reporter's view: Joseph Walker (@UEFAcomJosephW)
Luciano Spalletti's side are a dangerous team and will take encouragement from a run of positive results, but the return of key man Gareth Bale for Madrid should be enough to help Zinédine Zidane's charges see off their visitors and advance to the last eight.
Did you know?
Madrid have lost their last eight two-legged ties against Serie A teams. Find out more in our match background.
