Madrid weather Roma storm to reach last eight
Tuesday, March 8, 2016
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Real Madrid 2-0 Roma (agg: 4-0)
The Italian side had plenty of chances to get back into the tie before Madrid struck twice to reach the quarter-finals for the sixth season running.
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- Cristiano Ronaldo takes UEFA Champions League tally to 90 goals
- Roma squander three golden chances inside 50 minutes
- Spanish side through to quarter-finals for sixth season in a row
- Madrid end run of eight defeats in two-legged ties by Serie A teams
- Quarter-final draw at 12.00CET on 18 March in Nyon
Cristiano Ronaldo and James Rodríguez struck midway through the second half to complete a resounding 4-0 aggregate win for Real Madrid in the round of 16 – but the scoreline did not tell the whole story.
Roma had plenty of chances to get back into the tie but failed to capitalise and the game was up when Ronaldo became the first player to score 90 UEFA Champions League goals. Four minutes later he turned provider, teeing up James as Madrid rubber-stamped their quarter-final place.
Roma boss Luciano Spalletti said on the eve of the match that he was asking his players "to do the impossible" in overturning a 2-0 deficit at the Bernabéu, but it certainly looked viable early on. The visitors attacked with vigour; Madrid, to the occasional burst of whistles from their own fans, were rocking.
The tie could – maybe should – have been level inside half an hour. Mohamed Salah led the charge, seemingly playing in fast-forward as defenders trailed in his wake. One run led to a golden opportunity for Edin Džeko, squandered; later the Egyptian attempted to round off his own good work but fared no better.
Early in the second period it opened up for Salah again and this time Keylor Navas was not even tested – Roma could not afford to pass up such chances. After better efforts from Alessandro Florenzi and Kostas Manolas they were made to pay as Lucas Vázquez, just on as a substitute, worked space for a cross that found Ronaldo and, decisively, the net.
Key player: Cristiano Ronaldo
On his 57th knockout appearance – itself a competition record – Ronaldo was determined to get on the scoresheet. He had to bide his time with his team under the cosh before earning breathing space with his 13th strike of this UEFA Champions League campaign, and his 41st post-group stage goal. For good measure, he then supplied an assist for James.
Profligacy costs Roma
The Merengues' decision to play a high defensive line against the pace of Salah and Stephan El Shaarawy was risky. The visitors got in behind the Madrid back four a number of times, only to be let down by a lack of composure. On another night Roma could have gone through.
Navas is unbeatable
Madrid keeper Navas is yet to concede a goal in eight UEFA Champions League outings – only Jens Lehmann has gone longer without being beaten in the competition. After two shut-outs last season, the Costa Rican has managed six in six this term and produced a couple of smart saves to deny the Italian side a way back into the tie.