Champions League: Three talking points from Real Madrid’s win over Roma
By Ryan Wrenn
Two second half goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Jesé secured a vital win for Real Madrid over Roma in the Champions League on Wednesday.
In contrast with Tuesday’s match pitting Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea against each other for the third time in as many seasons, Roma and Real Madrid had not squared off since the group stages of the Champions League in 2008.
The hosts have had an on-and-off century so far, some years qualifying for the Champions League and many others years not. A recent resurgence in quality since being purchased by an American investors group in 2011 though has seen Roma qualify for the Champions League over the last two seasons. The last time they could claim to have qualified for two more seasons of the Champions League was, conveniently enough, also the last season they played against Real.
Odd as it may sound, Real have also faced something of a slump in recent years. Their definition of “slump” when you’re one of the wealthiest and most storied clubs in the history of soccer is, of course, a bit different that of Roma.
They have won La Liga precisely once since 2010 while being forced to watch ascendant rivals Barcelona and Atlético Madrid claim the rest. While Carlo Ancelloti managed to secure the club’s tenth Champions League trophy in 2014, it was somehow not been enough for Real’s insatiable appetite.
Their victory over Roma on Wednesday might ease the pain of watching Barcelona go seven points clear in La Liga earlier in the day, though it’s only half the story. Roma showed real spunk here even if they failed to get the desired result, and Real might need every bit of that two goal lead in the return leg.