Where to watch Real Madrid vs Roma in the UCL on September 19, 2018

К сожалению, единственный доступный язык для этой страницы – английский.

сентября 18, 2018 подготовил(-а) Michelle Bonsu

Темы: TV Schedules, Real Madrid, Roma, UEFA Champions League

The reigning champions begin their title defense with a home clash against aspirational Italian side Roma on Wednesday, September 19th.

Match Preview

No team had ever done it before. That is, until Real Madrid. So far, under Zinedine Zidane, the Spanish powerhouse is the first team in the modern Champions League era to successfully win back-to-back titles. The last team to manage to defend their crown was AC Milan, back when the Rossoneri were among the strongest teams in Europe, and that was before the Champions League was reformatted in 1992. And last season, Real Madrid went one step further and made it a three-peat when they beat Liverpool in the final, thus making them the first team to win three straight Champions League titles.

However, this season, as they aim to make it four on the trot, a lot has changed. For starters, two men that were involved in inspiring that historic run are no longer with the club. Both departures were arguably quite shocking for Madrid's fans, to say the least, with Zidane the first to leave in a hastily announced press conference. He now has been replaced by former Spain national team boss Julen Lopetegui, whose hiring just before the World Cup caused chaos in the Spanish national team camp.

Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo, who has dominated the Champions League thanks to his impressive form in front of goal, now will be plying his trade with Juventus for the first time in nine seasons. This means that the goal-scoring responsibilities now fall on the shoulders of others like Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema, and Marco Asensio, and all eyes will be on them - especially Bale - to see how Real Madrid's attack fares in the continent's top competition for the first time without the Portuguese superstar in their ranks.

Despite the changes, Real Madrid are still naturally viewed as strong contenders in this competition. Domestically, they come into this game having dropped their first points after drawing Athletic Bilbao 1-1, which leaves them with 10 points from their first four games and sees them two points behind current league leaders Barcelona.

As for Roma, the Giallorossi surprised most by making it all the way to the semi-finals. Not many people even expected Eusebio Di Francesco's side to get out of their quartet, which also contained Chelsea and Atletico Madrid, but they did. Even more impressive was their performance against Barcelona in the quarter-finals, which saw them overturn a 4-1 first-leg quarter-final loss at Camp Nou to seal their first ever semi-finals spot since the 1983/1984 season. Arguably, the Blaugrana arrived in Rome already confident and looking forward to their next opponent, and in fact, when the draw was announced, the Catalan press had already written off Roma even before the first game commenced.

Despite losing to Liverpool in a highly entertaining two-legged affair, Roma put on a good show and will be hoping to make another deep run this season. However, like Real Madrid, they have also lost two key personnel who were highly instrumental in their Champions League campaign last season. Both Radja Nainggolan and Alisson departed this summer for Inter and Liverpool respectively, and unlike their upcoming opponents, Roma have not exactly been cruising along domestically, with just one win from their first four Serie A games so far.

Match Facts & Stats

This will be Real Madrid's 49th European Cup campaign - which is more than any other side
They are also featuring in the group stage of the Champions League for the 23rd time (tied with Barcelona and Porto)
Madrid's loss to Juve last season ended a five game unbeaten run at home vs Italian sides (W4 D1)
Real Madrid have won 34 of their last 42 UEFA Champions League home matches (losing just twice)
Roma are in the group stage for the 11th time and the fourth in five years
The Giallorossi won only one of their six away games in last season's UEFA Champions League (vs Qarabag on MD2)
Overall, Roma have won only three of their last 17 European away encounters (D6 L8)
The Giallorossi have lost on four of their last five trips to Spain
Real Madrid's H2H record vs Roma: W6 D1 L3