Gareth Bale scored as Real Madrid moved on from the departures of Cristiano Ronaldo and Zinedine Zidane with a 3-0 win over Roma on Wednesday to confidently launch their pursuit of a fourth successive Champions League title.
THE GOOD
Olsen’s shot stopping – The Roma backline was routinely picked apart and while some supporters have bemoaned Alisson’s replacement Robin Olsen, the Swede was superb against Real. He made eight saves, three of them strong stops to deny Isco and Luka Modric. He could do very little about the two perfectly-placed goals.
Isco’s slick passing – When the Spaniard is in this type of form, he’s a delight to watch. A gorgeous first touch married to smooth passing hallmarked a deeply impressive performance. To top it off, he deliciously opened the scoring with a sublime free-kick. Who needs Cristiano Ronaldo?
THE BAD
Bale’s finishing – This might grate a few people considering the quality of his goal, yet up until the pin-point strike in the 58th minute, the Welshman’s finishing was well off the mark. He failed to hit the target with five of his six efforts and one in just the third minute, while struck sweetly, should have been buried.
Roma’s defending – Eusebio Di Francesco’s reputation for dire tactical decisions is burgeoning after another poor display from his side in Europe. They were battered by Liverpool last season after he employed a three-man defence and against Madrid, their suicidal high line coupled with little pressure on the ball was always going to spell trouble.
HANCE: Already the gaps are appearing for Madrid and Toni Kroos deep in the quarterback slot, pings a ball into Bale who cuts past Aleksandar Kolarov from the right. The Welshman’s first touch is perfect but he smashes the ball wide.
8th min SAVE: Really slick from Real. Bale on the right passes inside for Modric, he swivels and cuts the ball through for Isco and Olsen does well to get down and save low with his right hand.
14th min CHANCE: First time Roma have had any penetration in Real’s final third as Cengiz Under capitlises on Dani Carvajal’s poor touch, but his dipping effort is well off target.
37th min CHANCE: Kroos slides the ball out to Marcelo, he crosses invitingly into the box on his right but it just slides past Karim Benzema. Olsen tips the ball out for a corner and from the resulting set-piece, Sergio Ramos plants a strong header which forces Olsen to tip over.
44th min GOAL 1-0: Lionel Messi on Tuesday, Isco on Wednesday. Take your pick as to which was the better effort. From a central position on the edge of the box, the Spaniard somehow finds enough pace and trajectory to plant a stunner into the left corner.
49th min MISS: Another super slick counter-attack from Madrid sees Modric backheel to Isco on the right, he slips a first-time ball to Benzema and his cut back should be finished by Bale but plants a horrible strike over the bar.
54th min SAVE: Isco turns provider for Modric who is given a ridiculous amount of space on the right side of the box. The Croat slides to fire an effort at goal but Olsen again does well to smother the ball.
57th min GOAL 2-0: Pure filth from Modric. He receives the ball deep in his own half, spots Bale’s scorching run on the left, the Welshman accelerates again and his boost of speed takes him bast Kostas Manolas and into the box. From an acute angle he finishes superbly across goal. A symbolic resemblance to Cristiano Ronaldo’s second goal for Juventus at the weekend.