AS Roma v Real Madrid: Champions League preview, predicted line-ups and team news
Real Madrid visit the Stadio Olimpico with a win over Inter behind them, while Roma are still looking for their first league-stage victory after a draw in Istanbul.
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Roma v Real Madrid: the stakes in Rome
Real Madrid have the stronger squad and the shorter price, but they travel to the Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday without two senior defenders. Roma are the side with something to prove at home.
It is matchday two of the Champions League league stage. Real Madrid beat Inter 2-1 at home in their opener. Roma drew 1-1 away to Fenerbahçe. Both clubs know that early points ease the pressure on the run-in towards the play-off places.
The bookmakers make Real Madrid narrow favourites, with the hosts a 13/5 chance.
AS Roma
Real MadridHow both sides got here
Real Madrid made a winning start. They scored twice inside the first 30 minutes against Inter, through goals in the 0-15 and 16-30 minute bands, then conceded in the final quarter-hour. They had 16 shots, eight of them on target, but only 36% of the ball.
Roma took a point in Istanbul. Their goal came just before half-time and Fenerbahçe equalised early in the second half. Roma had 58% possession and eight shots, three on target.
Neither side has kept a clean sheet yet. The two sides last met in the Champions League on 27 November 2018, when Real Madrid won 2-0 at this ground. Roma have won none of their five recorded meetings.
Rotation and selection
Rotation looks unlikely for either side. It is only the second league-stage game, and there is no second leg to protect. Real Madrid's absentees are in defence, so any changes there are forced rather than chosen.
Roma have goalkeeper and midfield problems, and that matters more than any tactical tweak. Real Madrid used a 4-3-3 against Inter and Roma a 3-4-2-1 against Fenerbahçe. Expect both to stick with those shapes.
AS RomaReal Madrid
Predicted line-ups for AS Roma v Real Madrid
AS Roma: Vásquez; Mancini, Ndicka, Hermoso; Wesley, Koné, de Roon, Molina; Soulé, Pellegrini; Malen
Real Madrid: Courtois; Alexander-Arnold, Rüdiger, Huijsen, Cucurella; Tchouaméni, Valverde, Bellingham; Güler, Mbappé, Vinícius Jr
If Koulierakis is passed fit, he could come in for Mancini. Cristante would replace de Roon or Koné.
Where to watch AS Roma v Real Madrid: TV and online streams
The match kicks off at 20:00 BST on Wednesday 14 October and is shown on TNT Sports where selected. We will update this page if a specific channel is confirmed closer to kick-off.
This is a league-stage match, not a knockout tie, so there is no extra time or penalty shootout. The result is decided after 90 minutes plus stoppage time.
Stats for AS Roma v Real Madrid
- Real Madrid won both legs of their last Champions League meeting with Roma in 2018-19, 3-0 at the Bernabéu and 2-0 in Rome.
- Real Madrid have won all five recorded meetings with Roma, including the 2016 last-16 tie (2-0 in Rome, 2-0 in Madrid).
- Roma have drawn their only league-stage game, 1-1 at Fenerbahçe. Real Madrid beat Inter 2-1 at home.
- Four of the five meetings have had two goals or fewer at Roma's end of the fixture: Roma have scored once in five meetings.