AS Roma vs Real Madrid
These two sides have become familiar UEFA Champions League foes in the 21st century.
Indeed, all 11 of their meetings have come from September 2001 onwards.
Yet while one club has dominated Europe’s top competition, SBOBET fans realise that the other will almost always be among the bridesmaids rather than the bride.
It’s time for the next installment of AS Roma-Real Madrid.
Talking Points
The main talking point and that dominating Champions League 2018 news is the form of Madrid.
Four straight wins under a caretaker boss in Santiago Solari then a surprise, yet comprehensive defeat in his first match in charge on a full-time basis.
Real’s attitude in their 3-0 loss to Eibar was criticised, as was a lack of leaders in the squad, further highlighted by the lack of anyone taking up the winning mentality mantle in attack since the summer sale of Cristiano Ronaldo.
Roma hardly go into this encounter full of beans themselves.
A surprise 1-0 loss at Udinese (which ended a five match unbeaten run) on Saturday has left them outside of the top six in Serie A and the Giallorossi well adrift in the title race.
It was a defeat which angered boss Eusebio Di Francesco after he saw his side dominate possession.
Both clubs have no such worries in the Champions League with both on course to qualify and the winners of this most likely to top Group G.
If the home side do want a bit of a lucky omen for this one, they only need look to the main in the middle.
Referee Clement Turpin was also the official when Roma famously saw off Barcelona in last season’s quarter-final.
Their main frontman Edin Dzeko is the top scorer in this season’s Champions League, level with Lionel Messi on five goals.
He made it eight goals in six games for club and country when his double helped see off CSKA Moscow on match day three.
Yet he has not found the net in the past seven games and will want to put that right.
Roma’s lack of consistency has frustrated fans and management alike, as has the tendency to sell their best players during successive summers – for example Mo Salah and goalkeeper Alisson.
Whether Daniele De Rossi, Diego Perotti and Kostas Manolas are fit to play remains to be seen but it would certainly be a big boost for the home side after they missed their domestic disappointment at the weekend.
Madrid’s greater resources should mean they see off Roma seven times out of 10.
But as Barca found out seven months ago, a night at the Stadio Olimpico can be intimidating and Roma should never be underestimated
History
A lot has changed since the sides last met in Madrid in September.
If that night suggested they can still be a force without world number one Ronaldo, events since have certainly suggested otherwise.
Before their last clash, these two sides previously met in the last 16 of the competition when Madrid saw off Roma 2-0 both home and away (Ronaldo (two), James Rodriguez, Jese the scorers), en route to winning the competition in 2018 – the first of three successive tournament successes.
Roma’s defeat of Barcelona last season ended a run of four home games without a win against Spanish visitors, since a 2-1 scalp of Madrid in the 2007/08 round of 16.
Roma have won only two of their last 11 games against Spanish sides, home and away (drawn two, lost seven). Until then, they had won their previous three matches.
Betting Tip
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Roma vs Real Madrid | Total Goal 2-3 @ 2.12 |
| November 28, 04:00 |
Madrid have kept clean sheets in their last three meetings with the Italians and will be keen to do so again, although their form suggests it might be difficult.
I don’t think that will happen but I’m not expecting many goals either.
Champions League 2018 betting odds show AS Roma 1X2 @ 3.40 with Real @ 2.12 and the draw @ 3.25.
The European champions are also favourites with Asian Handicap betting.
You can get odds on -0.50 Real Madrid @ 2.13 and -0.25 @ 1.86 with Roma priced +0.25 @ 2.07 and + 0.50 @ 1.81.
The best odds available on the Double Chance bet is AS Roma or draw @ 1.66, whereas a repeat of Real’s 3-0 win from September would pay out on correct score @ 23.00.
Likewise, if Roma were to avenge that defeat with a 3-0 home success the pay-out would stand @ 55.00.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR ( ) BETS ARE WORTH: |
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 = €20 (Highly confident) |
= €10 (CONFIDENT) |
= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT) |
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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