AS Roma 2000/2001 0 Real Madrid 2013/2014 1
(Benzema '21)
The gulf between these two sides was larger than the final score suggests. Real Madrid dominated for large spells and the Benzema goal - a beautiful drive from the edge of the box low into the bottom corner- came after a series of 5 blocked shots in the opening fifteen minutes. Roma could find no decent outlet to move the ball much beyond the halfway line before losing possession and having to defend again.
Batistuta in particular was guilty of not being able to hold onto the ball when it was played up to him long enough for support to arrive. Half time arrive and although the possession split was 50/50, shots were 8-2 in Real's favour. And yet Roma should have gone in at the half level. On 31 minutes they did manage to penetrate the blanket cover that Sami Khedira provided and Emerson ran onto a pass from Cafu, rode the muscular challenge of Varane on the edge of the Real box and was in one-on-one with Casillas. The Real goalkeeper pulled off a brilliant block and Sergio Ramos smuggled the ball away.
The second half was much like the first. Real again made most of the running. Roma changed both central midfielders - Marcos Assuncao and Christian Zanetti replacing Emerson and Tomassi- but the best chance fell to Real. A blistering shot from Ronaldo shivered the upright and shot across the face of the Roma goal with Antonioli rooted to the spot.
Roma had one more chance in the match, a long range shot from Zanetti after a good run by Assuncao but Casillas comfortably saved it and was largely untroubled. Roma must find a way to get better possession higher up the pitch for Totti to be involved in creating chances or else hope that Real will push more players forward at home, opening up space for the wingbacks to exploit or Batistuta to run into. With a lead and an away goal in the bag, it seems unlikely that Ancelotti will set his side up any different to how he did in this contest, with the defense fairly deep to deny space in behind and with Khedira providing an effective screen, nullifying Totti.
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