UEFA Champions League 26/27 · Round 2 ·
AS Roma vs Real Madrid preview: Roma host Real Madrid with the visitors carrying the sharper edge
Roma welcome Real Madrid to the Stadio Olimpico with the market already leaning heavily toward the away side. The clearest signal is the visitors' early goal threat, with Real Madrid scoring all of their goals in the opening half hour this season.
By 10xSharp · Published
This preview was published before kickoff. The match has finished: see the result and full stats. Read the match report.
Who is missing
Roma are without three players, including their only scorer in this competition. Bryan Cristante, who has scored 1 goal, 100% of the side's goals in this competition, is out with an injury. Jan Ziolkowski and Muhammed S Bah are also unavailable. Real Madrid have three injury absences of their own: Ferland Mendy, Rodrygo and Raul Asencio. None of those three has scored in this competition this season.
Players to watch
Roma's attacking output this season rests entirely on Bryan Cristante, who has scored their only goal in this competition, but he is unavailable for this match. Real Madrid's goals have been shared between Kylian Mbappe and Federico Valverde, each with 1 goal in this competition. Mbappe has contributed 50% of Real Madrid's goals, as has Valverde.
Form
Real Madrid arrive on the back of a win in their only league match this season, while Roma drew theirs. Real Madrid's last six league matches show 3 points from 1 match, a 1W-0D-0L record. Roma have 1 point from 1 match, a 0W-1D-0L record. Roma are unbeaten in their last seven matches in all competitions, while Real Madrid have won four of their last six.
Where they stand
Roma sit 17th in the table with 1 point from 1 match, while Real Madrid are 13th with 3 points from 1 match. Roma have yet to play at home this season, so their home record is empty. Real Madrid have played one home match, winning it 2-1.
Head to head
Across 10 meetings, Real Madrid have won 5, Roma 3, with 2 draws. The most recent meeting, a 2-2 draw in 2019, was not in this competition. At this ground, in 5 meetings, Roma have won 2, Real Madrid 2, with 1 draw. The last meeting at this ground was in 2019.
Attack
Real Madrid's attack is the sharper of the two. They average 2.0 goals per match this season, level with the league average of 1.92. Roma average 1.0 goals per match, clearly worse than the league average. Real Madrid hold a clear attacking edge.
Defense
Both defences have been solid so far. Roma concede 1.0 goals per match, better than the league average of 1.92. Real Madrid also concede 1.0 goals per match, better than the league average. The two defences are level.
Efficiency
Real Madrid work the opposing goalkeeper far harder. They average 9.0 shots on target per match, compared to Roma's 3.0. Real Madrid also see more of their shots blocked, 2.0 per match to Roma's 1.0.
Goal timing
Real Madrid score early. All of their goals this season have come in the first 30 minutes, with 50% in the opening 15 minutes and 50% between minutes 16 and 30. Roma's only goal this season came between minutes 31 and 45. Roma conceded their only goal in the second half, between minutes 46 and 60.
Goal lines
Real Madrid's matches this season have been high-scoring. 100% of their matches have gone over 2.5 goals. Roma's matches have been lower-scoring, with 0% going over 2.5 goals. Real Madrid's matches have also seen more first-half goals, with 100% going over 1.5 goals in the first half.
Verdict
Real Madrid's early goal threat and superior shot volume give them the edge. Roma's defence has been solid, but their attack has been blunt without Cristante. The market prices Real Madrid as clear favourites. Expect Real Madrid to control the match and create the better chances.