Champions League: AS Roma and Real Madrid: clash between sick leaders

A three-time defending champion against last season's semi-finalist, qualifying and first-place finish in Group G of the UEFA Champions League in action, all ahead of 60,000 spectators: Tuesday's AS Roma-Real Madrid match is a beautiful but paradoxical display, which also pits two pitifully beaten teams this weekend.

If there is one, the winner of the expected duel at the Olympic Stadium, will be qualified for sure for the 8th finals. If it is necessary, the Real will be even assured of the first place of the group.

Difficult under these conditions to think that the match involves two teams suffering, or at best convalescent. And yet.

Saturday, Real was indeed beaten 3-0 by Eibar, a very modest Basque club that only discovered La Liga in 2014. Roma on his side fell on the lawn of Udinese (1-0) , who remained for two months out of six defeats and a draw.

"Tomorrow, there are two sick teams that will compete against each other, even if they (the Real) are European champions," Roman coach Eusebio told reporters on Monday. Di Francesco.

The pedigree of Real Madrid is also perhaps the best news for the club giallorosso, only 7th in Serie A and who struggles more than anything against the "little ones", with the terrible record of seven points taken this season against the last six of the ranking.

On the contrary, the club of the Italian capital has often been much more convincing in recent months against big names in the Champions League, such as the success achieved against Chelsea (3-0) or Barcelona (3-0) the season last. A match also refereed as that of Tuesday by the French Clément Turpin.

While Roma have their worst start to the season since 2011-12 when Luis Enrique was in charge, Di Francesco, who will be without his current best player, Lorenzo Pellegrini, must still find solutions.

– Ramos under surveillance –

It may be inspired by the tribute made before the game to Francesco Totti, who integrates the "Hall of Fame" of the Roman club and will make his first steps on the lawn of Olimpico since his last match on 28 May 2017

The "King of Rome" is now 42, but some tifosi think most seriously of the world that he could still do good to a team whose attackers do not score.

Real side, which had won 3-0 in the first half of September, at a time when everything was going well, it is rather the defense that worries, with 19 goals conceded in 13 league games.

The severe relapse of Saturday in Eibar also questions about "the effect Santiago Solari", the new coach, who had won his first four games after replacing Julen Lopetegui.

"The defeat against Eibar was a blow to the club," said the Argentinean technician Monday in a press conference.

"We have to play a match like we always do in the Champions League and live up to our history in this competition, which is both easy and difficult," he added.

While seeking to stabilize his team, Solari remains private Casemiro, not the most brilliant of the elements at his disposal, but not the easiest to replace either.

He also has to contend with the start of the season by his captain Sergio Ramos, who was pinned last week by "Football Leaks" for an abnormal doping control.

Very mediocre against Eibar, Ramos still received the tribute of Edin Dzeko, who should have been his direct opponent Tuesday, but who is finally very uncertain because of a muscle problem felt Monday in training.

On the Reddit social network, the Bosnian center forward explained that the Spaniard was "at the top of the list of the best defenders" faced during his career.

Rfi.fr

(SNK / Yes)