• March 19, 2024

Madrid must prove they are not Real-Ronaldo in the UCL

gareth bale

Real Madrid will begin their 2018/19 UEFA Champions League exertions tonight when they welcome Eusebio Di Francesco’s Roma to the Santiago Bernabeu.

The Los Blancos go into the tie as defending champions while the Serie A side who were semi-finalists in the competition last season will be looking to stage a major upset away from home.

Real Madrid know that they must win this game. This is coming after some key figures in the game have opined that Real Madrid is a weaker unit without Cristiano Ronaldo.

One was Lionel Messi who said: “Real Madrid have one of the best teams in the world with great players but the fact that Ronaldo is not there takes something away from them”

However, the likes of Sergio Ramos and Marcelo have begged to differ with their own recent comments and will be keen to produce an outstanding display tonight and give credence to their assertions.

The duo will have key roles to play tonight for the Julen Lopetegui led side and must be on top of their game in their respective positions to deny the tricky Roma team any sniff of goal.

READ: Los Blancos set for fourth consecutive UCL defence

One more question that will cloud the minds of football fans is this; Who in the Madrid set up will be consistent enough to replace Ronaldo numbers or something close to that in the UCL this season?

Well, the answer to this questions will definitely be with the likes of Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale, Marco Asensio, Mariano Diaz. and I daresay Isco.

The Madrid forward men will have to draw inspiration for hitting the back of the net consistently in this season’s UCL from somewhere, and that’s where Julen Lopetegui’s tactics and formation will come into play.

Roma are in for a game of their lives as Los Blancos will want to prove a point. The likes of Daniele De Rossi and manager Eusebio de Francesco have confirmed this.

Danielle De Rossi has been quick to dispel any seeming positives for his side due to a Ronaldo-less Madrid.

He said: “Real Madrid are a team full of great players, they weren’t just Ronaldo, so I won’t feel any relief because he’s absent,”

“If they sold eight more players then I would perhaps feel some relief.”

Eusebio De Francesco also seconded De Rossi’s opinions. He said: “Real Madrid will continue to win a lot, they aren’t known as Real Ronaldo,”

Regardless, Real Madrid will be wise enough not to underestimate the Serie A outfit.

Meanwhile, The quartet of Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema, Marco Asensio, and Mariano Diaz now have the chance to write their names in gold with regards to Real Madrid’s scoring records in the UCL.

Los Blancos should get all three points from this one.