MADRID, SPAIN – MARCH 08: James Rodriguez of Real Madrid celebrates scoring his team’s second goal with Toni Kroos during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 Second Leg match between Real Madrid and Roma at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on March 8, 2016 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
Two goals in four minutes help Real Madrid through to the quarterfinals of the Champions League
It was a 2-0 win for Real Madrid as they staked their claim in the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League. It took two goals, one from Ronaldo and the other from James Rodriguez, to seal the deal for Madrid as they beat Roma 4-0 on aggregate.
It was a slow first half for Real Madrid as Roma controlled a lot of the chances in the first half. Like in the first leg, Roma controlled the majority of the chances but couldn’t find the back of the net. They weren’t just good chances, they were great chances. It was 0-0 at half although Roma felt like they should have been 1 or 2-0 up.
But the second half was a completely different monster as Real Madrid picked up the pace in the second half and essentially ran away with the tie. After some nervy moments at the back, including a golden chance for Mohamed Salah, Real Madrid ended the tie.
It was a cross from Lucas Vasquez that found Ronaldo on the end of it and he did not miss from close range. A couple of minutes later, James Rodriguez found the back of the net on the counter attack and the tie was all but sealed then. It was a 2-0 win for Real Madrid as they advanced to the next round of the competition.
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<p>In the 61st minute, Gareth Bale was brought off for youngster Lucas Vasquez and immediately his impact was made. It was Vasquez who was the main part of the first Real Madrid goal that ended Roma’s chances of coming back.</p>
<p>On the right-wing, Vasquez made a couple of stepovers and completely froze Roma left back Lucas Digne. He then sent in a low cross into Ronaldo and he made no mistake finishing at the near post.</p>
<p>It was a great play by Vasquez, who played fantastic in the midfield. Jese, who also came on as a sub today as well, played great too as he created a lot of chances after he came in with around twenty minutes left. Both of those players gave Real Madrid the spark they needed in this game and helped swing the game back to Real Madrid.</p>
<div class="next-post amp-get-next-post lg slider"><a class="location" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-post-shortcode" href=https://playingfor90.com/2016/03/09/real-madrid-vs-roma-five-things-learned-2/"#"><span class="next amp-next-post-teaser">Next: </span><span class="amp-get-next-post">3. Roma's missed chances</span></a></div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_407704" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-407704" src=https://playingfor90.com/2016/03/09/real-madrid-vs-roma-five-things-learned-2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_393,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fplayingfor90.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2016%2F03%2F514350966-real-madrid-cf-v-as-roma-uefa-champions-league-round-of-16-second-leg-590x900.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="393" srcset="https://playingfor90.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2016/03/514350966-real-madrid-cf-v-as-roma-uefa-champions-league-round-of-16-second-leg-590x900.jpg 590w, https://playingfor90.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2016/03/514350966-real-madrid-cf-v-as-roma-uefa-champions-league-round-of-16-second-leg-300x600.jpg 300w, https://playingfor90.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2016/03/514350966-real-madrid-cf-v-as-roma-uefa-champions-league-round-of-16-second-leg-768x0.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 590px) 100vw, 590px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">MADRID, SPAIN – MARCH 08: Francesco Totti of Roma looks dejected during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 Second Leg match between Real Madrid and Roma at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on March 8, 2016 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>3. Roma will rue their missed chances</h3>
<p>If there was one picture that could describe the game for Roma, it would be the one of Mohamed Salah throwing a fit after missing a clear-cut opportunity in the second half. He did well to get in behind the defense and thanks to a deflection, was free on goal.</p>
<p>But he shot wide of the right post and kept the game at 0-0. It was a chance that could have swung the game and tie back to Roma. It was that type of night for Roma once again as they will walk out of this tie feeling unlucky about missing their chances. It was a repeat of the first leg as Roma left chances at the other end.</p>
<p>In the first half, Roma had two clear cut chances and had two great chances in the second half. If they could have converted just two of those chances, it would have made a difference in the game.</p>
<p>One away goal could have turned the momentum towards the Romans and put a lot of pressure on Real Madrid. For a Roma team that was playing so well in attack, missing chances like that will sting for sure. Another night to forget for Roma.</p>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-407701" src=https://playingfor90.com/2016/03/09/real-madrid-vs-roma-five-things-learned-2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_400,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fplayingfor90.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2016%2F03%2F514349932-real-madrid-cf-v-as-roma-uefa-champions-league-round-of-16-second-leg-590x900.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="400" srcset="https://playingfor90.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2016/03/514349932-real-madrid-cf-v-as-roma-uefa-champions-league-round-of-16-second-leg-590x900.jpg 590w, https://playingfor90.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2016/03/514349932-real-madrid-cf-v-as-roma-uefa-champions-league-round-of-16-second-leg-300x600.jpg 300w, https://playingfor90.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2016/03/514349932-real-madrid-cf-v-as-roma-uefa-champions-league-round-of-16-second-leg-768x0.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 590px) 100vw, 590px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">MADRID, SPAIN – MARCH 08: Mohamed Salah of Roma reacts after failing to score during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 Second Leg match between Real Madrid and Roma at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on March 8, 2016 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>2. Not at full strength Roma team struggled</h3>
<p>Although Roma still put out a solid XI, they were missing a lot of key players from the squad. Antonio Rüdiger and Radja Nainggolan were out of the game due to injury. Both are key players in the midfield and the defense.</p><div class="widget fs_ads"> <div class="fs_ad_widget-ad" style="margin:0 auto; width: 300px;"> <div class="fs-ll-ad" data-ad-type="minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet" data-vendor="minutemedia">
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<p>Especially Nainggolan, whose physical style of play could have caused problems for the Real Madrid midfield. A Madrid midfield that found itself in acres of space in the second half. Without two of their best players, we knew Roma were going to struggle.</p>
<p>They also fell victim to a supposed injury bug during the game as well. In the second half, Miralem Pjanić was taken off and replaced by William Vainqueur. It was a strange substitution considering that Roma needed more offense and they took off their best offensive midfielder and replaced him with a more defensive midfielder.</p>
<p>It was a very strange sub and there wasn’t much explanation for it. Speculation could be that Pjanic was injured and had to be subbed off. In a game where they needed offense the most, losing their best offensive player hurt Roma a lot.</p>
<p>Considering that they were underdogs coming into the second leg, injuries weren’t kind to Roma as they limped into and out of the game.</p>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">MADRID, SPAIN – MARCH 08: Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid reacts during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 Second Leg match between Real Madrid CF and AS Roma at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on March 8, 2016 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>1. Real Madrid still have problems to fix</h3>
<p>Although they advanced to the next round of the Champions League, Real Madrid still have a lot of work to do. Apart from their form in La Liga, if Real Madrid want to have a chance at winning the Champions League, they will have to improve.</p>
<p>Real Madrid did control a lot of the second half but they have to make it a more dominant display against the better teams. A weak first half will fly against a team like Roma but against the teams like Barcelona and Bayern Munich they will have to improve. They have to be active all 90 minutes and play like a team.</p>
<p>Real Madrid has the potential to shut off in some games and the El Clasico last year was a big indication of what will happen if it happens against one of the best teams in Europe.</p>
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