Roma 2-1 Real Madrid

"It is not a problem. The motivation will be totally different." So said the Porn Star, after Real Madrid's dire second half against Betis last weekend, in reference to a Champions League clash. True, the Blancos played well in the first half and battled to carve out chances against the Roman wall of players in front of goal. True, they scored an away goal which could be important. But while the side looked more motivated than in La Liga, as Kevin Keegan knows only too well, you also need quality to cut it at this level.
Arjen Robben played his best game for the club so far, but can only make viewers wonder what would have happened had Schuster dared play Drenthe as well, or had Robinho been fit. Because no matter how much Guti, Gago or even Diarra tried to find a way through midfield, De Rossi (and the other nine outfield Roma players) were always there to prevent Real Madrid creating anything through the middle.
Raul scored his 60th Champions League goal to give the side an early lead, but Pizarro's equaliser came too soon afterwards and allayed any nerves at the Olympic stadium. In between the two goals Ruud Van Nistelrooy had a goal correctly disallowed for off-side, but more importantly Raul headed wide an easy chance after a rare right-footed cross from Robben.
Mancini offered little that many expected him, but then predictably popped up to round Iker Casillas for 2-1, and provoke a change of tactics from the allegedly attacking-minded Spalletti. The furthest forward Roma player was ten yards inside their own half for the rest of the contest.
"Playing like this we can definitely progress to the next round," Gabi Heinze told reporters after the game, delighted with the performance and ignoring his miscued clearance that allowed Roma to take the lead. "Things have changed," mused Bernd after the game. "We used to give away lots of chances but still won. Now teams have two chances and take them both." Welcome to the Champions League.