European Champions Real Madrid off to a winning start in the Champions League as Isco and Gareth Bale scored before Mariano Diaz netted a GOLAZO on his second debut for Real Madrid.
2018/2019 UEFA Champions League
3-0
Match Report
Isco's perfect free-kick paved the way for Real Madrid to start their latest Champions League defence with a 3-0 home win against Roma, with Gareth Bale and Mariano Diaz also on target.
Madrid are aiming to win the tournament for the fourth year in a row and Julen Lopetegui's side cruised to a comfortable Group G victory at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday.
Isco took set-piece duties following the sale of Cristiano Ronaldo to Juventus, and on the same night his former team-mate was sent off against Valencia, the Spain international whipped in a superb strike from 25 yards just before the break.
And Bale, scorer of a brace in Madrid's defeat of Liverpool in last season's final, made sure of the points with a placed finish after racing through on goal from Luka Modric's pass, with substitute Mariano going on to add a third in stoppage time.
9' Isco almost gives Real a dreamy start!
SAVE! Olsen keeps the visitors level with a sharp save to deny Isco. Modric releases the run of the Spaniard inside the box with an incisive throughball, but the keeper comes off his line to narrow the angle to make the block. Fazio is there on the rebound to scoop it away from Bale.
23' Yellow Card! Sergio Ramos booked
Ramos brings down Nzonzi with a loose challenge and goes into the book.
38' CLOSE! Ramos' header saved
SAVE! Marcelo bends a low cross into the middle for the run of Benzema. The Frenchman has to leave the ball as he is in an offside position. The delivery travels towards the bottom corner, but Olsen reacts to turn it past the post.
45' GOAL! Real Madrid 1-0 Roma (Isco)
GOALLLLLLL!!!! ISCO CURLS THE BALL HOME!!! 1-0 MADRID!!! The Spaniard delivers for the home side with a sublime effort to break the deadlock.
Isco curls his effort over the leaping wall and Olsen has no chance as the ball finds the bottom corner, with the Swede on the other side of his goal. A super free-kick from the forward.
48' SAVE! Navas denies Under's shot
SAVE! Under is denied an equaliser by Navas. Under surges through the Madrid backline, racing towards the edge of the box. He powers a left-footed strike towards the top corner, but Navas gets a hand on the ball to turn it over the bar.
51' CLOSE! Bale's shot hits the bar
OFF THE BAR!!!! Bale is denied by the bar. Marcelo opens up the Roma backline with an incisive pass towards the Welshman. Bale brings it under control and fires at goal, but Fazio gets across to make the closing challenge to deflect the ball on to the bar.
56' SAVE! Olsen denies Modric's shot
SAVE! Isco threads the needle to release the run of Modric in the middle. The midfielder has to stretch to prod an effort towards goal and it allows Olsen to make a comfortable save.
58' GOAL! Real Madrid 2-0 Roma (Bale)
GOALLLLLLLLL!!! BALE FIRES HOME MADRID'S SECOND!!!! 2-0!!!! The Welshman gets his goal this evening at last. Modric releases the run of the forward down the left flank and he has acres of space to run into. Bale holds his composure in the final third, hammering his effort past Olsen into the bottom corner to double his side's advantage. A crisp finish.
74' SAVE! Olsen denies Kroos' shot
SAVE! Kroos is afforded space and time to shoot from the edge of the box. His effort has power, but not the placement to beat Olsen, who makes a sharp stop.
92' GOAL! Real Madrid 3-0 Roma (Mariano)
GOALLLLLLLLL!!!! MARIANO SCORES A STUNNER!!! 3-0!!!! Mariano scores a special goal on his second debut for Madrid. He collects Marcelo's offload on the edge of the box and turns Manolas with ease. The forward bends a strike towards the top corner and it flies past Olsen, giving the Roma keeper no chance. A stunning strike.
Line-ups
Real Madrid XI: Navas, Carvajal, Ramos, Varane, Marcelo, Casemiro, Modric, Kroos, Isco, Bale, Benzema
Subs: Courtois, Nacho, Marcos Llorente, Ceballos, Vazquez, Mariano, Asensio
Roma XI: Olsen, Florenzi, Manolas, Fazio, Kolarov, Zaniolo, Nzonzi, De Rossi, El Shaarawy, Dzeko, Under
Subs: Mirante, Cristante, Santon, Marcano, Perotti, Schick, Pellegrini