Real Madrid have been the team to beat over the past three seasons in the Champions League. They won a third Champions League in a row last season under the guidance of Zinedine Zidane, defeating Liverpool in an action-packed final.
This summer has seen plenty of change at the Santiago Bernabeu. Zidane has left the club and former Spain manager Julen Lopetegui has taken control of the team. Perhaps an even bigger change has seen Cristiano Ronaldo leave Real Madrid to join Juventus.
Ronaldo has been the top scorer in each of the last three Champions League campaigns and holds the record for the most goals scored in the history of the competition. How will Real Madrid cope with the Portuguese?
The early signs have been good this season. Real Madrid sit 2 points off the leaders in La Liga, having won three and drawn one of their four league games. They were held to a 1-1 draw at Athletic Bilbao on the weekend, a place which always tough for opposition teams and remain unbeaten.
Trends show Real Madrid have lost only one of their last fourteen games in all competitions and have a strong record at home in the Champions League. Real Madrid have lost only one of their last twenty-one Champions League games at the Santiago Bernabeu but both teams have scored in each of the last six.
Roma reached the semi-final of the Champions League last season against all the odds. Having been drawn in a group containing Atletico Madrid and Chelsea, Roma were expected to miss out but topped the group. They also defeated Barcelona in the quarter-final but despite a strong comeback in the home leg against Liverpool, Roma fell at the semi-final stage.
Roma have had a mixed start to the 2018/19 season in Italy. They started with a decent 1-0 win at Torino and were expected to build on that with a home win against Atalanta. Having fallen 3-1 down in the first half, Roma battled back to take a point but were then defeated 2-1 at the San Siro against AC Milan, conceding a goal in the last minute.
On the weekend, Roma surrendered a two goal lead at home to Chievo to draw 2-2, which is less than ideal preparation for this match.
Trends show Roma struggle on the road in the Champions League. They have lost each of their last four away games and have won only one of their last sixteen. Conceding goals was a big problem last season and Roma conceded 17 goals in six away matches. However, Roma scored in each of those seven games.
Looking ahead to the team news and Real Madrid have their first choice XI all available. Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and Marco Asensio are expected to form the front three.
Roma have doubts over midfielder Javier Pastore but he is their only concern. Daniele De Rossi should be fit enough to start in central midfield and Edin Dzeko is expected to start up-front with support from Cengiz Under and Stephan El Shaarawy.
Real Madrid are the favourites to win this match and should start with maximum points. Roma could get on the score sheet but Real Madrid will have too much for the Italians.