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Real Madrid kick-started their Champions League campaign on the right note as they cruised to a comfortable 3-0 win over AS Roma during their Group G opener at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday night. The Los Blancos started the game brightly and dominated possession from the get-go to stamp their authority all over the game.
Julen Lopetegui's men continued to create chances time and again in the first half but were forced to wait until the 44th minute to break the deadlock through Isco's superb free-kick. The Spaniard showcased impressive technique to get the ball over the wall and into the back of the net from the edge of the area to provide the European champions with a well-deserved breakthrough.
Roma threatened Keylor Navas on a few occasions but the Real Madrid shot-stopper was always equal to the task and dealt with it without sweating too much. Luka Modric's defence-splitting pass paved way for Gareth Bale's goal in the 58th minute as the Los Blancos strengthened their grip on the game.
Mariano Diaz came off the bench and found the top corner with a superb curling effort from outside the area to complete the rout in stoppage time as the hosts secured all three points from the clash to make it a perfect night for the defending champions.
On that note, let's take a closer look at the major talking points from the Champions League clash under the lights at the Santiago Bernabeu:
#1 Real Madrid's high press and incisive passing pay in dividends
Julen Lopetegui's team resorted to their high pressing mentality and incisive passing to peg Roma back to the walls early on in the game. The European champions got off to a flying start courtesy of their precision when it came to knitting together moves to try and find an opening in the early stages.
Isco floated across the opposition's half as he made space for Toni Kroos and Luka Modric to settle down and play to their strengths from the referee's first whistle. Kroos picked out a perfect weighted pass to find Bale in the 3rd minute before the Welshman fired wide from just inside the penalty area while Isco failed to beat Robin Olsen from close range after being played through by Modric early on.
Real Madrid were playing with intent and it only seemed like a matter of when rather than if with respect to the opening goal and it finally came towards the end of the half courtesy of Isco himself.
The Spaniard was brought down at the edge of the area by Daniele De Rossi, who picked up a booking for the foul, and Isco made no mistake from the dead ball situation when he dispatched a clever dink over the wall to break the deadlock. The goal was almost like a testament to Isco's creativity and off the ball movement that helped the hosts dominate the game in the first half.
#2 Roma get outplayed in midfield and struggle to force the initiative
Eusebio Di Francesco deployed a midfield three consisting of Daniele De Rossi in the center, who was supported by summer recruits Steven Nzonzi and Nicolo Zaniolo on either side, against Real Madrid on the night. The trifecta of Toni Kroos, Casemiro and Luka Modric have dominated this tournament for so long and the game proved to be the perfect example of how good and effective they can be on their day.
The Giallorossi were completely outmanoeuvred by the exploits of their counterparts in midfield as the hosts took full control of proceedings in the middle of the park. There was hardly ever any opportunity for any of the visitors' midfielders to try and establish their authority on the ball as they ran in circles trying to chase it while the defending champions enjoyed keeping hold of possession.
Roma were outmatched tactically and physically in midfield for a majority of the game and the ill-effects of the same became quite evident and was out there for everyone to see as the game progressed. The visitors struggled without the ball at their feet and never looked like making the most of it whenever they had a sniff of the same.
#3 A real baptism of fire for Nicolo Zaniolo
Nicolo Zaniolo, who joined Roma from Inter in the summer, made his senior professional debut at the Santiago Bernabeu against Real Madrid on the night as Roma succumbed to a defeat at the hands of the European champions. The 19-year-old, who is being touted as a player beyond his age by everyone at the club, was forced to deal with the high standards set by an elite club such as Real Madrid as he flattered to deceive on debut.
The Bernabeu can be an intimidating or an inspiring venue for newcomers and it certainly felt like Zaniolo was fazed by the occasion and the magnitude of the opposition albeit receiving very little supporter from his colleagues, who were equally ineffective against a well-drilled unit.
Zaniolo still has a long way to go in his career and he will only learn more and get better with time but it is safe to say that he will never forget his baptism at the highest level in senior football against possibly the best team on the planet.
#4 Gareth Bale is close to running the show at the Bernabeu
The Welshman was involved in the thick of the action from the get-go as he drifted out wide and cut inside on countless occasions to try and give Real Madrid the upper hand in the early stages. Gareth Bale was a real nuisance to Aleksandar Kolarov down the flank as he weaved in and out to cause all kinds of problems to the Serbian on the night.
The Champions League and Real Madrid have mostly been about Cristiano Ronaldo in recent years and perhaps nobody knows it better than Bale, who has always remained in the shadow of the five-time Ballon d'Or winner during his time at the Bernabeu. However, Ronaldo's departure in the summer has benefited Bale tremendously as he now aims to establish himself as a talisman for the club under Julen Lopetegui.
Bale could have had more than just the solitary goal he scored in the second half if he was more clinical on the night but undoubtedly, it was quite clear that he was their go-to man ever since the start of the game, keeping the engine running at all times.
#5 Mariano grabs his moment to help Real Madrid put Ronaldo behind them
A few eyebrows were raised when Real Madrid decided to hand over the iconic number 7 shirt at the club to Mariano Diaz, who returned to the Bernabeu after an impressive spell in Ligue 1 with Olympique Lyon, in the summer. The forward netted 18 goals in 34 league games for Lyon last season and returned to Real Madrid in a deal worth around €30m.
The 25-year-old marked his return to the Spanish capital by grabbing his first ever Champions League goal for the Los Blancos when he came off the bench and scored in stoppage time to complete the scoreline. Diaz scored with a stunning curling effort from outside the area to mark what could potentially become a key moment in the post-Ronaldo era at Real Madrid.
The forward boasts of a commendable skill-set and could establish himself as a star member with the first team at the Bernabeu in the future as he aims to make full use of his second chance with one of the biggest clubs in the world that can help him scale unparalleled heights at the highest level, if he can do justice to the number on the back of his shirt!
