Heavily favored Real Madrid will be looking to advance over AS Roma today, at Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid. AS Roma took the first leg, 2-1 at Stadio Olimpico in Rome. Bodog.com has Real Madrid as -180 odds to beat AS Roma who’s listed as +475 underdogs. Get your UEFA Champions League Pick in now!
Real Madrid has been spot on during their group stages and they are the top club in the Spanish La Liga standings. They have a commanding seven point lead ahead of Barcelona FC. Madrid will be counting on their all-star cast of Raul Gonzalez, Robinho, Guti, Wesley Sneijder, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Fabio Cannavaro to pull them through. Madrid will be playing at home where they are 4-0 SU at home in Champions League play. Madrid has the talent and offense to beat any team and they’ll need to finish two goals ahead of Roma. González Blanco Raúl is the all-time leading goal scorer in the Champions League, with 59 goals, and holds the same record with his national side and this season; Raúl has 14 goals in 29 appearances. He fits in nicely with superstar Ruud Van Nistelrooy.
AS Roma is 3-2-1 in Champions League play and are in second place in the Italian Serie A, eight points back of Inter Milan. Roma will have to come out strong and will opt to switch Guti for Baptista to install some Grit in the midfield along with Simone Perrotta and Daniele De Rossi. Right-back Marco Cassetti will miss today’s game with a dislocated left shoulder. Francesco Totti’s form has been absolutely devastating lately. The reigning European Golden Boot holder, with 32 goals from 56 appearances last season, Totti has scored 13 goals in 19 matches this season.
Real Madrid vs AS Roma
Kickoff: Wed, Mar 5 2008 2:45 PM ET
Line: Bodog
Pick: Real Madrid -180
Bottom Line: In the last six meetings between the two clubs, Real Madrid are the real winners, the Spanish colossus are 4-0 SU , including the last two (3-0 away and 4-2 at home in 2004), and lost just the one, at home in 2002 by a margin of one goal to nil.Get your UEFA Champions League pick in now! Recieve a 10% sign-up bonus on your first deposit.
