Roma 1
Real Madrid 2
A magnificent display by Real Madrid's Portuguese midfielder Luis Figo inspired the eight-times European club champions to a 2-1 victory over AS Roma at Rome's Olympic Stadium in a Group A first-round Champions League thriller tonight.
Figo, revelling at being restored to the playmaker's role in the absence of the suspended Zinedine Zidane, produced a superb display, scoring the opener with a curling freekick and setting up the second for Guti. A Francesco Totti penalty - after a needless foul by Aitor Karanka on Frenchman Jonathan Zebina - reduced arrears, but although Roma produced a storming finish Figo's earlier heroics had proved the decisive factor in this battle between the champions of Spain and Italy. Figo may have lost his tag as the world's most expensive player to Zidane, but his performance denied the dearest wish of a noisy and near-capacity crowd that had already seen Real spurn two glorious chances in an exciting first half.
After a brief commemoration of the day's tragic events in the United States the visitors from Madrid were the first to show and Figo nearly dampened the mood with an early attempt from outside the area but Roma goalkeeper Ivan Pelizzoli made a fine save. At the other end Argentinian Gabriel Batistuta headed over but Real quickly hit their stride although a wildly inaccurate shot by Guti was poor reward for a fine passing movement. Their English midfielder Steve McManaman was equally wayward when Figo and Raul set him up but he could only blast wide.
Just as Roma looked to be on the back foot they carved out their best chance yet when skipper Totti headed wide from a pinpoint freekick from Brazilian Assuncao and the home fans screamed for a penalty when Batistuta fell under a challenge from Karanka. Although there was clear contact English referee Graham Poll might have been dissuaded by a theatrical fall from the Argentinian. Figo then produced a touch of class weaving past three challenges but he could not direct his shot on target.
But then Real missed their first sitter. Guti's pass left Roma looking for an offside decision that never came and Raul rounded Pelizzoli with a goal looking inevitable. But Roma's Brazilian defender Antonio Zago scrambled back to clear off the line and needed treatment off the pitch for two minutes after crashing into the post.
Next it was Real to appeal for a penalty with Raul falling under a challenge from Argentinian defender Walter Samuel - again Poll was unmoved. Zago made another telling intervention when he halted a dangerous looking run from Guti before Raul spurned another fine opportunity when he headed wide from a Figo freekick.
Karanka became the first name in Poll's book when he fouled Vincenzo Montella but then Real missed another sitter on the stroke of half-time. Roma's French defender Vincent Candela inexplicably gave away possession and Guti raced through on Pelizzoli but fired wide with only the goalkeeper to beat. Roma boss Fabio Capello - playing against the club he led to a Primera Liga title - replaced Montella with Brazilian Francisco Lima at the interval.
The hosts must have felt luck was on their side at half-time but it was to prove only a temporary stay of execution with the Spaniards taking the lead only five minutes into the second period. Poll awarded a freekick after Raul tumbled under a challenge by Zago. It looked ideal territory for Roberto Carlos and his left foot but Figo took charge and curled his right-footed shot just inside Pelizzoli's right-hand post. Real were in their stride and Pelizzoli made a fine save from a Figo volley as the crowd - hitherto magnificent in their support - began to lose patience with the Serie A champions.
Pelizzoli was equal to McManaman's crafty lob in another move instigated by Figo and that prompted Capello to make another change, replacing Assuncao with Antonio Cassano. But the second duly came.
A flowing Real counterattack featuring McManaman and Raul saw the ball played out to Figo whose perfect near-post cross was headed in by Guti with the Roma defence and Pelizzoli stranded.
Karanka's needless lunge at Zebina briefly restored Roman morale with Totti converting and then Cassano missing a chance to equalise. Batistuta's freekick forced a fine save from Real keeper Iker Casillas and Capello played his last card with Argentinian Abel Balbo who struck the bar in the closing minutes.
Raul was foiled by Pelizzoli and Batistuta was denied by a fine Casillas save and Real were home and dry. - AFP