UEFA Champions League
Result: Real Madrid 3-0 AS Roma
Date: 19 September 2018
Venue: Santiago Bernabeu
UEFA Champions League holders Real Madrid made a winning start to the campaign as goals from Isco and Gareth Bale secured victory over AS Roma.
Los Blancos got off to a lively start with Gareth Bale and and Isco going close in the opening 15 minutes as the hosts looked to grab an early goal. The home side enjoyed most of the possession in the first half, while the Serie A outfit looked to catch their opponents on the break with the pace of Stefan El Shaarawy and Cengiz Under. Sergio Ramos went close to giving Los Blancos the lead after 30 minutes, but his towering header was palmed away by Roma shot-stopper Rob Olsen. Real eventually got the break through goal shortly before the break as Isco curled home a superb free-kick that sailed into the top corner and left Olsen with no chance. Los Blancos picked up from where they left off in the second half and doubled their lead in the 57th minute as Luka Modric picked out Bale with a superb pass, and the Welshman drilled the ball into the far corner. The home side continued to dominate as they pushed for more goals, while the likes of Marco Asensio and Toni Kroos had efforts at goal which were thwarted by Olsen. New signing Mariano Diaz replaced Bale for the remaining 15 minutes of the second half, and he rounded off the scoring in second-half stoppage time with superb curling effort from the edge of the box.
