AS Roma were always expected to join Los Blancos in the first knockout round and so it proved, but their record at this stage of the competition is mixed to say the least.The 1983-84 European Cup runners-up may have reached the semi-finals last season, where they were beaten by Liverpool on aggregate, but they had lost five successive matches in the round of 16 prior to edging out Shakhtar Donetsk in the second leg 12 months ago.
Eusebio Di Francesco’s side have won three and lost three of their last-16 matches to date, overcoming Lyon in 2007 and Real in 2008 – their first two appearances at this stage – before suffering defeats to Shakhtar in 2011 and Real in 2016.Then came the aggregate triumph over Shakhtar last season that would pave the way for a magical run to the final four, which the Giallorossi will be aiming to replicate this time around.
After returning to winning ways domestically with a 3-0 victory away to Chievo on Friday, a little over a week on from shipping seven in a humbling Coppa Italia exit at the hands of Fiorentina, Roma will consider themselves favourites to come out on top in this first leg of a close-to-call tie.