Real Madrid vs AS Roma
Two clubs with a long history against each other are now set to meet in ICC 2018, in a match expected to produce plenty of drama and action.
Real Madrid and Roma are both gearing up for the upcoming football season, and after finishing third in their respective domestic top-flight competitions last year, the pressure is on them to compete for silverware once again.
Both clubs haven’t had a good start to their ICC campaign, but they made up for it in their second game and provided a glimpse of what might be to come with a superb performance. Now, as they play their third and final match in the tournament, expectations are high that they will impress the crowd in MetLife Stadium at New Jersey.
Talking Points
Real Madrid and Roma’s ICC 2018 results couldn’t have been more similar. They both lost their opening game against a Premier League rival then won their second after trailing by a goal in the early proceedings.
Interestingly, Real Madrid beat Juventus—the reigning Serie A champions—for their first pre-season victory, while Italian team Roma took down the 2017/18 La Liga champions Barcelona.
Los Blancos, for their part, bounced back big against Juve after showing signs of rust in their opener against Manchester United.
With Cristiano Ronaldo gone, there were fears that Madrid and new boss Julen Lopetegui need to find a replacement immediately. However, it seems they don’t need to rush things with the presence of Gareth Bale at the Bernabeu.
The Welshman had no problem taking the spotlight as he helped Madrid equalise with a stunning strike from outside the box. That got things going for the Champions League titlists as they ran out 3-1 winners against the Bianconeri at FedExField in Maryland.
Last week, Lopetegui claimed that Bale could “help fill the void” left by Ronaldo’s departure; and based on the 29-year-old forward’s recent performance, that might be more than just a pep talk from the new Madrid boss.
“Gareth is happy to play at Real Madrid. This is a fantastic opportunity for him to show his talent. He is with the team. He is happy and aligned with our goals. It is the start of an exciting path for us,” Lopetegui said recently.
On the other hand, Roma are fresh from exacting their revenge against Barcelona, who hijacked a deal to bring Malcom to the Stadio Olimpico.
Roma clearly played with the intention to win over the Catalans, twice erasing a one-goal lead to come out on top 4-2.
The Romans lost first-choice keeper Alisson and midfielder Radja Nainggolan this summer, but they have undoubtedly shown in their US tour that they are still the same mentally strong squad that once overcame a 1-4 Champions League deficit to frustrate Barca.
With Edin Dzeko, Stephan El Shaarawy and Diego Perotti manning the front, Roma will always be a threat to any team. And that should be the case when they meet Real Madrid.
History
Matches between Real Madrid and Roma are always exciting to watch. While Los Blancos dominated their UCL fixtures in 2016—winning 2-0 both at home and on the road—Roma had given the La Liga giants a tough challenge in more than one occasion.
In fact, Roma came out on top in their last two meetings with Real Madrid in the International Champions Cup. In 2014, Roma secured a 1-0 win in Dallas via a Francesco Totti goal and then followed it up with a 7-6 penalty shoot-out victory the next year.
Meanwhile, in 2008, the Giallorossi knocked Real Madrid out in the UCL Round of 16. They finished with a 4-2 aggregate, winning 2-1 twice in their two-legged tie.
Overall, at the turn of the century, Real and Roma have met 12 times. Of those 12 meetings, Real have won six to Roma’s five while the other ended up in a draw.
What are the odds?
Real Madrid are the clear favourites to win at SBOBET. They are tipped with 1X2 odds that pay out at 1.78 while Roma are at 3.90. A draw is even a more likely result than a Roma win, with a stalemate paying at 3.85.
Furthermore, the ICC 2018 betting odds suggest that Real Madrid will be ahead by halftime. First Half 1X2 on Los Blancos are at 2.27—the same odds as First Half 1X2 Draw—with Eusebio Di Francesco’s men at 4.20.
Goals are expected to come in abundance as well. Over 3.25 pays at 1.79, with Over 3.50 not far behind at 1.99. Total Goal 4-6 is at 2.06, suggesting that fans could be in for a really high-scoring affair.
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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