Roma drew first blood in the opening fixture of the Australian leg of the International Champions Cup after defeating Real Madrid 7-6 on penalties at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday afternoon.
Both sides failed to find the net during the 90 minutes of play with Madrid eventually succumbing to defeat when Seydou Keita slotted home from the spot after Morgan De Sanctis earlier saved a Lucas Vazquez penalty, handing coach Rafael Benitez defeat in his opening fixture.
Although a friendly, both managers named strong sides in front of a reported 80,746 supporters at the MCG.
Recent speculation of Sergio Ramos’ future at Los Blancos did little to deter Benitez from starting the veteran defender alongside a star-studded backline featuring. Raphael Varane, Dani Carvajal and Marcelo in defence. Luka Modric, Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and 16-year-old prodigy Martin Odegaard were also handed starts.
Meanwhile, Rudi Garcia made the most of his talented squad calling on the likes of Ashley Cole, Maicon, Daniele De Rossi, Francesco Totti and Gervinho to feature in their opening encounter of the friendly competition.
It was Roma who got off to a livelier start with winger Gervinho testing the solidity of Madrid’s defence with a mazy runs in the opening exchanges.
There was no reprieve for Benitez’s men though as the Giallorossi nearly drew first blood after a corner in the fourth minute fell kindly for De Rossi who smashed a half-volley onto the crossbar before a follow-up shot from Totti was cleared off the line.
Moments later, Los Blancos had a chance of their own on the other side of the pitch as a clever dink found Bale in space in the box but the Welshman could not keep his shot down.
But while Madrid’s attacking triumvirate could only muster half-chances, Garcia’s men sought to up the ante as Totti linked up well with Iago Falque before the former was withdrawn after half an hour’s play.
Dani Carvajal, though, had the pick of the chances in the closing stages of the half as Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa could only clear a Jese cross as far as the wing-back whose shot narrowly fizzed past the top right corner.
And the second half began in the similar vein as the first as Roma’s fresh legs looked keen to place Madrid on the back foot. However, it was Bale who should’ve put Los Blancos ahead when his header off a corner in the 53rd minute sailed wide of the goal.
Moments later, Karim Benzema was gifted a half-chance a Denis Cheryshev cross found the attacker on the edge of the area and the Frenchman was unable to direct his shot on goal.
The final 10 minutes of the half saw the match explode into life as both sides sought to break the deadlock. Vazquez was spectacularly denied by De Sanctis after some brilliant link-up play involving Isco and Benzema before a Destro shot moments later could only find the upright.
The game, though, was marred when referee Mark Clattenburg failed to award a penalty after Vasilis Torisidis seemingly handled the ball in the area.
Eventually, Roma captain Seydou Keita sealed the win for the Giallorossi in a tense penalty shoot-out after a De Sanctis denied Vazquez who was the only player to miss as the Giallorossi claimed the two points.
