Real Madrid take firm control of Roma tie

Real Madrid have one foot in the Champions League quarter finals after goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Jese gave them a 2-0 win over Roma at the Stadio Olimpico.

After a tightly contested hour, Ronaldo opened the scoring thanks to some individual brilliance, though his finish was aided by a defelction, and Jese wrapped things up four minutes from time after some mesmeric dribbling of his own.

The visitors enjoyed the best of what chances there were in the first half but they were largely restricted to long-range efforts.

The closest Real came was a dipping volley from the lively Marcelo in the 33rd minute that would have been one of the best goals the competition has witnessed had the ball dropped the other side of the post.

Roma threatened sporadically and might have taken the lead right at the end of the half but for a superb last-ditch tackle from Raphael Varane to deny Stephan El Shaarawy.

El Shaarawy broke through again early in the second half only to be foiled by goalkeeper Keylor Navas, and moments later Ronaldo put Real ahead.

Marcelo played in the forward down the left and he cut inside before unleashing a shot that was deflected past Wojciech Szczesny.

Roma pushed forward in search of an equaliser, and they nearly found it in the 72nd minute but William Vainqueur’s volley flew just past the post.

The Italians were leaving lots of space at the back and both Ronaldo and James Rodriguez missed the target with free headers before Szczesny denied Karim Benzema.

At the other end, substitute Edin Dzeko blasted into the side netting from a tight angle, while Dani Carvajal was extremely fortunate to get away with a rash challenge on Alessandro Florenzi in the box.

Zidane, who scored the winning goal for Real in the 2002 Champions League final, sent on Jese for James in the 82nd minute and four minutes later the striker drove towards goal before firing beyond Szczesny into the bottom corner.