When Real Madrid face AS Roma at Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday night, José Mourinho will be the centre of attention, not something he enjoys by any stretch of the imagination. The 63 year old remains a god among the Romanisti, having delivered the club's first trophy for 14 years.
Back in 2022, the Giallorossi won the inaugural edition of the UEFA Conference League, beating Feyenoord in Tirana, before also reaching the following year's Europa League Final, defeated on penalties by Sevilla at the Puskás Aréna. Thus, expect Mourinho to be serenaded in the Eternal City.
On the pitch, having beaten Internazionale 2-1 on matchday one, Real Madrid are seeking another victory over a Serie A side. To date, los Blancos have won 49 of 87 clashes with Italian outfits, facing nine different clubs from Italy, only taking on more different opponents from Germany (16).
Amazingly, ahead of Wednesday night's visit to Rome, les Merengues have won each of their last ten matches played in Italy.
Real Madrid's last 9 away games vs Italian clubs
- 10 December 2024: Atalanta 2-3 Real Madrid.
- 3 October 2023: Napoli 2-3 Real Madrid.
- 15 September 2021: Internazionale 0-1 Real Madrid.
- 24 February 2021: Atalanta 0-1 Real Madrid.
- 25 November 2020: Internazionale 0-2 Real Madrid.
- 27 November 2018: Roma 0-2 Real Madrid.
- 3 April 2018: Juventus 0-3 Real Madrid.
- 7 March 2017: Napoli 1-3 Real Madrid.
- 17 February 2016: Roma 0-2 Real Madrid.
Los Blancos have won every match they have played in Italy since a 2-1 defeat against Massimiliano Allegri's Juventus in the Champions League semi-finals of 2015. This sequence also should include the final that Zinédine Zidane's team won against Atlético Madrid on penalties at San Siro in 2016.
Between 2005 and 2015, Real Madrid failed to win any of their eight away games against Italian clubs, losing four of them, dumped out of the Champions League by Juventus in 2005, Roma in 2008 and the Bianconeri again in 2015, as already mentioned.
Thus, an eight match winless streak, followed by nine successive victories, is quite the turnaround. This could be reflective of a wider decline in Serie A, coinciding with Real Madrid's revival, starting with la Décima.
The last time los Merengues were in action at the Olimpico, goals from Gareth Bale and Lucas Vázquez saw Santiago Solari's side beaten Eusebio Di Francesco's team 2-0. During that group phase, they were actually beaten home and away by CSKA Moskva, but still topped the section. Well, a similar away win is forecast, but Gian Piero Gasperini and his team will certainly believe they can spoil Mourinho's Roman return.
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