Ronaldo can inspire Real Madrid to Roma rout, Wolfsburg to down Gent

Lee Gormley | March 7, 2016

Real Madrid v Roma

Rampant Real seek another Roma rout

Record 10-time Champions League winners Real Madrid go into their last 16 second encounter with Serie A side Roma holding a comfortable 2-0 lead, and will be confident of easing into the quarter-finals after recent domestic drubbings.

Zinedine Zidane’s Los Blancos host their Italian rivals at the Bernabeu after a superb 7-1 demolition of La Liga opponents Celta Vigo, which followed up a simple 3-1 triumph over Levante.

Galacticos forward Cristiano Ronaldo struck in both the first leg and against Levante, but his stand-out exploits came with a four-goal haul last weekend in that thrashing, making him 5/2 with Coral to dispatch two or more on home soil in 90 minutes.

After such impressive form as well as holding a secure 2-0 starting advantage, the hosts are 13/8 to prevail without conceding, having lost just one of their previous 10 outings at the Bernabeu in all competitions.

Hope still there for visiting Romans

Although, Luciano Spalletti’s Roma have cause for optimism against a Real side who were earlier enduring a supposed meltdown, with the visitors having been beaten on only one occasion in four European trips to Madrid’s home patch.

Among those four visits, the Giallorossi succeeded twice and drawn once, while the Eternal City outfit also come into the clash after three positive Serie A results, including a 4-1 trouncing of Fiorentina last time out.

The travelling Romans are therefore 7/1 to triumph in normal time and 20/1 to secure a shock quarter-final progression. A draw may be more realistic, however, and is 17/4 to occur in Spain.

Ronaldo leads scorer threats in Madrid

Portuguese superstar Ronaldo previously faced criticism for his apparent shortcomings in front of goal on the road, but he quickly banished such pressure by opening proceedings in Rome and hitting four goals at the weekend.

In-form Iberian marksman Ronaldo is 11/4 to open the scoring once again, while Wales winger Gareth Bale is 9/2 to strike the game’s last goal and Jese Rodriguez is 7/4 to net anytime, after his successful outing in Rome.

For the visitors, Italy international attacker Stephan El Shaarawy is 11/4 to dispatch anytime after enjoying a return to form in new surroundings, while former Manchester City frontman Edin Dzeko is a 7/2 chance to score in normal time.

The career of legendary Italian icon Francesco Totti looks to be coming to a close and he is 11/2 to strike in this Champions League last 16 second leg match-up.

Wolfsburg v Gent

Wolfsburg look to down defiant Gent

Die Wolfe blew a three-goal lead in their first meeting with Gent, as the defiant Belgians bagged two late strikes to keep their Champions League campaign alive in a 3-2 defeat, but the German hosts will look to edge through on home soil.

At the Volkswagen Arena, Dieter Hecking’s men are 2/1 to win and both teams score, while Gent are 15/2 to cause an upset and progress to the quarter-final stage.

German wing wizard Julian Draxler is 7/1 to bag two or more goals after his double in Belgium, while frontman Max Kruse is 7/2 to open proceedings and follow up his first leg strike in 90 minutes.

For the travelling side, Sven Kums is 7/2 to net in normal time, while Mali international striker is 10/1 to bag the game’s final goal, having done so in the initial meeting.

Related

Read our extensive Champions League archives.

Coral’s top tip: Back Cristiano Ronaldo to bag two or more goals in 90 minutes at 5/2.