Ronaldo and Jese earn Zidane a debut win in the Champions League

Marcelo threat

There was little to separate the sides in a tight first half that finished without a shot on target from either side. Real Madrid full back Marcelo was his side’s most potent weapon, linking up with Cristiano Ronaldo down the left, and the two combined for perhaps the best chance of the first 45 minutes. Ronaldo lifted the ball into the area, and the Brazilian struck a fierce vollet just over the bar.

El Shaarawy’s pace

AS Roma’s Stephan El Shaarawy was the Italian’s biggest threat with his pace and Rafael varane had to be quick across to half him just before halftime. Early in the second half, the striker on loan from AC Milan was clean through but was denied in the one-on-one by an alert Keylor Navas.

Ronaldo goal

Marcelo linked up with Ronaldo again after 57 minutes, as he played the Portugal forward in towards the area. Ronaldo cut back inside Alessandro Florenzi with a clever backheel and curled a shot inside the far post. It was his 12th of the current Champions League campaign.

What a goal! Here's how @Cristiano celebrated firing us ahead in Rome with a golazo! #RMUCL #HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/wowNAj1DBx

— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden) February 17, 2016

Excellent James

The Colombian forward came into his own in the second half providing the telling passes that started to unsettle the Roma defence. He curled in a cross from the right for Ronaldo after 71 minutes, but the Madrid number seven could only guide his header wide of the far post. Soon after, this time from the left, he crossed for Karim Benzema but the Frenchman’s close-range header was blocked by home keeper Wojciech Szczesny.

Jese puts Madrid in control

Roma substitute Edin Dzeko set up William Vainqueur for a shot wich fizzed just wide of Navas's post, but Madrid were finding more and more space behind the home backline. Substitute Jese drove into the area and fired low into the far corner to double the advantage, leaving them in a striong position for the return leg at the Bernabeu on March 8.