| Roma have eliminated Real Madrid to reach the Champions League quarter-finals by winning 2-1 in Spain with Rodrigo Taddei and Mirko Vucinic! The Giallorossi travelled to Madrid with a 2-1 first leg lead to protect and managed to recover Juan from injury, but David Pizarro was on the bench for Alberto Aquilani. Cicinho got the nod ahead of Christian Panucci to face his former club. Real had many fitness concerns, as they were without Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Arjen Robben, Christoph Metzelder, Pep Saviola, Wesley Snejder and the suspended Sergio Ramos, but Robinho was back. Aquilani had the first chance after seven minutes when a corner was rolled out to the D, but he lost his footing. Francesco Totti also failed to make contact from the edge of the box, but there were nervous moments at the other end when Alexander Doni missed Guti's free kick and Amantino Mancini had to clear the danger. Doni did rather better soon after, getting down well to palm a deflected Julio Baptista free kick round the base of the upright. However, Roma went even closer with two stunning efforts from Aquilani on 18 minutes. Aquilani pulled a right-foot snapshot out of nowhere to cannon on to the woodwork from 20 metres. The move continued and Aquilani had another strike pushed out for a corner one-handed by a desperate Iker Casillas. A mistaken De Rossi clearance sent Baptista clear, but he fired over from eight yards under pressure from Philippe Mexes. Mancini's solo effort was deflected over the bar and Aquilani hit another long-range low drive just wide, while Doni comfortably smothered Baptista's attempt. Straight after the restart Baptista curled a free kick from 25 metres over the wall and down on to the top of the crossbar with Doni rooted to the spot. Roma threatened too with a great opportunity. Cicinho was in acres of space down the right and his cutback found Perrotta, but Casillas and his defenders did just enough to clear the danger from six yards. Perrotta nodded a Cicinho cross off target, but Doni had his palms stung by a swerving Mahamadou Diarra attempt from distance. Diarra went off for attacking winger Royston Drenthe, as Real had 30 minutes left and needed to run more risks. Raul's header from a Guti free kick was over, the Doni did well to anticipate Drenthe on a ball over the defence. Miguel Torres replaced the injured Michel Salgado, while striker Mirko Vucinic came on for an unhappy-looking Mancini. Yet the Giallorossi hit the bar for the second time in the match with the substitute. Max Tonetto combined with Vucinic, whose first time left-foot shot cracked against the woodwork. Robinho had a free header at the back post, but Drenthe's cross was too weak and he nodded wide. Pepe hauled down Vucinic as he tried to run into the box from the byeline and it was his second bookable offence, so Real Madrid were reduced to 10 men for the final 20 minutes. Roma took immediate advantage and took the lead at the Bernabeu. Tonetto whipped in a brilliant cross and Rodrigo Taddei got in front of Heinze for a powerful header into the far top corner. Real would not be beaten and fought back within a minute in controversial circumstances. Raul was clearly offside when he gathered from Robinho and placed an angled drive past Doni. Pizarro replaced Perrotta, but the Spaniards were pouring forward in desperation now and a deflected Drenthe cross settled on to the roof of the net. Cicinho wasted a golden opportunity on the counter with three Romanisti against as many Real defenders, as he attempted an audacious chip from 25 metres. The former Madrid full-back made way for another Bernabeu habitue', Christian Panucci. Moments later De Rossi was flagged offside when he almost got a decisive touch to a header back across the face of goal, but he was behind the ball. Roma put the fixture beyond doubt in stoppages with another away goal. Panucci thumped a free kick between Casillas and Fabio Cannavaro for Vucinic's header from six yards to silence the Bernabeu.
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