| Roma have beaten Real Madrid 2-1 at the Olimpico with David Pizarro and a fantastic Amantino Mancini goal. These two sides clashed for the fourth time in seven seasons, although this was their first meeting in a knockout round. The record was of four Merengues wins, a draw and a 1-0 Roma victory at the Bernabeu. Daniele De Rossi was able to play despite suffering from a flu virus, while former Barcelona star Ludovic Giuly was preferred to Rodrigo Taddei. Ex-Real Madrid man Christian Panucci took on his old club and Juan returned from injury. Fabio Cannavaro stepped back on to Italian soil, but Real were without the injured Pepe, Wesley Sneijder and Robinho. It took just eight minutes to break the deadlock. Guti's left-foot strike from the edge of the box took a touch off Raul to leave Alexander Doni stranded. It was the worst possible start for Luciano Spalletti's men and Giuly seemed to be keeping Raul in play. Marco Cassetti fought back, bringing a save out of Iker Casillas with a powerful shot, while Amantino Mancini held up the ball for Simone Perrotta's effort charged down by the defence. Ruud Van Nistelrooy hit the back of the net for a second time, but was clearly offside when Arjen Robben's shot was parried. Gabriel Heinze returned from injury and a sliding tackle cut short Mancini's progress, but Real seemed content to keep the tempo down. Van Nistelrooy fell under a Juan challenge, but the referee waved play on. Real nearly doubled their advantage with Raul's header from a Robben assist skimming the upright. But the Italians drew level on 25 minutes. Mancini's cross from the left was not cleared effectively by Heinze and David Pizarro made the most of it by unleashing a rocket that settled under the bar. It may have taken a deflection off Fernando Gargo. Raul threaded through for Van Nistelrooy to hit the side-netting, then Mancini nodded a Pizarro free kick off target and after the restart Casillas smothered a Mancini set-piece. Giuly wasted a promising chance and Panucci closed down Van Nistelrooy, while Doni came flying out to stop the Dutchman after he had skipped past Philippe Mexes. Roma turned the game around with a moment of magic. Francesco Totti hooked down a long ball to abandon Heinze, then flicked with the outside of his foot to send Mancini clear and the Brazilian waltzed round Casillas for the cool finish. Alberto Aquilani replaced Pizarro and the match changed with Roma now able to hit Real on the counter. Doni parried Robben's effort into the path of Van Nistelrooy, but Juan was ready to clear for a corner. Sergio Ramos was booked and will be suspended for the second leg at the Bernabeu. Gago and Sergio Ramos drilled off target from distance, while Real threw on Julio Baptista and Royston Drenthe for the final 11 minutes. The substitutions had an immediate effect, as 60 seconds later Van Nistelrooy thumped the upright to Doni's left on Drenthe's assist. Julio Baptista fired wide and Drenthe wanted a spot-kick for minimal contact with Mexes.
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