Roma 2 Real Madrid 2: Los Blancos end preseason with penalty shootout defeat as Gareth Bale returns

Bale made his return to the side after a summer of transfer speculation
REUTERS

Real Madrid’s disappointing preseason came to an end with a penalty shootout defeat to Italian side AS Roma in the Mabel Green Cup.

The Stadio Olimpico clash finished 2-2 in normal time, with Brazilian pair Casemiro and Marcelo on target for Zinedine Zidane’s side, while Diego Perotti and Edin Dzeko found the net for the hosts. That forced a shootout, with Marcelo the only player to miss on either side, handing Roma a 5-4 win.

Zidane had recalled Welsh forward Gareth Bale to the matchday squad, but he was forced to settle for a lively second half cameo from the substitutes’ bench, though he did score his spot kick in the shootout, while James Rodriguez was left out altogether.

Real took the lead inside twenty minutes when Luka Modric fed Marcelo, the fullback cutting inside to lash home on his weaker right foot.

Perotti levelled the scores after brilliant work by Nicolo Zaniolo, but the Spanish side were back in front soon after when Marcelo’s cross was headed home by Casemiro.

The lead did not survive until half-time, however, as Dzeko fired home almost immediately to make it 2-2.

Bale twice went close to a winner after his introduction midway through the second period, while former Chelsea man Eden Hazard was withdrawn after another quiet display.

After eight perfect penalties in the shootout, Leonardo Spinnazzola stepped up to make it 5-4 to Roma and leave Marcelo no margin for error with the final regulation kick, but he saw his effort come back off the crossbar.

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