Isco and Gareth Bale score as Real Madrid sweep aside Roma

Gareth Bale and Isco both scored as Real Madrid began their quest for a fourth consecutive Champions League crown with a comfortable 3-0 win over Roma.

Madrid showed no signs of a hangover from their repeated successes as they created a host of chances, although it look until the stroke of half-time for them to score. Isco was the man to break the deadlock, curling in a lovely free-kick.

Having earlier hit the bar, Gareth Bale added a well-earned second after being but through by a brilliant Luka Modric pass, and substitute Mariano Diaz completed the scoring in stoppage time with a sensational effort from outside the penalty area.

It would have been more where it not for Robin Olsen in the Roma goal and some wasteful finishing from the home side.

On the night where Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off in his first Champions League game for Juventus, his former team showed few, if any, signs of missing him with this dominant a display.

New manager, same Madrid dominance. There’s no Ronaldo and Zinedine Zidane is also gone, but on this evidence Madrid are still the team to beat in the Champions League. They were utterly dominant, creating chances seemingly at will and only poor finishing prevented Roma - semi-finalists last season - from being embarrassed. There are bigger tests to come, but Madrid made a statement in how easily they passed this one and the likes of Bale and Isco look to be thriving in the new system.

Isco (Real Madrid). One of Julen Lopetegui’s big calls was to pick Isco over Marco Asensio and Isco repaid his faith, causing Roma plenty of problems with his movement and interplay. What Real needed more than anything else was the first goal and it was Isco who delivered - having twice tested the goalkeeper earlier - with an excellent free-kick.

3’ - CHANCE! Bale comes in from the right and Kroos clips an exquisite ball over the top, which he takes down brilliantly, and the Welshman then lashes a shot inches wide, with Olsen static in the Roma goal.

38’ - SAVE! Ramos meets a deep corner with a well-placed header and Olsen acrobatically tips over the bar.

45’ - GOAL! Real Madrid 1-0 Roma (Isco). It's Isco who takes the free-kick and he clips it over the wall and into the corner! Olsen left that side of the goal wide open and didn't even move.

51’ - OFF THE BAR! Marcelo comes inside far too easily as tees up Bale, who crashes a shot into the crossbar!

58’ - GOAL! Real Madrid 2-0 Roma (Bale). Roma lose possession after taking a short corner, Modric unleashes Bale with a perfectly-weighted pass and he then lashes home from a tight angle. A brilliant, clinical goal.

79’ - SAVE! Isco crosses low for Asensio, who exhibits sublime control to take the ball on the turn, but Olsen then denies him what would have been a great, no-look goal.

90+2 - GOAL! Real Madrid 3-0 Roma (Mariano). The substitute Mariano turns Manolas inside-out with a smart first touch and then curls a brilliant effort into the top corner from 20 yards. Sublime.

Real Madrid: Navas 7, Carvajal 6, Varane 6, Ramos 6, Marcelo 7, Casemiro 7, Kroos 6, Modric 8, Isco 8, Bale 7, Benzema 6. Subs: Asensio 6, Mariano 7, Ceballos n/a.

Roma: Olsen 5, Florenzi 5, Manolas 5, Fazio 5, Kolarov 5, Zaniolo 5, De Rossi 5, N.Zonzi 5, Under 6, El Shaarawy 4, Dzeko 4. Subs: Pellegrini 5, Perotti 5, Schick 4.

Real Madrid’s last 11 Champions League games have all featured at least three goals.

Mariano scored with his first attempt on goal in the Champions League.

Roma have played Real 11 times in the Champions League, more than any other team, and lost seven of those matches.