Real slip up in Rome

AS Roma ‘s midfielder David Marcelo Cortez Pizarro’s winner means there was no Roman holiday for Real Madrid [AFP]

AS Roma beat nine-time winner Real Madrid 2-1 in the first leg of the Champions League’s second round.

Brazilian midfielder Amantini Mancini scored the winning goal in the 58th minute off a pass from Roma captain Francesco Totti.

Raul Gonzalez had given Madrid the lead in the eighth, adding to his Champions League scoring record with his 60th goal in the competition.

Chile midfielder David Pizarro then equalised for Roma in the 24th.

“The most important thing was that the guys didn’t lose focus after they scored,” Roma coach Luciano Spalletti said.

“They remained calm and waited for their chances. That showed maturity.”

Madrid had a significant edge in ball possession but the Spanish side made costly defensive lapses.

“The team didn’t disappoint me. I was satisfied with our play,” Madrid coach Bernd Schuster said.

“The only regret for tonight is the result. But we did the only thing that was really essential, and that was to score a goal. That gives is confidence now going back to play in our own stadium, in front of our fans.”

Madrid had won each of its three previous games with Roma at Stadio Olimpico, the last two by three-goal margins, but has now failed to win all three of its away games in this season’s competition.

Bernd Schuster: No love for his countryman [AFP]

Schuster fumes

Schuster cast blame on German referee Herbert Fandel.

“He’s my countryman but tonight he didn’t deserve to be,” Schuster said.

“He missed a lot of calls, offsides, and fouls. He didn’t have a handle on the game.”

Roma hasn’t lost a home game in Europe since falling to Madrid on December 8, 2004, in a match played without fans. Since then, Roma has compiled 10 wins and four draws at the Stadio Olimpico.

Madrid scored on its first opportunity, with Raul deflecting in a shot from outside the area by Jose Maria “Guti” Gutierrez.

Roma had a chance to equalise a minute later but Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas collected Marco Cassetti’s shot, which was also deflected.

In the 10th, Madrid forward Ruud van Nistelrooy had a goal annulled for offside.

Roma left Raul unmarked inside the area in the 21st and his header off a cross from Arjen Robben missed wide.

The play that led to Roma’s equaliser began with a cross into the area from Mancini.

The ball deflected off Totti, allowing Pizarro to run in and send in a shot that deflected in off Fernando Gago, who was still down on the ground after stopping Totti.

Van Nistelrooy nearly put Madrid ahead again in the 29th following a setup from Raul, but the Dutchman’s sliding shot went wide.

Roma turned the ball over in the 42nd and midfielder Daniele De Rossi was constricted to foul Raul, drawing a yellow card. Guti’s ensuing free kick banged off Roma’s wall.

Madrid controlled to start the second half, with Roma unable to get the ball to Totti amid double coverage.

That all changed when a defender fell down and Totti set up Mancini with a perfect pass up the middle, which the Brazilian took and dribbled around Casillas to angle the ball into an empty net.

Madrid defender Sergio Ramos was cautioned for a foul on Juan in the 69th and will miss the second leg due to accumulated cards.

Van Nistelrooy hit the post in the 80th as Madrid pressed to draw even.

Madrid defender and Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro played in his 100th European match.

Advantage Schalke: Kevin Kuranyi celebrates [AFP]

Kuranyi puts Schalke in front

Meanwhile, Kevin Kuranyi scored a fourth-minute goal to lift Schalke over FC Porto 1-0 in their first leg encounter.

The Germany forward hit a low show inside the far post after Porto goalkeeper Helton had saved an effort from Rafinha.

“I think we did OK with the 1-0 today,” said Kuranyi, who missed some chances Friday against rival VfL Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga.

“I wanted to make up for what I didn’t do against Wolfsburg.”

Schalke won its 50th game in 100 European contests and spoiled the Portuguese club’s return to Veltins Arena.

Porto won the 2004 Champions League title in the stadium under then-coach Jose Mourinho.

Schalke was making its first appearance in the tournament’s knockout stage and controlled play during the first half.

“If you look at the first 45 minutes, we should have scored another goal. Then they showed they could play, too,” Schalke coach Mirko Slomka said.

“The outcome remains the one we wanted, a win to zero.”

Ricardo Quaresma almost had Porto level in the 80th minute, crossing to Lisandro Lopez, whose feet-first attempt from close spun just right of the post.

Two minutes earlier, during Porto’s best phase, Raul Meireles forced Schalke goalkeeper Manuel Neuer to parry the ball over the crossbar.

But Porto were harmless until those waning minutes, failing to capitalise on the German team’s tentative play after a strong opening 20 minutes.