- 70'
Why no substitutions for Real? Surely this is an ideal chance to give another run-out to Owen, or Moreientes?
- 69'
Ronaldo is taken out by Cufre as he attempts to launch a one-man counter-attack. No card, despite the cynical nature of the foul.
- 68'
Figo breaks in to the area, but in attempting to control the ball, flicks it into his face. Cue howls of derision from the crowd...
- 66'
Roma have a rare spell of possession but can't really carve out a chance of any description.
- 65'
Candela, one of the few Roma players to have shown any great enthusiasm tonight, breaks in to the box and forces a good challenge from Helguera.
- 64'
Dellas smiles wryly as he clatters in to Carlos in the area; a perfectly-timed challenge.
- 62'
Zidane is booked for a challenge on Ferrari. Needless foul, really, considering the circumstances.
- 61'
Replays have confirmed my initial view that it was a very soft penalty decision. The goal has all-but sealed Madrid's passage through to the knock-out stages - and sealed also a very tedious half-hour in Rome.
- 60'
GOAL! Figo banishes the memories of his earlier Champions League miss by slamming home the spot kick.
- 59'
PENALTY! Ronaldo wonderfully beats five Roma defenders on the break, and, sensing he was running out of puff, threw himself to the ground under the weakest of challenges from Dellas.
- 58'
This time it's Figo who fizzes a cross in to the box, only to find that Raul is the solitary white-vested figure in the area.
- 57'
In a way, I think the Roma fans will be glad they weren't allowed to watch this match; since Ronaldo's ninth minute goal, it has been fork-stabbingly bad entertainment.
- 56'
Zidane brilliantly finds Ronaldo in space in the box, but the striker's shot is lame and straight at the goalkeeper.
- 54'
Beckham sends over another cross, but there's only Raul in the box. Though they're not sitting on their lead, Madrid are hardly desperate to get a second.
- 52'
Candela and Corvia have shown tonight for Roma; they'll be big pluses for the Italian side. Like Corvia, Aquilani is another youngster who has played well.
- 51'
Leverkusen are beating Kiev, I'm told; that means,as things stand, the Germans win the group.
- 50'
Beckham finds himself on the right wing. "I remember this place," he thinks, and swings over a decent cross which narrowly eludes Raul.
- 49'
A lovely move between Zidane, Raul and Ronaldo results in the Brazilian firing a low shot straight at Pelizzoli.
- 48'
It would have been good if there was an English team in this match; all the comments from the sidelines are perfectly clear. We could have got a real insight in to what manager's actually shout at their players.
- 47'
Real know they have to hang on to what they have, and not get sloppy, and they're still playing with a fair amount of enthusiasm.
- 46'
No sign of any half-time substitutions as Roma kick off the second half.
- 45'
HALF-TIME: Ronaldo settles Real's nerves with an early goal, but it's been drab otherwise. I predict one of the worst second-halfs in history.
- 44'
Cufre smashes an incredible shot in from around 35 yards out, which Casillas beats clear. That came from nowhere.
- 43'
Lots of cute little passes around the edge of the Roma box, but the Real playmakers can't find a way through to Ronaldo or Raul.
- 42'
Aquilani wins a free-kick, but Roma don't take the chance to load a few men in the box. Instead, they play the ball across the back-line for a few moments before finding Corvia in the box; the youngster's shot is well blocked, though.
- 41'
Figo cuts inside on the edge of the box, but fires a left-foot shot high over the bar. He looks disappointed.
- 40'
So, not long remaining in the first half. It's been a fairly drab affair; unsurprising, really. Real have got their goal and are content to play the ball about with ease.
- 38'
Ronaldo and Raul combine brilliantly, but the Spanish captain's shot is wide of the left-hand post. Great move, though.
- 36'
The draw for the last 16 won't be made until December 17, but there are some good sides through to the knockout stages already - and Real look like joining them.
- 34'
Real keep the ball for a few moments before Zidane finds Carlos 30 yards out and the left-back fizzes a low shot straight at Pelizzoli.
- 33'
Ronaldo bursts brilliantly in to the box and almost skips past two defenders. Unfortunately, he forgets to take the ball with him...
- 32'
Corvia fires a fizzing shot over the bar, but Casillas wasn't worried. The home side are starting to look a little more dangerous, but not much.
- 31'
Candela takes the set-piece, and his curling effort clips the top of the cross bar with Casillas sprawling.
- 30'
Delvecchio goes to ground under pressure from Helguera, and the home side have a chance to shoot from the free-kick.
- 28'
I wonder whether there was a match programme printed for tonight's match? That will be a collectors' item in the future.
- 26'
Real look very comfortable on the ball now that they know they have the advantage. This could be a long night for Roma.
- 25'
Candela wins another corner after pushing forward down the left. Again the cross goes deep, but this time Perrotta's shot is high and wide.
- 24'
Zindane bursts through the Roma defence, finds Ronaldo, but the Brazilian's prod through to Raul is cut out.
- 23'
Ronaldo makes another wonderful run, but Guti's pass is a little too heavy and the goalkeeper slides out to collect.
- 22'
Real are committing players forward when they attack, safe in the knowledge that Roma have little to hurt them on the break.
- 21'
Selgado swings over another good cross, but Raul - can only loop his header in to the hands of Pelizzoli.
- 20'
Beckham finds Ronaldo with a superb 40 yard pass, but the Brazilian, under pressure from Cufre, stubs his shot wide.
- 19'
Walter Samuel - a former AS Roma player - gives away a foul on the half-way line, but again the free-kick is wasted.
- 18'
It's all been very quiet on the pitch since Ronaldo's goal. Although the players are trying hard to make it otherwise, it really just seems like a training excercise.
- 17'
Actually, when there are no fans in this stadium, it looks a bit shabby; a run-down, patchwork of a ground. It's hard to believe it hosted the World Cup final only 14 years ago.
- 15'
Selgado breaks in to the box after being found by Figo. His cross eventually finds Raul, but his spin-and-shot is well off-target.
- 15'
Antonio Cassano and Frescesco Totti have both been linked with moves to Real recently; neither, though, play tonight.
- 13'
Candela shoots, very speculatively, from 30 yards; well, well wide. They seem to lack a cutting edge in midfield.
- 12'
Delvecchio is caught off-side for the third time in twelve minutes. Replays show it was Zidane, and not Beckham, who slipped the ball through to Ronaldo. My apologies.
- 10'
Aquilani is fouled by Guti in the centre circle, but Real win the ball back. They seem very keen to break at pace tonight.
- 9'
If Real go a second goal up, the rest of the match is sure to be played out very quietly indeed.
- 8'
GOAL! Ronaldo is found in the box by Beckham and the chubby Brazilian lifts the ball over Pelizzoli to put Madrid one-up.
- 7'
It must be difficult for the Roma players tonight; they have nothing but pride at stake, but no fans to inspire them to anything above the ordinary.
- 6'
Helguera is penalised for a foul on Coriva, but Real clear easily. Remember, only a victory will do for Real tonight. It would be unthinkable for them not to qualify, wouldn't it?
- 5'
A Candela shot deflects of Selgado and Roma have their second corner. It goes deep to Mexes, who's volley deflects off Guti for another corner.
- 4'
Zidane has been influential in the opening minutes; his touch is assured as ever. I'm told there are about 170 people in the stadium, including 130 journalists.
- 3'
Casillas takes a Roma corner comfortably, and immediately looks to set up a Real counter attack.
- 2'
Figo finds Ronaldo unmarked at the far post, but the Brazilian heads wide from 10 yards. Great chance, and Pelizzoli was well beaten.
- 1'
Real kick off to a few quiet handclaps from the ball-boys. This is very strange.
Roma appear to be lining up with a 3-4-3 system, while Madrid go for a fluid 4-4-2. This should be an interesting battle, but with much more at stake for Real, I expect the visitors to triumph. I have been known to be wrong, however.
Oddly, despite a complete lack of fans, the players are still lining up and listening to the Champions League anthem. It's all very erie in the Olympic Stadium tonight.
Roma, assured of bottom place in the group, have selected a weakened side for the match, though Marco Delvecchio is sure to be a threat to Real's dodgy defence.
Michael Owen starts on the bench for Maadrid, who have David Beckham starting alongside Figo and Zidane in midfield.
Hi readers; welcome to live commentary of Real Madrid's crucial match in Roma - being played, of course, in an empty stadium because of crowd trouble at an earlier Roma match.
A gigantic match for Real Madrid - they must beat Roma in the Stadio Olympico to have a chance of reaching the next phase. All the action, live from 19.45 UK.
PSGParis Saint-Germain
