Old gladiators still on song

It is more than a decade since AS Roma captain Francesco Totti and his Real Madrid CF counterpart Raúl González first crossed swords. Rivals in a UEFA Champions League last-16 contest which reached the midway point with Roma 2-1 in front, the pair first became acquainted in May 1996 when Italy and Spain met in the final of the UEFA European Under-21 Championship. Both found the net in a 1-1 draw before Raúl's missed spot-kick paved the way for Italy to prevail on penalties.

'Two similar people'
Their paths have crossed time and again since during gilded careers which have followed a similar course, both of them spent at their hometown clubs. As Totti acknowledged: "We are two similar people in the sense we've grown up and stayed with the same team, and never wanted to leave." From teenage prodigies to elder statesmen, each remains integral to his club and in a city that knows a thing or two about gladiators, these two standard-bearers underlined their enduring excellence during an absorbing first leg between Roma and Madrid at the Stadio Olimpico.

Key contributions
The montage of the pair that played on the giant screen before kick-off was a prelude to the key contributions both made once the game got under way. Raúl was the first to make his mark. When Guti drove a low shot through a crowd of legs in the Roma penalty area, the Madrid captain reacted instinctively, sticking out a boot to divert the ball beyond Doni for the opening goal. It was his fourth strike in the UEFA Champions League this term and his 60th overall – more than any other player.

Raúl message
Moreover, it was the perfect way to follow up his pre-match message that it was time for Madrid to "restore our prestige in Europe" after three successive losses at this stage. During a first half where the Spanish champions moved the ball around with impressive fluency, Raúl will doubtless have rued missing a chance to extend Madrid's lead when sending a free header wide. The 30-year-old then turned creator to set up Ruud van Nistelrooy for another spurned opportunity and his efforts earned lavish praise from team-mate Arjen Robben afterwards.

A legend
"He is incredible, he is so important for this club, he is a legend," said the Dutch winger. Raúl is certainly flourishing again in an out-and-out forward role in Bernd Schuster’s side this season, having struggled for form at times during the 2006/07 campaign where he was asked to play a more withdrawn role by Fabio Capello. The statistics show he has already surpassed his total of Primera División goals from each of the previous three seasons, having netted eleven to date.

Totti magic
Exactly nine months the Spaniard's senior, Totti is to Roma what Raúl is to Madrid. The Merengues' No7 himself said this week that Totti "provides the magic" in Luciano Spalletti's team yet that magic has been largely missing since Christmas. Although he scored three times in his first two games of 2008, his disappointing form subsequently – a situation not helped by ongoing fitness problems – meant Spalletti was forced to reiterate his faith in his captain on the eve of the Madrid game. Even the stadium announcer got in on the act prior to kick-off, shouting "Totti è sempre Totti" (literally, Totti is always Totti).

Record appearance
It did not appear that way for much of a first half where Totti struggled to find his passing range. After overhitting one attempted pass to Mancini, he then put too much weight on his next ball to Simone Perrotta, prompting a collective groan from the Romanisti. Of course he was not alone in this on a night where Madrid dominated possession but then there is a different level of expectation on the shoulders of Roma's No10 who was making a club-record 65th European appearance.

Perfect understanding
Totti revealed after the match that he had played despite a bout of flu and high temperature but he came good when it counted, producing a moment of magic to set up the winning goal from Mancini shortly before the hour. Collecting a high punt with his back to Madrid defender Gabriel Heinze, he controlled the ball instantly, span away from the Argentinian and threaded the ball through to Mancini, who did the rest. The pair may not speak off the pitch but their understanding here was perfect.

Cause for hope
"Totti tornò Totti," said the Gazzetta dello Sport – or, Totti went back to being Totti. That goal gives Roma real cause for hope when they travel to Spain for the return on 5 March, although the ease with which Madrid created chances in Rome ensured they did not fly home too downhearted. The Santiago Bernabéu should hold no fears for Totti, who scored the only goal when Roma secured their only previous victory there in October 2002, but whether he or Raúl will be smiling at the end of the tie remains to be seen.

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