Roma overcome Madrid on spot kicks to seal Mabel Green Cup

A highly entertaining game at the Stadio Olimpico ended 2-2 with the Serie A side winning the cup after a penalty shoot out with Marcelo missing his kick. 

Thoughts for Zidane, now turn to the 2019-20 campaign after a disappointing pre-season as his Real Madrid side travel to Galicia to face Celta next weekend.

So it's AS Roma who take the 2019 Mabel Green Cup in what has been a highly entertaining game.  

Pressure on Marcelo now who has to score.... The Brazilian misses and Roma win the Mabel Green Cup. (5-4) 

Final taker of the five for Roma is Spinazzola... he scores 5-4

Modric for Madrid ..The Croatian scores (4-4).

Roma's fourth taker is Cristante and makes no mistake (4-3) 

Third taker for Madrid is Bale. The Welsh striker scores (3-3). 

Next up for Roma is Antonucci, and he scores (3-2)

Real Madrid's second taker is Isco, the Spaniard fires home (2-2)

Roma's second spot kick taker os Under...The Turkish international player scores (2-1)

Next up for Real Madrid is Kroos ... and the German player scores (1-1)

Kolarov first up for Roma ... and he slots home. 1-0

Smiles all round as both teams get ready for the penalty kicks to decide the winner of the Mabel Green Cup. The penalties will take place in the Curva Sud goal. 

All over.... 2-2 so we head to spot kicks. 

Vinicius fires wide with possibly the last chance of the night. 

Decent showing from the Cardiff born striker as Antonucci fires into the side netting for Roma 

Bale almost makes it three for Madrid as his left footed effort zips just wide of the post.

Looks like we're bound for penalties with 3' of time to be added. Roma look very very tired now.  

Madrid well on top now as we head to the final minutes of the action

Dangerous free for Madrid ... Kroos delivers but easy for the Roma rear guard. Ball falls to Bale and he tries a spectacular affort from a very acute angle.

We saw Madrid lose their way when Casemiro was subbed against RB Salzburg but the side haven't suffered without the Brazilian tonight.  

I've covered plenty of pre-season games this summer, and can safely say that this (without shadow of a doubt) has been the most entertaining and exciting !

Great effort from Bale who almost finds the net from a excellent delivery from Isco.

Both Pau Lopez and Courtois have been excellent tonight and both instrumental in keeping the score-line to 2-2

Vinicius now goes close fro Madrid forcing Pau to save well.

Decent delivery from Bale which Kolarov nods clear.

Under fires on goal but fails to get accuracy and power on his left footed effort.

Less than 15'...left... We'll have penalties to see who the winner of the Mabel Green Cup is  ... Just as that Jovic goes very close ! 

 Antonucci on for Zaniolo

Dzeko off / Schick on

More AS Roma changes coming up...

Roma look very very good indeed. 

Pressure from Madrid ... Roma clear but only for another corner kick 

Very very discreet performance from the Belgian player who is still some way off his best...  

Isco on- Hazard off

Perotti makes way for Kluivert

Dzeko blazes over from close range

Pellegrini off - A. Diawara on for Roma

Kluivert posed to come on 

End to end stuff as first Roma have a chance and then Vinicius breaks well and finds Jovic who fires straight at Pau.

Militao carded for a rash challenge cutting out a Roma counter 

Pellegrini off for Roma - Spinazzola on

Odriozola on too - Carvajal making way for the former Real Sociedad man

Kroos and Bale on for Madrid - Benzema and Casemiro making way 

All square here in the Olimpico

20-year-old Zaniolo manages to out-muscle Casemiro but the ref feels the Roma man fouled the Brazilian and whistles. 

A major drop in in intensity of this second half. We were spoilt somewhat by the excellemnt firts 45'.   

Three touches of the ball and three shocking mistakes from Vinicius. Not a great start from the Brazilian as Benzema (a constant source of danger) fires at Pau.

Gareth Bale starts to warm up alongside Toni Kroos. 

Madrid break but a poor pass from Vinicius causes the move to break down. An even start to the second half. No changes so for for the Serie A side.   

Madrid caught napping in defence again as Under is in acres of space and his cross is snuffed out. A repeat of what we saw in the game against Fenerbahçe.. poor defefding from the visitors.

What a strike from Benzema, a right footed bullet destined for the top corner and only a fine save from Lopez prevents Madrid from taking the lead.

Bale almost makes it 3 early in the second half but his effort is deflected for a corner.

Off we go....

Fede & Nacho off for Vinicius & Jovic.

The teams start to make their way back to pitch and this being a pre-season game will see the habituakl raft of changes.  

Real Madrid target getting some stick from the PSG fans tonight at Parc des Princes with banners of "Neymar, get lost" being displayed.

The whistle sounds to break the end of a highly entertaining 45' in Rome. 

"Handbags" between Marcelo and Zaniolo as they both throw the ball at each other.... Ref. Fabbri has a word and we're back in action.

Marcelo goes to ground in the box but the ref. waves play on. 2 minutes of time to be added.  

Modric latches well onto a breaking ball but fires straight at Pau in the AS Roma goal.  

Casemire goes close again, and as before Marcelo supplyimng the cross. 

Great assit from Under and the former Man City striker rifles past Courtois. What a game here in the Italian capital ! 

Great Brazilian link-up with Marcelo providing the assist. A great leap from Casemiro to get his head on the ball.

The very quiet tonight, Hazard drives the ball into the box and the Roma defence clear for a  corner. 

Attempts on goal: AS Roma 9-2 Real Madrid 

Roma break again and are carving through the Real Madrid defence with an ease that will alarm Zidane. 

Dzeko almost bags Roma's second, firing a curled effort which just drifts wide.

Certainly a deserved goal for the local side and once again what play by the 20-year-old Zaniolo!!!

30' gone and not a hair out of place for Nacho who is sporting some George Michael -esque 'Faith era' blonde streaks !

Water break !

Corner for Roma who still look the better side despite the adverse scoreline.

Zidane cutting an animated figure on the bench tonight, yelling instructions constantly to his men on the touchline.

The initial pace of the game has dropped with the heat a possible factor. We'll have a cooling break at the 35' mark. 

Zaniolo looks like a fine talent with the 20-year-old creating danger each time he embarks on his right wing runs.

Courtois saves Real Madrid once again as Roma thread the ball well into an attacking position and the Belgian keeper punches the ball away from danger from Dzeko.  

Real Madrid start their 2019-20 LaLiga campaign Saturday next with a trip to Galicia to play Celta Vigo. 

It appeared that Zaniolo did catch the Brazilian as play is held up.

Casemiro seems to have taken a blow to the face and needs medical assitance.  

Fine pass from Modric and good work from the Brazilian cutting in and firing home with his right foot.

It looks like Madrid are the team starting their leage campaign in two weeks with AS Roma looking sharper and more precise. 

What a strike from Perotti, catching the ball beautifully on the volley and forcing Courtois to save well.

Little from Hazard so far this evening with Real Madrid giving the ball away too cheaply.

Turkish international Cengiz Ünder looking sharp for Roma tonight. Instrumental in all the positive attacks for the Giallorossi. 

Roma combine well again with the ball falling to Under who fires straight at Courtois.

Roma hit the bar (through Under) and have the edge in the opening phase of tonight's action!

Last night we saw the Italian teams a step behind the Spanish sides in terms of fitness which is understandable given the start date of Serie A being a week later than that of LaLiga.

Very good pace to the game already with the local fans in fine voice.

Fede almost scores for Madrid latching onto a delfecled ball but again the flag was up 

Roma almost take the lead as the ball bounces to Pellegrini and the No. 7 miscues but the flag was up.

The pitch at the Olimpico looks extremely green tonight .... (okay..I know pitches are supposed to look green, but this looks spray paint green!) We'll get a pic up later to prove the "greenness" ; ) 

Micheal Fabbri (our ref tonight) sounds his whistle and we're underway

Madrid come into the game on the back of two wins (vs. Fenerbahçe and RB Salzburg) and will be anxious to maintain this positive dynamic.

The teams are on the pitch and pose for the pre-match snap.... 

Interesting to see how Pau Lopez fares with his new side after an impressive season with Real Betis.

The Real Madrid subs make their way towards the away team bench as the home fans are already making plenty of noise singing the AS Roma hymn. 

A decent crowd at the Olimpico tonight, not a full house but a packed Curva Sud. 

A reminder of the starting XI's ahead of tonight's game:

Nice graphic job for @VinnoT86 for the game ! 

Valencia and Inter Milan drew 1-1 at Mestalla with Getafe overcoming Atalanta 4-1. Valladolid were beaten Brescia 1-2 and Celta lost at home to Lazio by the same scoreline.   

It's been a big week-end for LaLiga vs Serie A sides facing each other in pre-season friendly games. We saw Barça beat a poor Napoli side 4-0 last night and earlier Atletico saw off Juve 2-1...

A muggy evening in the Italian capital with a current temperature of 32c. 0% possibility of rain dueing the 90'.  

...with AS Roma too in their iconic claret home kit too.

Real Madrid will wear their traditional classic white kit this evening.

So Gareth Bale made the squad for tonight's game in Rome but will Zidane give the Welsh striker playing time ?

This is the trophy both teams are playing for tonight in Rome, the Mabel Green Cup

So a final test for Zinedine Zidane and his Real Madrid side as the curtain comes down on their 2019-20 pre-season activity. A far from impressive number of displays from "Los Blancos" is already ringing alarm bells with fans world wide as the LaLiga season starts next weekend. A decent performance rtionight in rome will at least gloss over some of the earlier poor outings.

A little more info on the Mabel Green Cup 

The action gets underway at the Stadio Olimpico at 20.00 CEST. 

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of AS Roma vs Real Madrid. Zidane's last pre-season test ahead of the first LaLiga game next weekend.