Maquinaria Lorenzana S.A.

A poor display from Real, who lost 1-0 to Roma, though they had six clear chances in the first half. They face United on 2 August with nothing to play for

There’s no need to do the sums to see if Madrid will make it to Miami. A goal from Totti in the 57th minute didn’t send them home, but does leave Ancelotti’s side stuck rather pointlessly in the US 'til the 2 August, when they play Manchester United with nothing at stake for the Spanish side. Madrid are unable to qualify for the final in the Sun Life Stadium after last night’s 1-0 defeat to Roma.

Just about the only moment of joy for the Real Madrid fans in the 57,512 crowd in the Cotton Bowl was seeing Cristiano Ronaldo’s face on the huge video screen in the 20th and 79th minutes. That just about sums up Real Madrid’s game in Dallas. A disappointment for the US fans and a let-down for those staying up all night at home, particularly because the end of the match was an absurd spectacle, with more than 30 individuals leaping onto the pitch and interrupting the game for a number of minutes.

The game was played in 27 C° heat and 68% humidity, with the referee obliged to give the players a time out in the first half. “It’s the best place to prepare, because of the opposition and the facilities”, said Ancelotti after the first game of the tournament. The first competitive game of the season, on 12 August in Cardiff, will prove him right or wrong. Casillas, Ramos, Xabi Alonso and Modric played their first pre-season game yesterday. The main talking points were the Croat staying out on the left and Xabi a little further forward than usual, in front of Illarra. Iker had nothing to do, because Roma didn’t get close to Madrid’s box in the first half. This tournament has such a feeling of a real competition that Diego López ran up for a corner at the end to try and keep his side in it. But it wasn’t to be. He couldn’t fix the misses of the first half and the muddle of the second.

The game had started brightly for Madrid, when in the 2nd minute a freekick from Modric from the left was nodded just wide by Ramos. Very similar to that unforgettable goal in the 93rd minute in Lisbon. Madrid wasted several more chances in the first half. Isco hit a defender in the 4th minute, Bale messed up a clear chance in the 19th, and Ramos again had keeper Skorupski in trouble from a Modric corner in the 40th. Lucas came close just two minutes later, but the keeper soured his night. The pink strip didn’t bring any luck on its first time out.

In the second half Ancelotti made four changes: Diego, Arbeloa, Nacho and De Tomás for Iker, Pepe, Coentrao and Lucas. He kept Isco on for the whole game, alternating with Bale in the false nine position. Carvajal and Illarra also palyed the whole match. But the side lacked a lethal edge. In the 57th minute Totti dummied a ball that ended up with Florenzi, whose cross came back to Totti himself. Il Capitano scored with his right and left Madrid groggy for the rest of the game.