The UEFA Champions League will see a mouth-watering clash between defending champions Real Madrid and Italian giants AS Roma tonight.
Real Madrid coach Julen Lopetegui said his defending champions are ready to start their bid for their fourth consecutive Champions League trophy when they host the Italian side.
Lopetegui said their Group G rivals have even improved from last year when the Italians reached the semi-finals after knocking-out Barcelona and added that Real will have to perform at their highest level to win.
Real Madrid's Spanish defender Sergio Ramos (C) takes part in a training session at the Valdebebas training ground in Madrid, Sept. 18, 2018, on the eve of the UEFA Champions' League football match Real Madrid CF against AS Roma. /VCG Photo
Lopetegui refused again to say which goalkeeper will play in the Champions League, having three time Champions League winner Keylor Navas compete with recently signed Thibaut Courtois for a starting place.
Los Blancos captain Sergio Ramos said Madrid's all-time top goalscorer Cristiano Ronaldo marked an amazing era at the club but that they can't keep living in the past now that the Portuguese is in Italy playing for Juventus, and added the playing style has changed since the Euro 2016 winner moved.
Asked about French striker Antoine Griezmann saying he is "at the same table" of Barca star Lionel Messi and Ronaldo, and hinting he deserves the 2018 Ballon D'Or, Ramos answered saying: "Ignorance is very daring" and advised him to learn different values from people like Atletico's Diego Simeone or Diego Godin.
Roma's Italian midfielder Lorenzo Pellegrini (C) takes part with teammates in a training session at the Trigoria training ground in the outskirts of Rome on the eve of the UEFA Champions League match against Real Madrid. /VCG Photo
On the other hand, last month's draw for the group stage of the 2018-2019 Champions League was a positive one for the Roma, but their opening fixture looks like it will their toughest test of the opening phase.
Eusebio Di Francesco's side begin their campaign with a trip to the Spanish capital against a side which were the European champions in four of the last five seasons.
"I might surprise you. Maybe I will. There are many decisions to make and it will be me making them all. Tomorrow's match is going to be a really difficult one but tomorrow's match is one of those matches that everyone would like to live. That's why we're excited about it," said an upbeat Di Francesco about his side's chances against the Spanish giants.
Daniele De Rossi (L) and coach Eusebio Di Francesco (R) of Roma during press conference the day before Champions League match between Real Madrid and Roma at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid, Spain, Sept. 18, 2018. /VCG Photo
The 'Giallorossi' excelled in last season's competition, knocking out Barcelona in the quarter-finals before falling short in the semis, losing to Liverpool 7-6 on aggregate.
Alessandro Florenzi returned to the team for last Sunday's 2-2 draw with Chievo in the Italian Serie A after recovering from a knee injury and the full back is expected to retain his place at the Santiago Bernabeu.
(Top image: Real Madrid's Spanish coach Julen Lopetegui, left, and Real Madrid's Spanish defender Sergio Ramos, right, arrive to give a press conference at the Valdebebas training ground in Madrid, Sept. 18, 2018, on the eve of the UEFA Champions' League football match Real Madrid CF against AS Roma. /VCG Photo)