Real more dangerous without Ronaldo: Alves

Cristiano Ronaldo might be the greatest player in Real Madrid's modern history, but former Barcelona star Dani Alves believes Los Blancos are a more dangerous team after his departure for Juventus this season.

The Portuguese has been instrumental in Real lifting the Champions League four times in the past five seasons and is the all-time top scorer in club football's premier competition with 120 goals.

Tomorrow morning (Singapore time), the Spanish side start their Champions League title defence against last year's semi-finalists AS Roma. It is their first European campaign without Ronaldo since 2009.

                 GROUP G

REAL MADRID

AS ROMA

Ahead of the match, three-time Champions League winner Alves told Madrid-based daily Marca: "I think that, contrary to what everybody thinks, Real are more of a team without Cristiano.

"Now it's a bit more difficult than it was before, before it was complicated for the opposition but (they) focused a lot on Cristiano, and now it's a bit more dangerous, at least because of how I see football and my concept of the game.

"Real are more of a team now, it is obvious that Cristiano is a brutal loss for Real, but Real are Real."

It's a sentiment shared by Roma defender Kostas Manolas, who told Marca: "Ronaldo in recent times has been at an incredible level, the best in the world.

"He has scored so many goals, won a load of Champions Leagues, a European Championship with Portugal, a load of good games...

"He is a champion, but Real will always be Real. Now they play more as a team.

"Now, players like Gareth Bale, who was always behind Ronaldo, like everyone is, are appearing.

"That was logical and now you will see the talent of all the players and the team. The whole team played for him and now it will be stronger. I'm sure."

When asked if Real are a less daunting prospect without Ronaldo, Roma coach Eusebio di Francesco told Madrid-based daily AS: "The results during the first few weeks of the season show that they are still strong.

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"They have more quality with the ball; they make fewer mistakes and they have many leaders...

"(Real coach Julen) Lopetegui is trying to give more organisation, to make them play more together with more aggressiveness.

"Before, it felt like Real would be asleep during games and then wake up suddenly.

"Now I see a more consistent team."

They have more quality with the ball; they make fewer mistakes and they have many leaders AS Roma coach Eusebio di Francesco on Real Madrid post-Cristiano Ronaldo

Two Real players who seem to have woken up are Karim Benzema and Bale, who together with Ronaldo formed Real's BBC attacking trident.

Both have always been capable of genius, as the Welshman proved in last season's Champions League final win over Liverpool, but have never been able to match the consistency of Ronaldo.

But with his 100 million-euro (S$160.1m) departure to Serie A, both seemed to have stepped up their game and taken on added responsibility.

Spanish newspaper El Mundo Deportivo quoted Benzema as saying: "I have more responsibility every year, this year I'm the third captain and I have to show many things that maybe were not as prominent before."

Bale, meanwhile, told The Daily Mail: "Obviously it's going to be a little different from having such a big player there.

"It's maybe a bit more relaxed, yes.

"I suppose there is more of a team, more working as one unit rather than one player."

Los Blancos rested midfielders Casemiro and Isco during their 1-1 away draw with Athletic Bilbao on Sunday, but the pair are expected to return to the starting XI tomorrow morning.

Roma, too, were held on Sunday, as they were booed off the pitch after drawing 2-2 with Chievo Verona, despite taking a 2-0 lead after just 30 minutes.

Big-money signing Javier Pastore is likely to miss the game with a muscle injury.

The side from the Italian capital have not won since the opening day of the season.

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