The lowdown Both clubs have changed head coach since they made their respective journeys into the knockout phase, Roma reaching back to their past by returning Luciano Spalletti to the post six-and-a-half years after he finished his first, innovative spell there, and Madrid also harking back to former glories with the appointment of Zinedine Zidane, once an epoch-defining Madrid player. Two teams inclined to brisk counter-attack should provide goals.
How they got here
Madrid They produced one of the competition's more embarrassingly one-sided scorelines when they walloped Malmo of Sweden 8-0 in their last group match. They finished top thanks to having edged Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 at home. The clubs from the Spanish and French capitals cleaned up easily in their remaining games against Shaktar Donetsk and the mauled Malmo.
Roma will not want to look back too closely on their previous trip to Spain when they go to Madrid for the second leg. They lost 6-1 to Barcelona at Camp Nou in the group phase. But they still did just enough – including drawing 1-1 at home against Barca – to qualify ahead of Bayer Leverkusen.
Key players
Karim Benzema, Madrid The France striker, who is close to Zidane, becomes ever more important to Madrid as Cristiano Ronaldo's regularity as a goalscorer dips – CR7 has been accumulating lots of goals but with more blank days than usual between them – and Gareth Bale struggles with injury.
Radja Naingollan, Roma Madrid can be vulnerable against hard pressing in midfield. At his energetic best, the bullish Belgian galvanises Roma and closes down the kind of space Luka Modric and Toni Kroos can thrive in.
Points to prove
Zinedine Zidane He is still a novice as a head coach. At home, he has overseen some emphatic wins in the Primera Liga, and some expressive performances. On the road, his Madrid have looked more inhibited. He will make his managerial debut in international club competition up against a wily and experienced opposite number, in Spalletti.
Stephan El Sharaawy He signed by Roma in the January window, after six months on loan at Monaco and a career with AC Milan that had stuttered, has ambitions to go to Euro 2016 as one of Italy's strikers. A good show in Europe's principal club competition would advance those.
Verdict Madrid to progress, in the competition that represents their best chance of a trophy this season.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Getting there:
Flying to Guyana requires first reaching New York with either Emirates or Etihad, then connecting with JetBlue or Caribbean Air at JFK airport. Prices start from around Dh7,000.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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School counsellors on mental well-being
Schools counsellors in Abu Dhabi have put a number of provisions in place to help support pupils returning to the classroom next week.
Many children will resume in-person lessons for the first time in 10 months and parents previously raised concerns about the long-term effects of distance learning.
Schools leaders and counsellors said extra support will be offered to anyone that needs it. Additionally, heads of years will be on hand to offer advice or coping mechanisms to ease any concerns.
“Anxiety this time round has really spiralled, more so than from the first lockdown at the beginning of the pandemic,” said Priya Mitchell, counsellor at The British School Al Khubairat in Abu Dhabi.
“Some have got used to being at home don’t want to go back, while others are desperate to get back.
“We have seen an increase in depressive symptoms, especially with older pupils, and self-harm is starting younger.
“It is worrying and has taught us how important it is that we prioritise mental well-being.”
Ms Mitchell said she was liaising more with heads of year so they can support and offer advice to pupils if the demand is there.
The school will also carry out mental well-being checks so they can pick up on any behavioural patterns and put interventions in place to help pupils.
At Raha International School, the well-being team has provided parents with assessment surveys to see how they can support students at home to transition back to school.
“They have created a Well-being Resource Bank that parents have access to on information on various domains of mental health for students and families,” a team member said.
“Our pastoral team have been working with students to help ease the transition and reduce anxiety that [pupils] may experience after some have been nearly a year off campus.
"Special secondary tutorial classes have also focused on preparing students for their return; going over new guidelines, expectations and daily schedules.”
