Real Madrid brought their pre-season to a poor close against Roma, battling to a 2-2 draw in regulation time and then eventually losing to the Italians 4-5 in a penalty shootout at Stadio Olimpico in Rome on Sunday.

Welsh winger Gareth Bale, who failed to make a cut in the team’s last four pre-season matches, was included by Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane.

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This was the Spanish team’s seventh and last pre-season match before the start of the La Liga season next weekend when Madrid goes up against Celta Vigo, but Bale had played in only the first three outings, always coming off the bench, reports Efe news.

Madrid’s Marcelo drove a shot-on-goal home in the 16th minute with a great right-footer after a very nice drive, but Diego Perotti evened things up in the 34th minute, tapping one into the net following a premier effort by Nicolo Zaniolo.

Casemiro put Madrid back in the driver’s seat just five minutes later, heading the ball past the Italian goaltender after an assist from Marcelo, but Edin Dzeko played a leveller just a minute later, capturing Cengiz Under’s fine pass and knocking it into the top right corner of the net.

In terms of ball possession and pass accuracy, both the teams had almost an equal share. And hence, the duo togetherly showcased a nail-biting encounter on Sunday night.

In the penalty shootout, Bale scored but Marcelo missed the very last of the 10 shots. Marcelo’s shot hit the crossbar and bounced back inside the ground, thus giving Roma the victory.

For Madrid, this defeat encapsulates what has been a dreadful pre-season. There was so much talk of change prior to the summer, but this all looks the same. Real Madrid need to get their act together if they are to come away with all three points at Balaidos next weekend.

The Italians kick off their Serie A season on 25 August going up against Genoa at home.

(With inputs from IANS)