Real Madrid holds no fear for Italian opponents

Real Madrid fullback Michel Salgado, whose side opens its Champions League defense at Roma on Tuesday, believes that Italian opponents no longer hold any fear for Spanish teams playing in European competition.

"Spanish sides have ousted the Italians as the leaders of European competitions in the last five years," the Real right back was quoted as saying on Spanish website libredirecto.com on Monday.

"Italian teams are no longer going well in Europe and it is now easier to beat them then before," he said.

Italy has never been a happy hunting ground for Real, but a convincing 2-1 defeat of Roma at the same stage last season ended a barren run of almost 40 years without a win on Italian soil.

Despite the absence of new signing Ronaldo, the nine-time European champions - unbeaten in their last five opening day matches - will be favorites to chalk up another victory at the Olympic stadium.

Salgado also believes that the result of the match will have a major influence over the way the rest of the group matches are played.

"The first game is very important because if you win you don't feel so anxious in later matches and if you lose you have to push that bit harder."

Real, which beat Bayer Leverkusen in last season's final, has also been drawn against Greek side AEK Athens and Belgian outfit Genk in group C.