You won't be surprised to learn that San Lorenzo cannot claw themselves back level in an uneventful period of stoppage time. Real Madrid are one half of turgid football away from becoming the world club champions.

Two minutes of added time for San Lorenzo to nick an unlikely equaliser before the break.

Image source, Getty Images

Uh oh. Bad news for Real Madrid and coach Carlo Ancelotti. Brazil left-back Marcelo pulls up with what appears to be a muscle injury (although I'm no physio) and has to be replaced. The good news is that Portugal international Fabio Coentrao is a natural replacement.

Italian Serie A

A few hundred miles north of Morocco, there is an important game in Italy's Serie A between second-placed Roma and fallen giants AC Milan.

Milan pair Keisuke Honda and Andrea Poli forced early saves from Roma keeper Morgan De Sanctis but the home side have made most of the running at the Stadio Olimpico, with former Arsenal forward Gervinho particularly threatening.

A home win for the Giallorossi would close the gap to league leaders Juventus to just one point heading in to the winter break.

Image source, AP

Sergio Ramos has scored more goals than any other La Liga defender during 2014 (all comps).

barbuwa kalla, external: Even the Pope won't complain if they lose against this Madrid side.

James Benson, external: Pepe has not had a yellow card in La Liga all season. Incredible stat given his discipline of old.

John dunthorne:, external It seems appropriate that one of the masters of the "dark arts" should be the first goal scorer in this roughhouse.

Image source, AP

Sergio Ramos might pick up plenty of yellow (and red) cards but he also picks up plenty of goals. And here's another textbook Ramos effort. The Spain centre-back nicks a yard on his marker to rise highest in the San Lorenzo box and meet Toni Kroos's left-wing corner with a thumping header. Advantage Madrid.

Normal service resumed. Waves of white shirts edge towards the San Lorenzo goal, but the South American champions's defence scrabbles back to block Isco's shot.

Better from San Lorenzo! They manage to stay inside the Madrid for at least a whole minute. First they see the free-kick conceded by Dani Carvajal headed clear before Enzo Kalisnski's run from the left fails to pick out another blue and red shirt.

Another Madrid defender is nervously edging along the disciplinary tightrope. The name of right-back Dani Carvajal goes into the referee's notebook after he clumsily swipes at the legs of left-sided San Lorenzo player Emmanuel Mas.

Now Sebastian Torrico has his palms warmed by a Madrid shot. The European champions neatly play up to Karim Benzema whose fierce low shot is gathered by the San Lorenzo keeper at the second attempt. Gareth Bale was ready to snap up the scraps like a hungry wolf.

Madrid continue to dominate possession, hogging about 72% of the ball so far. But they haven't really tested San Lorenzo keeper Sebastian Torrico yet - he's made just the one routine save.

From the evidence of a physical opening quarter, I can't see this ending 11 v 11. And if I was a betting man then I'd suggest Sergio Ramos would be the likeliest Madrid player to see red first. Him or Pepe. But Ramos has a headstart on his defensive colleague after being given a yellow for cynically stopping a San Lorenzo counter attack.

Another Madrid free-kick, this time a little deeper, midway inside the San Lorenzo half. Germany midfielder Toni Kroos clips in an inswinging delivery which the brutish Argentine defence head clear.

Image source, AP

Every time San Lorenzo have the ball, it is like they are almost forced to give it back to the playground bully that is Madrid. Momentarily they have possession, but lack numbers in attack and surrender the ball quickly.

Cristiano Ronaldo is licking his lips once again as he takes control of the set-piece situation. But once again he can't clear the San Lorenzo wall.

Combative would be one way to describe San Lorenzo in these early stages. Downright dirty might be another. This time Gareth Bale is chopped down about 25 yards from goal by that old Colombian warhorse Mario Yepes. How old is he now??

San Lorenzo are backed by an army of 5,000 travelling fans, who are excitedly bouncing about in the stands. Clearly they are here for the big day out rather than the expectation of success.

Finally San Lorenzo have a few confidence-boosting touches of the ball, neatly stringing together a few passes before a forward ball is sent towards Uruguayan forward Martin Cauteruccio. But he is muscled off the ball by Madrid centre-back Pepe, who earns his side a goal-kick.

Will Jackson, external: The Pope supports San Lorenzo... You never know?

Stuart Mitchell, external: Very long night in store for San Lorenzo, especially if they are intent on fouling so often yellows and reds to come soon.