KILLER PUNCH #1: Rodrigo Taddei's opener in the 72nd minute leaves Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas (right) stranded. This meant that Real needed two goals to pull level on aggregate. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

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For the fourth year in a row, the Spanish giants crashed out of the Champions League at the first knockout stage, this time losing 1-2 to Roma at the Bernabeu on Wednesday to exit 2-4 on aggregate.

It was a tepid performance from the nine-time European champions, who were reduced to 10 men after defender Pepe showed poor judgment in picking up two needless bookings with 20 minutes to go.

Two minutes later, Roma's Rodrigo Taddei headed in the first goal and super-sub Mirko Vucinic sealed the win in stoppage time.

'Not anything in 90 minutes,' ran the headline on the front page of Spanish sports daily Marca, below a picture of Real's disconsolate goalkeeper Iker Casillas prostrate on the ground. 'Bad game, they deserved to lose.'

Ironically, Casillas was one of the few Real players to emerge with any credit.

His saves prevented a Roma landslide.

Real missed injured Dutch trio Ruud van Nistelrooy, Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder, while right-back Sergio Ramos was suspended for the match.

But, after splurging nearly £100 million (S$280 million) in the off-season to end their continental funk, it was scant excuse.

Real coach Bernd Schuster felt it was money well spent.

'To me, it's not a loss. The ball just didn't go in,' he said.

Real will assuredly rebuild again, having been linked with the likes of Kaka, Cristiano Ronaldo and Francesc Fabregas.

But all three are committed to long-term contracts with their clubs.

'We didn't have that magic we've shown on other nights,' said Real captain Raul, whose 61st Champions League goal, which came between Roma's two strikes, was to no avail.

'It's a very heavy blow, because the Champions League was one of our big objectives this season.'

Roma played defensively throughout to protect their 2-1 first-leg lead, disrupting Real's passing - and their rhythm, and setting up chances on the counter-attack.

Real managed only four first-half shots, silencing the 85,000 sell-out crowd.

'The lads played a perfect match,' said Roma coach Luciano Spalletti, whose side are second in Serie A and just six points behind Inter Milan.

He has turned Roma, who have never won the European Cup, into their country's answer to England's Arsenal and Spain's Barcelona in playing beautiful football.

Their quick passing is a joy and a fluency of movement between players makes a mockery of formations, producing a great season despite captain and main striker Francesco Totti enduring a tough time.

He has failed to find his form after a foot complaint kept him out for over a month before the turn of the year.

Last season, Roma beat Manchester United 2-1 at home in the first leg of the last eight before being thumped 1-7 away.

Roma again lost 0-1 away to United and drew 1-1 at home to the English champions in this season's group stage.

'I don't care who we get in the next round as long as it's not United,' Totti said.

But, after the way they disposed of Real, United should be equally wary.

ASSOCIATED PRESS, REUTERS, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE