Recap: Roma end ICC campaign with narrow Real Madrid defeat

In front of over 50,000 fans at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, Kevin Strootman's late goal was not enough for the Giallorossi to get a positive result - after Marcos Asensio and Gareth Bale had both scored early goals for Los Blancos.

It was far from the ideal start for Roma, as Asensio latched onto Bale's impressive through ball inside the first two minutes to finish smartly.

Soon after it was Bale's turn to get on the scoresheet in similar fashion, as the Welshman cut inside onto his left foot and fired home.

But, after that stumbling start, the Giallorossi grew into the match - with Edin Dzeko and Javier Pastore among those to have a decent sight of goal.

In the second half, as a mass of substitutions changed the flow of the game, Roma continued to push forward - with Patrik Schick and Lorenzo Pellegrini threatening the Real Madrid goal.

In the end, however, it was Kevin Strootman who grabbed the Roma goal - as Schick's cross deflected into his path for the midfielder to lash home.

That left Di Francesco's side with almost 10 minutes to grab an equaliser, although a couple of late attacks came to nothing.

The side will now return to Rome, ahead of the start of the new Serie A campaign next weekend.

Real Madrid 2-1 Roma

Goalscorers: Asensio (2'), Bale (15'); Strootman (83')