MADRID (AFP) - Nine-time kings of Europe Real Madrid crashed out of the Champions league at the first knock out stage for the fourth successive year after they went down 2-1 to AS Roma here on Wednesday.

Real had only themselves to blame as they were reduced to 10 men after 70 minutes when their Portuguese defender Pepe was sent off.

Roma took almost immediate advantage of the situation with Rodrigo Taddei scoring and although Real captain Raul controversially equalised for the hosts, Roma ran out deserved winners on the night and 4-2 on aggregate after Mirko Vucinic scored in injury time.

Inevitably, speculation will start about the future of Real coach Bernd Schuster despite his men having a five point lead at the top of La Liga.

As current England coach Fabio Capello can testify, just winning a domestic title is not necessarily enough to satisfy Real's ambitious president Ramon Calderon.

Both sides initially lived up to their promises of playing open, attacking, football although the energy levels started to dip as the first half wore on.

Roma almost drew first blood when Alberto Aquilani hit the post after 18 minutes.

Real right winger Julio Baptista also had several good chances later in the first half but some wild finishing meant the Brazilian international's efforts never seriously troubled Roma goalkeeper Doni.

However, Baptista went much closer three minutes after the break when his free kick from just outside the area evaded the outstretched arms of his compatriot only to hit the cross bar.

Real, needing to get a goal to avoid elimination, started to step up their efforts midway through the second half.

Raul saw his header just miss its target shortly before the hour but, with them pushing forward, Real were also leaving gaps at the back.

Vucinic came on in place of first leg goalscorer Mancini after 65 minutes and barely 60 seconds later the Serbian striker sent a Max Tonetto cross against the bar.

The critical point in the game came 20 minutes from the end when Pepe was given his marching orders after picking up his second yellow card for a foul on Vucinic.

Roma took just three minutes to take advantage of having an extra man when Taddei escaped his markers to beat Iker Casillas with a header from close range.

Real equalised just two minutes later when Raul got his 61st Champions League goal, and his fifth this season, with a right foot shot following a Robinho cross from out on the left.

The goal will be clouded in controversy as Raul looked clearly in an offside position but Greek referee Kyros Vassaras waved away the Roma protests.

In the end though, whether Raul was offside or not became a moot point.

In the last 10 minutes, Real threw everything at their Italian opponents in a bid to try to find a second goal and force extra time but again paid the penalty for having little cover at the back.

Two minutes into injury time, Vucinic bravely dived for a Christian Panucci cross and his headed goal clinched the tie.

Roma go into the Champions League quarter-finals for the second successive year while Real's defeat leaves Spain with only Barcelona going into the draw on March 14.