Roma won the first leg of their Champions League last 16 clash at home to Real Madrid 2-1, David Pizarro and Mancini completing the comeback after a lucky Raul opener for the away side.

Mancini was played in by Francesco Totti and rounded Iker Casillas before slotting the ball inside the near post and running to celebrate with the Roma fans behind the goal, 58 minutes on the clock.

The Brazilian winger had a hand in the equaliser on 24 minutes, squaring from the left side of the area with Totti arriving. Fernando Gago was alongside him to block, but Pizarro followed up to hit a shot in off the crossbar in the far top corner.

Raul deflected home Guti's shot in only the eighth minute to wrongfoot Doni while Ruud van Nistelrooy was unfortunate to see a shot cannon back off the post late on.

Madrid were largely a tight unit in the first period and after opening the scoring looked a good bet to finish the night on top.

The goal was the result of good work by the impressive Arjen Robben, recently returned from a serious injury. He worked his way towards the by-line on the left and pulled the ball back to Guti 25 yards out.

Former Barcelona winger Ludovic Giuly played Raul onside from a wide position as his defence tore out and Doni has no chance as the hard shot deflected past him.

Marco Cassetti immediately hit back for Luciano Spalletti's men, striking a wicked shot towards the bottom corner that was blocked as it dipped by the outstretched hand of Casillas.

A minute after that Van Nistelrooy had the ball in the net again for Madrid, but the flag was up against him as he tucked in the rebound.

On 21 minutes Robben again caused damage to the Roma back-line, crossing from the right this time to give Raul a gilt-edged chance to double the advantage; however the Champions League legend headed wide from eight yards with the goal gaping.

Roma levelled soon after that opportunity to rub it in for Madrid, who then went closest before the half-time break through Van Nistelrooy when slipped in down the channel by Raul.

Daniele de Rossi, Totti and Mancini combined well to provide Giuly with the ball inside the box not long into the second period. With the crowd expectant the Frenchman controlled and shaped to shoot, but his slice was so great that the ball flew for a throw-in.

Then came the winning goal, Totti superbly turning Gabriel Heinze in midfield before knocking a lovely ball on for Mancini to race onto and finish with aplomb.

Before he was substituted for Royston Drenthe, Robben hit a cheeky shot from an angle that Doni spilled with Raul hovering. Julio Baptista also arrived for Mahamadou Diarra and connected well first-time from the edge of the box, bending it marginally over the bar.

Before that though Dutchman Drenthe played a low ball across for compatriot Van Nistelrooy to shoot from outside the six-yard box, the ball striking the near post and flying to safety.

Drenthe went looking for a penalty under a non-existent challenge from the imperious Philippe Mexes late on, but referee Herbert Fandel waved it away and Luciano Spalletti's team went on to clinch the win over Bernd Schuster's outfit.

Jonathan Symcox / Eurosport