Jose Mourinho’s return to Rome turned into a bittersweet nightmare as Real Madrid pulled off a stunning late comeback, defeating Roma 4-3 in a Champions League thriller at the Stadio Olimpico.
Marten de Roon gave the hosts a deserved opener before Kylian Mbappe struck back on his milestone 100th Champions League appearance to level the scores at the break.
Two Donyell Malen strikes in the space of six minutes early in the second half seemed to put the 15-time European champions on the brink of defeat as Roma ran rampant.
However, Real Madrid scored three goals in the space of seven minutes late on, all stemming from corners, to turn the game on its head. Carlos Espi, Endrick, and ex-Roma defender Antonio Rudiger struck to complete a heart-stopping turnaround.
Mourinho was a popular figure, leading Roma to the UEFA Conference League title and an Europa League final during his two-and-a-half years in charge. The home crowd honoured the Portuguese with banners and chants in Roma’s first home Champions League match in more than seven years, but ultimately watched their team suffer a dramatic collapse.
Roma took a deserved lead when De Roon swept a shot past Thibaut Courtois from 25 yards. The hosts almost doubled their lead when Malen’s powerful shot squirmed under Courtois before being cleared off the line.
But a moment of costly miscommunication proved fatal. Mario Hermoso misjudged an interception, allowing Mbappe a clear run at goal. The French striker’s deflected shot flew into the roof of the net to level the scores with Real’s first meaningful chance of the game.
Mbappe marked his Champions League centurion status—becoming the youngest player to reach the milestone, aged 27—with his 72nd tournament goal, moving him into the all-time top five ahead of Real legend Raul Gonzalez.
The equaliser appeared to subdue Roma and steady Mourinho’s men, who twice threatened a second before the break as Marc Cucurella and Jude Bellingham came close.
But Roma boss Gian Piero Gasperini insisted pre-match that his side would not compromise on their full-throttle style, and they lived up to the promise by coming out firing after the break. Rodrigo Mora fed Malen, who finished brilliantly with his second touch, lifting the ball over Courtois to make it 2-1.
Just six minutes later, Malen raced onto a through ball to power home his second, with the goal given following a VAR review after initially being flagged for offside.
Real looked for a response as Mbappe twice tested Pierluigi Gollini, but set-pieces proved to be the key to unlock the Roma defense. Espi tucked home a close-range rebound from a header to pull one back, before Endrick powered home a header from another corner just two minutes later.
The final blow was struck by Rudiger in the 90th minute, the defender getting in front of his marker to guide home a close-range finish and complete an extraordinary turnaround.
The result leaves Real Madrid with six points from their opening two league phase matches, while Roma are on one point.
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