Real Madrid Score Three Late Goals to Stun Roma in Mourinho’s Olimpico Return

Real Madrid pulled off a stunning comeback in Rome on Wednesday night, scoring three times in the closing minutes to beat Roma 4-3 in the Champions League, in a game that looked lost until the 83rd minute.

It was also Jose Mourinho’s first visit to the Stadio Olimpico since leaving Roma. He won the Conference League with the club in 2021-22 and took them to the Europa League final a year later, and the home supporters hung banners around the ground in his honour. His new side spent most of the evening making those banners look like the only thing he would take away from the night.

Roma went ahead in the 20th minute. Marten de Roon hit a first-time shot from 20 yards after a pass from Matias Soule. Real levelled five minutes later through Kylian Mbappe, who was playing his 100th Champions League match. His shot struck Gianluca Mancini, looped over goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini and went in for his 72nd goal in the competition.

The second half belonged to Donyell Malen, the Dutch striker who was at Aston Villa in 2025. He put Roma 2-1 up after Vinicius Jr tried a flick and gave the ball away, and his shot went in off the captain, Federico Valverde. Six minutes later he made it 3-1. The flag went up for offside, but the video assistant referee ruled that Valverde had played him onside.

With the lead restored, Gian Piero Gasperini brought on defensive players to protect it. Mourinho went the other way and sent on fresh attackers.

Carlos Espi was the first to make a difference. Five minutes after coming on, he reacted quickest to a rebound after Gollini saved Endrick’s header, and Real were back within a goal. Endrick then headed in a corner from another substitute, Arda Guler, to make it 3-3. Guler’s delivery caused trouble again in the 90th minute, and Antonio Rudiger volleyed in from close range to win it.

Roma could not deal with Guler’s corners, and two of the three goals came from them.

Real have won both of their Champions League games so far. They are six points behind leaders Barcelona in La Liga. Roma have one point from two games, after a draw and now this defeat.

Obiora Joseph feedback-opera-news-app@opera.com