Real Madrid staged an extraordinary late comeback to defeat Roma 4-3 in a thrilling Champions League encounter at the Stadio Olimpico, scoring three goals in the closing stages to secure a memorable victory.
Jose Mourinho enjoyed a remarkable return to his former club, with substitutes Carlos Espi and Endrick inspiring a stunning turnaround before Antonio Rudiger struck the decisive winner in the 90th minute.
The Portuguese manager received a warm welcome from Roma supporters, who displayed banners honouring his achievements during his time in charge. Mourinho previously guided the Italian club to the Conference League title in 2021-22 and the Europa League final the following season.
However, the emotional reunion appeared destined to end in disappointment when Roma established a commanding 3-1 lead.
The hosts opened the scoring in the 20th minute through Marten de Roon, who fired a first-time effort from 20 yards after receiving a pass from Matias Soule.
Real Madrid responded just five minutes later through Kylian Mbappe, whose deflected shot off Gianluca Mancini looped beyond goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini.
The goal marked another significant milestone for Mbappe, who scored his 72nd Champions League goal on his 100th appearance in the competition, moving ahead of Real Madrid legend Raul in the all-time scoring rankings.
Roma regained control after the break as Donyell Malen struck twice within six minutes.
The Dutch forward restored Roma’s advantage after Vinicius Jr lost possession attempting a flick, with Malen’s effort deflecting off Federico Valverde.
Malen then extended the lead to 3-1 with a composed finish. Although initially ruled offside, the goal was awarded following a VAR review that confirmed Valverde had played him onside.
Roma manager Gian Piero Gasperini introduced defensive reinforcements to protect the advantage, but Mourinho’s substitutions transformed the contest.
Espi pulled one back just five minutes after entering the pitch, reacting quickest to a rebound after Endrick’s header was saved.
Endrick then levelled the scores at 3-3 with a powerful header from Arda Guler’s corner, leaving the home crowd stunned.
The dramatic comeback was completed when Rudiger converted another Guler delivery with a close-range volley in the 90th minute.
Roma were left devastated after surrendering a seemingly comfortable advantage, while Real Madrid celebrated an unforgettable European victory.
The result maintains Real Madrid’s perfect Champions League start with two victories, despite sitting six points behind Barcelona in La Liga. Roma, meanwhile, remain on one point after two European matches.
