Rome provided a seven-goal Champions League night as Real Madrid escaped with a 4-3 win over Roma, with Endrick central to the Spanish club’s victory. José Mourinho, however, reserved part of his post-match attention for a Brazilian on the other side of the pitch.
Roma right-back Wesley, formerly of Flamengo, impressed Mourinho during his contest with Vinicius Junior. The Portuguese coach praised the defender’s work on the flank, judging that Wesley came out on top in several direct confrontations with the Real Madrid forward.
Quick facts
- Real Madrid beat Roma 4-3 in the second round of the 2026/27 Champions League.
- Endrick was a key figure in the Madrid win in the Italian capital.
- Mourinho singled out Roma full-back Wesley for praise.
- Vinicius Junior has received a four-match suspension in LaLiga.
- The ban rules him out of Sevilla, Barcelona, Racing Santander and Valencia.
Mourinho’s warm words for Wesley contrasted sharply with his reaction to Vinicius’s domestic punishment. He criticised the Spanish Football Federation after the Brazilian received a four-game LaLiga ban.
Two matches were imposed after Vinicius pulled Nathan Saliba’s hair in an incident that led to a goal being ruled out and to his sending-off. A further two-game penalty was added for his protests following the red card.
The suspension removes Vinicius from Real Madrid’s league fixtures against Sevilla at home, Barcelona away, Racing Santander away and Valencia at home. The Barcelona meeting is the most prominent absence in a demanding stretch of the Spanish calendar.
His next available LaLiga appearance is scheduled to be against Celta de Vigo on 22 November. Before then, Real Madrid have two more European appointments: RB Leipzig on 21 October and AEK Athens on 4 November.
Vinicius remained available for the Champions League trip to Roma, where he was set to start, while Endrick’s influence helped Madrid take the points from a breathless evening in the Italian capital.
