Rome’s Olympic Stadium watched a Champions League night turn inside out as Real Madrid recovered from 3-1 down in the closing stages to beat Roma 4-3, with former Giallorossi defender Antonio Rüdiger heading the decisive goal from a corner.
Key takeaways
- Roma led 3-1 with seven minutes of normal time remaining after Donyell Malen struck twice.
- Carlos Espí, introduced for Yan Diomande, began Madrid’s late rescue in the 83rd minute.
- Endrick levelled the match two minutes later with a header from another set piece.
- Rüdiger completed the turnaround from a third corner, scoring against his old club.
- José Mourinho’s Madrid recorded a second league-phase win and moved into the top eight.
- Roma, managed by Gian Piero Gasperini, were left 25th on one point.
Roma take command in their own stadium
The home crowd gave Roma a forceful start, and Gasperini’s side settled into long spells of possession that kept Real Madrid chasing. Their first reward arrived after 20 minutes, when Matías Soulé set up Marten de Roon for a strike from the edge of the area that beat Thibaut Courtois.
Madrid replied quickly. Yan Diomande drove forward on the break before Kylian Mbappé finished right-footed past Pierluigi Gollini to restore parity five minutes after Roma’s opener.
Yet the second half belonged to the hosts for a long spell. Roma pressed Madrid back and capitalised on a Vinícius Júnior mistake in the 51st minute, allowing Malen to put them back in front. The Dutch forward added another six minutes later, meeting a through ball from Soulé to make it 3-1 and send the Olimpico into celebration.
Three corners change the contest
Madrid’s escape began in the 83rd minute, at a point when Roma appeared to have the evening under control. Espí had come on in place of Diomande and found space at a corner, turning in the loose ball after Gollini failed to hold it in the six-yard box.
The visitors did not have to wait long for a second lifeline. Another corner arrived in the 85th minute and Endrick directed a header toward the right post, bringing Madrid level at 3-3.
With the match seemingly set for a draw, Madrid again targeted the Roma area from a corner. Rüdiger rose to score the winner against the club he once represented, sealing a remarkable 4-3 result.
The victory gave Mourinho’s side six points from two wins in the Champions League league phase and lifted them among the competition’s leading eight teams. Roma’s defeat left them in 25th place, still with only one point from their campaign.
