Real Madrid produced a remarkable Champions League comeback on Wednesday night, scoring three late goals to defeat AS Roma 4-3 at the Stadio Olimpico in Matchday 2 of the league phase.
The Spanish giants appeared destined for defeat after falling 3-1 behind, but a dramatic late surge transformed the contest and secured another memorable European victory.
José Mourinho’s return to Rome provided an emotional backdrop to the encounter, with the Real Madrid manager facing a club where he previously coached and won the Europa Conference League. However, it was his substitutes who ultimately made the difference as Madrid maintained their perfect start to the competition.
Mbappé Makes History on His 100th Champions League Appearance
Real Madrid initially responded well after Roma took the lead in the 20th minute through Marten de Roon’s long-range strike.
Kylian Mbappé restored parity five minutes later with a powerful effort, marking his 100th Champions League appearance with a significant contribution.
According to the supplied match report, the milestone made Mbappé the youngest player to reach 100 appearances in the competition, surpassing Lionel Messi’s previous record. The French forward also took his Champions League goal tally to 72.
Despite the equaliser, Roma continued to threaten and eventually regained control of the match after the interval.
Malen Puts Roma in Command
Roma emerged strongly in the second half, with Donyell Malen scoring twice to put the hosts in a commanding position.
His goals in the 51st and 57th minutes gave the Italian side a 3-1 advantage, leaving Real Madrid facing the prospect of a damaging defeat.
Roma appeared comfortable for much of the second half, with Matías Soulé also contributing to the hosts’ attacking threat.
With less than 10 minutes remaining, Madrid needed something extraordinary to rescue the match.
Mourinho responded by turning to his bench, introducing Endrick and Arda Güler around the 59th minute. Those changes proved decisive as Madrid launched an extraordinary late comeback.
Arda Güler Inspires Madrid’s Dramatic Recovery
Real Madrid began their revival in the 83rd minute when Carlos Espí scored to reduce the deficit to 3-2.
The goal gave the visitors renewed belief, and they needed only two more minutes to draw level.
In the 85th minute, Endrick rose to meet a corner delivered by Güler, heading home to make it 3-3 and stun the home crowd.
Roma suddenly found themselves under immense pressure after appearing close to securing an impressive victory.
Madrid continued pushing forward, and their persistence paid off deep into stoppage time.
Güler delivered another dangerous corner, which Antonio Rüdiger headed into the net to complete the turnaround and secure a sensational 4-3 victory.
The late goals highlighted the influence of Madrid’s substitutes, with Güler playing a central role in all three decisive moments.
Mourinho’s Return Ends in Dramatic Victory
For Mourinho, the result made his return to Rome particularly memorable.
The Portuguese manager watched his side recover from a two-goal deficit in the closing stages, demonstrating the resilience that has become associated with Real Madrid’s European campaigns.
His substitutions helped change the rhythm of the match, while Güler’s delivery from set pieces repeatedly exposed Roma’s defensive weaknesses.
Roma, meanwhile, will be left frustrated after surrendering a commanding position in the final minutes.
Malen’s brace and the team’s strong second-half performance had put them on course for an important Champions League result, but Madrid’s late pressure ultimately proved decisive.
Real Madrid Maintain Perfect Champions League Start
The victory keeps Real Madrid perfect in the league phase following their earlier win over Inter Milan.
The comeback also provides early momentum in the expanded Champions League format, reinforcing the Spanish club’s reputation for producing dramatic European nights.
For Roma, the defeat will be difficult to accept after coming so close to securing all three points against one of the competition’s most successful clubs.
Real Madrid’s ability to remain dangerous until the final whistle once again proved decisive. Trailing 3-1 with little time remaining, they found three goals through Carlos Espí, Endrick and Rüdiger to complete an unforgettable turnaround.
The match served as another reminder that Real Madrid cannot be written off, even when defeat appears inevitable.
Esther Afriyie Kumah is the Digital Media & Operations Manager and a writer AL Media Sports, the sports division of AL Media Group. She specializes in sports journalism, content and video production, covering Premier League, Champions League, La Liga, and African football with in-depth match reports, tactical analysis, player ratings, and expert insights.