Published On ۱۴ Oct ۲۰۲۶
Jose Mourinho enjoyed a Roma reunion to remember as Real Madrid completed an astonishing comeback by scoring three late goals to claim a ۴-۳ away win in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Marten de Roon gave the hosts a deserved opener before Kylian Mbappe struck back on his ۱۰۰th Champions League appearance to level the scores at the break.
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Two Donyell Malen strikes in the space of six minutes early in the second half seemed to take the game away from the ۱۵-time European champions as Roma ran rampant.
But Real scored three goals in the space of seven minutes late on, all stemming from corners, to turn the game on its head as Carlos Espi, Endrick and ex-Roma defender Antonio Rudiger struck at a stunned Stadio Olimpico.
Mourinho was a popular figure, leading Roma to the UEFA Conference League title and an Europa League final during two-and-a-half years in charge.
The home crowd honoured the Portuguese with banners and chants in Roma’s first home Champions League match in more than seven years, and the hosts started strongly as Mario Hermoso forced Thibaut Courtois into a flying fingertip save.
Roma took a deserved lead when De Roon swept a shot past Courtois from ۲۵ yards in the ۲۰th minute, and almost doubled it when Malen’s powerful shot squirmed under Courtois before being plucked off the line.
However, one costly moment of switching off proved enough to send them back to square one within five minutes of the opener being scored.
Hermoso misjudged an interception to allow Mbappe a clear run at goal, and the French striker’s deflected shot flew into the roof of the net to level the scores with Real’s first meaningful chance of the game.
Mbappe marked his Champions League centurion status – he is the youngest player to reach the milestone, aged ۲۷ – with his ۷۲nd tournament goal, one that moved him into the all-time top five ahead of Real legend Raul Gonzalez.
The equaliser appeared to subdue Roma and steady Mourinho’s men, who twice threatened a second before the break as Marc Cucurella and Jude Bellingham came close.
Roma take game to Real Madrid
But Roma boss Gian Piero Gasperini insisted pre-match that Roma would not compromise on their full-throttle style regardless of opposition, and he was true to his word as they came out firing after the break.
Roma quickly retook the lead when half-time substitute Rodrigo Mora fed the ball to Malen, who finished brilliantly by taking the ball in his stride with his first touch and lifting it over Courtois with his second.
Things got even better for the Italians just six minutes later when Malen raced onto a through ball to power home his second, given following a VAR review after initially being flagged for offside.
Real looked for a response as Mbappe twice tested Pierluigi Gollini, before having his second goal of the night ruled out for offside.
But set-pieces proved to be the key to unlock the Roma defence, as Espi tucked home a close-range rebound from a header to pull one back before Endrick powered home a header from another corner just two minutes later.
The final blow was struck by Rudiger in the ۹۰th minute, the defender getting in front of his marker to guide home a close-range finish and complete an extraordinary turnaround.
The result leaves Real Madrid with six points from their opening two league phase matches, while Roma are on one point.
Shakhtar Donetsk beat AEK Athens in London debut
Nomadic Ukrainian champions Shakhtar Donetsk celebrated moving into their new Champions League “home” at Stamford Bridge by storming back to beat AEK Athens ۳-۱.
Fans of the club turned up in the thousands to support the team, who emerged from the tunnel draped in blue-and-yellow national flags.
The Greek side took the lead in the ۲۸th minute through Lovro Majer but Pedrinho levelled confidently from the penalty spot just six minutes later.
With about ۱۰ minutes of normal time to go, Vinicius Tobias found the net from a tight angle and substitute Gleiker Mendoza made the game safe, smashing home after cutting in from the left.
The result leaves Shakhtar on four points after two games, following a draw against PSV Eindhoven in their opening match in the league phase of the Champions League.
Giant-killers Bodo sink Dortmund in Champions League
Fredrik Sjovold’s ۵۲nd-minute strike secured a ۱-۰ victory for Bodo/Glimt over Borussia Dortmund, extending the Norwegian side’s remarkable home record against Europe’s elite.
Bodo were a cut above the ۲۰۲۴ Champions League runners-up and took the lead through Sjovold just after the break.
Dortmund improved in the final half hour but were unable to strike back, despite a late chance for Felix Nmecha.
Dortmund join Manchester City, Inter Milan and Sporting as recent big-name scalps on the artificial turf of Bodo’s Aspmyra stadium.
Aston Villa put six past Fenerbahce in record rout
Aston Villa recorded their biggest ever European victory as Nicolas Jackson inspired a ۶-۰ rout of Fenerbahce.
Unai Emery’s side won at Villa Park for the first time this season to maintain their ۱۰۰ percent start in Europe’s elite club competition.
Swiss forward Johan Manzambi put Villa in front, and Jackson was on target twice before the interval.
Ross Barkley scored twice in the second half before Tammy Abraham’s late strike completed the rout.
