Real Madrid complete late comeback to beat Roma 4-3

Real Madrid came from 3-1 behind to beat Roma 4-3, scoring three times in the closing minutes. José Mourinho praised his team’s reaction while taking responsibility for its difficult first half.

Marten de Roon had put AS Roma ahead before Kylian Mbappé equalised. After the break, Donyell Malen scored twice and appeared to put the hosts in control. But Carlos Espí, Endrick and Antonio Rüdiger then completed the turnaround, with each goal coming from an Arda Güler corner.

Mourinho summed up his view of the match: “The bad first half is my fault. The good second half belongs to the players.” He said Roma had attacked with three players down the right, forcing his side to adjust. After conceding a goal he felt they should not have allowed, his players responded with what he described as a kind of organised rebellion, including emotionally.

Gasperini acknowledged that his team had been surprised, while arguing that it was impossible to sustain such intensity for 90 minutes. Real Madrid turned a game that had appeared to be slipping away into a victory, with three goals from corners shaping the late comeback.