Mourinho's Madrid snatch wild 4-3 comeback at Roma

Real Madrid beat Roma 4-3 at the Stadio Olimpico on 14 October after scoring three times in the final six minutes.

José Mourinho was back in Rome as Madrid coach, facing the club he led for two-and-a-half years. His side trailed 3-1 late on. Then they won it anyway The Guardian.

The night meant a lot to the home crowd. This was Roma's first home Champions League match in more than seven years. It was also a reunion with Mourinho, who led them to the Conference League title and a Europa League final.

Roma started fast. Marten de Roon gave them the lead in the first half. Madrid hit back before the break through Kylian Mbappé.

That goal mattered for Mbappé. It came on his 100th Champions League appearance, and it sent the teams in level at 1-1.

Roma then took control. Donyell Malen scored twice in the space of six minutes early in the second half. Suddenly it was 3-1. The Olimpico was loud. Madrid looked beaten.

They were not. With six minutes left, Carlos Espí pulled one back to make it 3-2. Endrick then levelled at 3-3. Antonio Rüdiger, himself a former Roma defender, headed the winner to complete the 4-3 scoreline.

All three late Madrid goals came from corners. Three set-pieces, three finishes, six minutes. Roma had no answer.

What makes this stand out is the swing. For 84 minutes Roma had the story they wanted: a home return to Europe's top competition, a two-goal lead, Mourinho's new team trailing. Madrid ripped it up in a blur of corners and second balls, the kind of finish that leaves a stadium stunned.

It was a league-phase match in the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League, the opening stage where clubs chase points to reach the knockout rounds UEFA.

Elsewhere on the same night, Bodø/Glimt beat Borussia Dortmund 1-0 in Norway. Fredrik Sjøvold scored the only goal in the 52nd minute. The game was played at Aspmyra, an 8,200-capacity ground and the smallest venue in that season's competition.

Shakhtar Donetsk beat AEK Athens 3-1 at Stamford Bridge. Shakhtar are using Chelsea's ground as their base for European fixtures this season. In Spain, Real Betis beat Porto 3-2 in Seville, with Isco scoring the winner.