Mourinho’s Real Madrid stage stunning Roma comeback

Real Madrid produce another Champions League escape act

José Mourinho’s return to the Stadio Olimpico had everything: nostalgia, tension, frustration and, finally, one of Real Madrid’s most dramatic European comebacks in recent memory. Down 3-1 and staring at defeat, Madrid scored three goals in the final minutes to beat Roma 4-3 in a Champions League thriller that flipped from control to chaos in no time.

For much of the night, Roma looked like they were writing the script. But Madrid, as they often do in Europe, waited for the moment the game cracked open. When it did, they punished every gap with ruthless precision.

Roma control the game before Madrid strike back

The home side struck first through Marten de Roon before Kylian Mbappé levelled the contest on his 100th Champions League appearance. That equaliser mattered because it kept Madrid alive at a point where Roma were beginning to settle into the game.

Then came the spell that seemed decisive. Donyell Malen scored twice in six second-half minutes to put Roma 3-1 ahead and send the home crowd into belief mode. At that stage, Madrid looked shaken and Mourinho’s side were in full command.

But the match changed again as soon as the final stages arrived. Real Madrid turned to their trademark Champions League pressure, forcing corners and flooding the box with urgency.

Three corners, three goals, one stunning turnaround

What followed was remarkable even by Madrid’s European standards. All three late goals came from corners in the final six minutes. Carlos Espí, Endrick and Antonio Rüdiger all found the net as the visitors completed a comeback that left Roma stunned and the Olimpico silenced.

The sequence underlined Madrid’s experience and their ability to stay dangerous even when the match seems to be slipping away. It also highlighted just how quickly momentum can collapse in elite European football.

“They do things shamelessly now,” Mourinho said after the pre-match timing of Vinícius Júnior’s four-match suspension was announced. “Two hours before the match, a player must know he has a four-match suspension.”

The decision over Vinícius added another layer of drama to an already charged occasion, with Mourinho furious at the timing from Spanish football authorities. Even so, the focus ultimately shifted back to Madrid’s late surge and Roma’s collapse under pressure.

Mourinho’s return brings emotion, but Madrid take the points

Mourinho was warmly received by the Roma supporters, who remembered his influence during a spell that brought the Conference League title and a Europa League final. Banners and chants greeted the Portuguese coach during Roma’s first home Champions League match in more than seven years, giving the night a rare emotional backdrop before the football took over.

In the end, though, Madrid left with the bigger story. Their latest comeback added another chapter to a Champions League identity built on belief, resilience and late-game ruthlessness. Roma had the lead, the noise and the momentum. Madrid had the final punch.

Bodø/Glimt continue their remarkable home run

Elsewhere, Borussia Dortmund became the latest big-name team to fall in Norway, losing 1-0 to Bodø/Glimt. Fredrik Sjøvold scored the decisive goal in the 52nd minute to extend the Norwegian side’s excellent home record against Europe’s elite.

Dortmund improved late on but could not find an equaliser, and coach Niko Kovac admitted his side had been second best. “We didn’t bring enough passion today,” he said. “That’s something Bodø did much better.”

The result added Dortmund to a growing list of teams beaten at Aspmyra Stadium, where Bodø/Glimt have built a reputation for upsetting established opponents. Their compact, artificial-turf home continues to be a major European hurdle for visiting clubs.

Shakhtar, Betis, Stuttgart and Feyenoord also deliver key wins

Shakhtar Donetsk marked their new Champions League “home” at Stamford Bridge with a 3-1 comeback win over AEK Athens. After going behind, the Ukrainian side responded through Pedrinho, then turned the game with late goals from Vinicius Tobias and Gleiker Mendoza.

In Seville, Real Betis edged Porto 3-2 in a bad-tempered match decided by Isco’s late penalty after Abde Ezzalzouli had produced a contender for goal of the week. The game featured a series of flashpoints, bookings and a frantic finish.

Stuttgart also stayed perfect in the league phase with a 3-0 win away to Slovan Bratislava, while Feyenoord came from behind to beat Como 3-2 thanks to a double from Anis Hadj Moussa.

Champions League night full of momentum swings

This round of Champions League football once again showed how thin the margins can be at the top level. A game can swing from control to panic in a matter of minutes, and the teams that survive those swings often carry the night.

For Real Madrid, this was another reminder of why they remain the tournament’s most feared comeback side. For Roma, it was a painful lesson in how quickly a strong performance can unravel. And for Mourinho, it was an emotional homecoming that ended in heartbreak.