Real Madrid staged a dramatic late comeback to defeat Roma 4-3 in the Champions League on Wednesday, with Antonio Rüdiger scoring the decisive goal in the 90th minute. The Spanish side trailed 3-1 until the 82nd minute before substitutes Carlos Espí and Endrick netted in quick succession, setting up Rüdiger’s winner against his former club. The match at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico saw Donyell Malen score twice for Roma, while Kylian Mbappé had earlier pulled one back for Madrid.
The victory capped a night of high-scoring drama in the competition, with Madrid’s turnaround among the most striking results. Roma’s fans had earlier seranaded José Mourinho, the Madrid manager, before the game, but the Portuguese tactician’s tactical changes—introducing Espí and Endrick—proved pivotal in the final 10 minutes. Rüdiger, a former Roma defender, opted not to celebrate his winner out of respect for his ex-team.
The result extended Madrid’s perfect start to the league phase, following their opening win. Roma, despite leading for much of the match, suffered their first defeat of the campaign. The game was the second of six in 18 days for Madrid, who now turn their attention to domestic duties before returning to European action.
