Kylian Mbappe marked his 100th Champions League appearance with a milestone goal, Jose Mourinho received a hero’s welcome on his return to Roma, and Real Madrid produced a sensational late comeback before their coach launched a furious attack on the timing of Vinicius Junior’s four-match suspension.
Wednesday night at the Stadio Olimpico had everything: a landmark achievement, an emotional reunion, a dramatic turnaround and a fresh controversy involving one of world football’s biggest stars.
Madrid looked on course for defeat after Roma raced into a 3-1 lead early in the second half, with Donyell Malen scoring twice in six minutes. But the 15-time European champions struck three times in the final six minutes through Carlos Espi, Endrick and Antonio Rudiger to snatch a remarkable 4-3 victory.
The result gave Madrid six points from their opening two Champions League league-phase matches, while Roma remained on one point. Yet the night’s significance extended well beyond the standings, with Mbappe’s personal milestone and Mourinho’s post-match outburst adding further layers to an extraordinary contest.
Mbappe reaches a century
Madrid endured a difficult opening period as Roma attacked with purpose in front of their home supporters.
Mario Hermoso forced Thibaut Courtois into a fingertip save before Marten de Roon gave the hosts a deserved lead in the 20th minute, sweeping a superb strike past the Belgian goalkeeper from 25 yards.
Roma nearly doubled their advantage when Malen’s powerful effort slipped beneath Courtois, but the Madrid goalkeeper recovered to prevent the ball from crossing the line.
The visitors, however, needed only one defensive lapse to restore parity.
Hermoso misjudged an interception, allowing Mbappe to race towards goal. The France forward’s deflected effort flew into the roof of the net, bringing Madrid level with their first meaningful chance of the match.
It was a significant moment for the 27-year-old, who became the youngest player to make 100 appearances in the Champions League. His 72nd goal in the competition also moved him into the all-time top five scorers, ahead of Madrid legend Raul Gonzalez.
Mbappe’s milestone came at a crucial moment, halting Roma’s early momentum and giving the visitors a foothold in a match that had threatened to slip away from them.
The equaliser appeared to settle Madrid, with Marc Cucurella and Jude Bellingham coming close to putting the visitors ahead before the interval. But Roma were far from finished.
Mourinho’s emotional reunion
For Mourinho, the occasion carried a personal significance.
The Portuguese coach spent two-and-a-half years in charge of Roma, leading the Italian club to the UEFA Conference League title in 2022 and the Europa League final the following year.
His return to the Stadio Olimpico as Madrid coach was greeted with banners and chants from supporters who had not forgotten his achievements. Roma were playing their first home Champions League match in more than seven years, making the occasion even more memorable.
The warm reception, however, did not soften the hosts’ approach on the pitch.
Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini had insisted before kick-off that his side would stick to their aggressive style regardless of the opposition. His players responded emphatically after the break.
Madrid struggled to respond. Mbappe tested Pierluigi Gollini twice but also had another effort ruled out for offside, while Roma looked increasingly comfortable with their advantage.
For Mourinho, the reunion was threatening to end in disappointment. Instead, his team produced one of the most dramatic finishes of the night.
Three goals, six minutes, one remarkable comeback
Madrid’s revival began with a set-piece and ended with a former Roma defender delivering the decisive blow.
Carlos Espi reacted quickest to a close-range rebound following a header to reduce the deficit. The goal injected fresh belief into the visitors and unsettled a Roma side that had controlled much of the contest.
Just two minutes later, Endrick rose to head home from another corner, drawing Madrid level and turning the atmosphere inside the stadium on its head.
The equaliser set up a frantic finale as Madrid pushed for a winner and Roma struggled to regain their composure.
The decisive moment arrived in the 90th minute. Antonio Rudiger got in front of his marker to guide home from close range, completing an extraordinary turnaround and silencing the home crowd.
‘They do things shamelessly now’
The celebrations were accompanied by anger over the announcement of Vinicius’s four-match suspension, which came just hours before kick-off in Rome.
The Brazilian winger had been sent off during Saturday’s 1-0 La Liga victory over Villarreal after pulling an opponent’s hair. The Spanish football federation’s disciplinary committee subsequently imposed a two-match ban for violent conduct and another two matches for protests against the officials.
The suspension rules Vinicius out of several domestic fixtures, including the Clasico against Barcelona on October 25, dealing Madrid a significant blow as they attempt to close a six-point gap on the league leaders.
Mourinho was particularly incensed that the decision became public only a couple of hours before his side’s Champions League match.
“Do you think it’s normal that a player from a Spanish team, who has to play a match that is also important for Spanish football, that two hours before the match a player knows he’s been given a four-match suspension?” he asked.
“Couldn’t they do it now? Couldn’t they do it tomorrow morning? Do we have to come by bus and almost arrive at the stadium when we find out Vinicius has a four-match suspension?”
The Madrid coach then delivered a pointed criticism of the Spanish authorities.
“They do things shamelessly now. The cat is out of the bag now. Two hours before the match, a player must know he has a four-match suspension.”
Mourinho argued that the timing was disrespectful to both the player and the club, particularly as Madrid were representing Spain in European competition.
“A Spanish team that has earned three points for Spanish football, for the rankings, for the prestige of Spanish football. You want to kill a player two hours before the match; it doesn’t seem normal to me,” he said.
Vinicius nevertheless started against Roma as Madrid mounted their late comeback. But the suspension means Mourinho will have to manage a crucial stretch of the domestic campaign without one of his leading attackers.
