Real Madrid Score Three Late Goals to Beat Roma 4-3 in Champions League Thriller at the Olimpico
Real Madrid Score Three Late Goals to Beat Roma 4-3 in Champions League Thriller at the Olimpico
Real Madrid scored three times in the final eight minutes to overturn a two-goal deficit and beat Roma 4-3 in a Champions League league-phase match at the Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday.
Roma led 3-1 after 57 minutes. Madrid pulled one back in the 83rd minute, equalised two minutes later and won it with a goal in the 90th minute.
How the match unfolded
Roma went ahead in the 20th minute and held the lead for only five minutes before Real Madrid equalised in the 25th. The match stayed level until Roma scored twice early in the second half, in the 51st and 57th minutes, to open a 3-1 advantage.
Roma kept that lead for about 25 minutes. Madrid’s comeback began in the 83rd minute, and the equaliser followed in the 85th. A winning goal in the 90th minute completed the turnaround.
Match statistics
Real Madrid had slightly more of the ball, with 54 per cent possession to Roma’s 46. They also took more shots overall, 16 to 14, and won nine corners to Roma’s five. Roma were the more accurate side, putting eight shots on target to Madrid’s seven.
Roma picked up three yellow cards, in the 60th, 70th and 89th minutes. Real Madrid received one, late in stoppage time.
Team news and league-phase context
Roma played without goalkeeper Mile Svilar and midfielder Bryan Cristante. Real Madrid were missing Éder Militão and Rodrygo. Pierluigi Gollini started in goal for the home side, while Thibaut Courtois was in goal for Madrid. Madrid’s starting attack included Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior and Jude Bellingham, and Roma’s front line included Paulo Dybala.
Before kick-off, Roma were 17th in the Champions League table and Real Madrid 13th. Madrid had won their opening league-phase match 2-1 against Inter at the Santiago Bernabéu, while Roma drew 1-1 away to Fenerbahçe on September 10.
The two clubs had last met in a competitive fixture in November 2018, when Madrid won 2-0 in Rome. Their most recent meeting of any kind was a 2-2 friendly in August 2019.
What comes next
Roma host Slovan Bratislava at the Olimpico on October 20. They then travel to Manchester United on November 3 and to Paris Saint-Germain on November 25.