Real Madrid rally to beat Roma 4-3 with three goals from corners

Roma take the lead, then Mbappé answers

Roma opened the second matchday of the Champions League league phase at the Stadio Olimpico and took the lead in the 20th minute, when Marten de Roon struck from distance after Matías Soulé found him in the area. Real Madrid equalised five minutes later, when Kylian Mbappé scored after Mario Hermoso failed to clear a ball, according to Europa Press. ANSA put the crowd at 70,000. AP reported that Mbappé became the youngest player to reach 100 Champions League appearances, at age 27, beating the mark Lionel Messi set at 28 against Roma in September 2015. The goal was also his 72nd in the competition, moving him past Raúl González into fifth on the all-time scoring list. The score was 1-1 at half-time.

Malen puts Roma back in front

Roma came out of the interval with energy and regained the lead through Donyell Malen, who scored twice. His first goal, in the 51st minute, followed a Real Madrid turnover in their own half and a pass from Rodrigo Mora, who had replaced Paulo Dybala at half-time. Malen's second, shortly before the hour, came from a pass by Soulé and made it 3-1. Arda Güler and Endrick came on for Denzel Dumfries and Vinícius Júnior in the 59th minute, and Carlos Espí replaced Yan Diomande in the 78th. ANSA reported that Roma had been ahead 3-1 after an hour of play, and Europa Press noted that Real Madrid had been overrun for much of the match.

Three corner goals in the last eight minutes

The comeback started in the 83rd minute, when Carlos Espí pounced on the rebound from Gollini after a header from a corner. The goal was first ruled offside, but the VAR check overturned the decision and it stood, according to Adnkronos. Endrick headed the equaliser in the 85th minute from another corner delivered by Arda Güler. Antonio Rüdiger scored the winner in the 90th minute with a left-footed finish in the small area, after another cross from Güler. ANSA noted that all three goals came from corners. Adnkronos reported that Rüdiger did not celebrate, a gesture that seemed to acknowledge the crowd that had backed him in the past.

Reactions and injuries

Gian Piero Gasperini said Roma had lost a game they had controlled and blamed their defending of a corner.

We fell short at the finish line, and on corners we were really passive. We lost a game we had controlled.

The Roma coach also said his side had outclassed Real Madrid in every department, and he added that it was a shame they had not scored more.

We outclassed them in everything, too bad we did not score more.

Gasperini said he would make the same substitutions again and gave an early update on injuries, describing a thigh strain for Manu Koné, who had been replaced by Niccolò Pisilli in the 17th minute, and a muscle problem for Paulo Dybala, adding that the club would have to wait and see. José Mourinho, speaking to Prime Video, described the match as two games in one, with Roma superior in every respect before a twenty-minute spell in which Real Madrid could not be stopped. He also said his players had considered themselves finished at 3-1, but that Roma would struggle to keep that intensity up for the whole match.

1. 20th minuteMarten de Roon gives Roma a 1-0 lead
2. 25th minuteKylian Mbappé equalises for Real Madrid, 1-1
3. 51st minuteDonyell Malen scores, Roma lead 2-1
4. Shortly before the hourMalen scores again, Roma lead 3-1
5. 83rd minuteCarlos Espí pulls one back after VAR review, 3-2
6. 85th minuteEndrick heads the equaliser, 3-3
7. 90th minuteAntonio Rüdiger scores the winner, Real Madrid lead 4-3