Real Madrid staged a dramatic reversal at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico, snatching a 4‑3 victory over AS Roma in a Champions League round‑of‑16 tie that was as memorable for the comeback as it was for the reunion of José Mourinho with his former club. The hosts opened the scoring through Marten de Roon, but Kylian Mbappé equalised on his 100th Champions League appearance before the break. In the second half, Donyell Malen netted twice for Roma in quick succession, putting the Italians ahead 3‑1 and seemingly putting the match beyond Madrid’s reach.
In the final six minutes, however, the Spanish giants turned the game on its head. Three corners produced goals from Carlos Espí, Endrick and former Roma defender Antonio Rüdiger, giving Madrid a stunning 4‑3 win. The late barrage was enough to secure a place in the quarter‑finals and left the Stadio Olimpico in stunned silence. Mourinho, who guided Roma to a Conference League title and a Europa League final during his two‑and‑a‑half‑year tenure, was greeted with banners and chants from the home crowd in what was Roma’s first Champions League home match in more than seven years.
The match was also marred by controversy over a disciplinary decision that had already rattled Madrid. Vinícius Júnior, who featured in the win, had received a four‑match ban for pulling an opponent’s hair during a league match against Villarreal the previous Saturday. The decision was announced shortly before kickoff, a move that left Mourinho visibly upset with the Spanish football authorities. “They do things shamelessly now,” Mourinho said, expressing frustration that the player was only informed of the suspension two hours before the game. He questioned the timing of the announcement and the impact on team preparation.
The comeback was not the only headline‑making event of the evening. In other Champions League action, Bodø/Glimt extended their remarkable home record against Europe’s elite with a 1‑0 win over Borussia Dortmund, thanks to a 52nd‑minute strike from Fredrik Sjøvold. Dortmund’s coach Niko Kovač admitted the team lacked passion and that the Norwegian side had done a better job of taking the lead. Meanwhile, Shakhtar Donetsk celebrated a 3‑1 victory over AEK Athens at Stamford Bridge, their new “home” ground for the competition, with a late goal from Vinicius Tobias and a safe finish from substitute Gleiker Mendoza.
In Spain, Real Betis edged Porto 3‑2 in a heated match in Seville, with Isco scoring the winner from the spot and Abde Ezzalzouli delivering a contender for goal of the week. The game saw several bookings and a brief altercation after Gabriel Veiga’s free‑kick celebration. Elsewhere, Stuttgart maintained a perfect record in the league phase with a 3‑0 win over Slovan Bratislava, and Feyenoord returned to the top of the Dutch table after a 3‑2 comeback victory over Como, thanks to a brace from Anis Hadj Moussa.
With the win, Real Madrid now advances to the quarter‑finals, while Roma will look to regroup for their next Champions League encounter. The late goals have set a dramatic tone for the remainder of the competition, and both teams will be eager to build on the momentum—or learn from the setbacks—before the next round.