Real Madrid staged a remarkable late comeback to defeat Roma 4-3 in a UEFA Champions League encounter at the Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday, scoring three goals in the closing stages to overturn a 3-1 deficit.
The Spanish side appeared headed for defeat before a late attacking surge, inspired by Arda Güler’s set-piece deliveries, secured a dramatic victory.
Roma made a strong start and took the lead in the 20th minute when Marten de Roon’s long-range effort found the net following a deflection off Donyell Malen.
Real Madrid responded five minutes later through Kylian Mbappé, whose powerful strike from outside the penalty area deflected off Gianluca Mancini before beating Roma goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini.
Both teams created further opportunities but failed to convert, leaving the score level at 1-1 at half-time.
Roma regained control shortly after the restart, with Malen putting the hosts ahead in the 51st minute following a swift counterattack.
The forward doubled his tally seven minutes later, converting a through ball from Matías Soulé to extend Roma’s lead to 3-1.
With the match entering its final stages, Real Madrid intensified their attacking efforts and found a way back through a series of corners delivered by Güler.
In the 83rd minute, César Palacios Espí reacted quickest to a rebound after Endrick’s header from a Güler corner, reducing the deficit to 3-2.
Two minutes later, Endrick headed home another Güler corner to level the score at 3-3, completing Madrid’s recovery from a two-goal deficit.
The decisive moment came in the 89th minute when Antonio Rüdiger connected with Güler’s third crucial corner delivery and produced an acrobatic finish to give Real Madrid their first lead of the match.
Roma had little time to mount a response as the visitors held on to secure a 4-3 victory, completing a dramatic turnaround with three goals in the final seven minutes of regulation time.
(ANI Inputs)
