Flash Roma: Mourinho meets former players after Real Madrid draw

The atmosphere at the Olimpico during Roma matches is unmatched, and visiting supporters often leave speechless. A Real Madrid fan captured on video was visibly moved during Roma's anthem, his face showing wonder and emotion as the crowd sang in unison to Venditti's 'Roma Roma', making the stadium shake. Other Real Madrid supporters recorded the moment on their phones, aware they were witnessing something rare. "Wow," one can be heard saying in the footage — no other words seemed necessary. Roma's fans delivered a performance worthy of a Champions League night, and the team matched that intensity. The evening remained special until the 80th minute, when the light went out at the Olimpico.

Roma's night ended in heartbreak as they surrendered a commanding position to lose 3–4 to Real Madrid in the closing eight minutes at the Olimpico on 15 October. The collapse capped a historic disaster for Italian football: all four Serie A clubs competing in the Champions League were defeated on matchday two, an outcome that has never occurred before in the competition's history. Napoli and Inter had already fallen in the first round—the Partenopei losing 3–1 to Villarreal and Inter defeated 3–4 at home by Bruges. On 14 October, Como lost 3–2 to Feyenoord. Roma's late capitulation against Real Madrid completed the unprecedented sweep. What makes the slump more damaging is that three of the four Italian sides—Napoli, Como and Roma—conceded their defeats after going ahead, squandering winning positions. The consequences are immediate and severe. Italy has slipped to 10th place in the UEFA country ranking with an average of 4.357 points after two matchdays, a collapse that threatens the nation's allocation of an extra Champions League spot for the 2027–28 season. England currently leads the rankings, followed by Portugal and Spain.

Roma hosted Real Madrid in a Champions League fixture at the Olimpico featuring a tactical contest that saw the giallorossi control the game for the opening hour before succumbing to late changes by José Mourinho. Gasperini deployed a 3-4-2-1 formation with Matías Soulé replacing Lorenzo Pellegrini, Wesley at right-back and Nahuel Molina on the left, while Madrid operated in a 4-2-3-1. Roma's intensity and two-touch football allowed them to dominate territorially and recover possession effectively through midfield pressure from Manu Koné and Marten de Roon. The giallorossi created multiple chances with striking ease and took a deserved lead through a goal that emerged from Paulo Dybala's sliding recovery challenge, exemplifying their determination throughout the opening period. Real Madrid's defensive structure was described as poor, with Kylian Mbappé creating danger through quick transitions despite the hosts' superior control. Roma doubled their advantage early in the second half when Rodrigo Mora set up Donyell Malen for a second goal, with Koné again instrumental in winning the ball in midfield. The lead lasted only briefly, however, before Real Madrid equalised—Mario Hermoso's poor clearance in a duel allowing Mbappé to punish the error. Koné departed injured and was replaced by Niccolò Pisilli, while Dybala also left the pitch injured. Despite these setbacks, Roma extended their lead to 2–0 approaching the hour mark, appearing to have secured a prestigious victory. The tactical balance rested on Roma's compact midfield aggression and Madrid's reliance on immediate transition and direct passes to their pacy attackers Vinícius and another forward. Mourinho responded with aggressive substitutions, introducing Eder Endrich and Arda Guler for Dumfries and an ineffective Vinícius, shifting Valverde to right-back, and later bringing in Jude Bellingham—referred to in the text as Silva—for Aurélien Tchouaméni, followed by Alejandro Balde and Carlos Espiñeira for Álvaro Cucurella and Maba Diomande. Fresh Roma changes saw Pellegrini replace Soulé and Leonardo Balerdi come on for the cautioned Gianluca Mancini. Madrid pressed relentlessly as Roma struggled to maintain defensive solidity, eventually conceding three times from set pieces near the corner flag—described as an "incredible" and "bewitched" match that delivered Mourinho's side a dramatic late victory. Both managers acknowledged the match featured two distinct contests in one fixture, with the stronger side emerging victorious at the final whistle despite Roma's earlier dominance. Koné and Dybala's injuries marked a significant cost to Roma's effort on the evening.

Roma hosted Real Madrid in a Champions League fixture at the Olimpico featuring a tactical contest that saw the giallorossi control the game for the opening hour before succumbing to late changes by José Mourinho. Gasperini deployed a 3-4-2-1 formation with Matías Soulé replacing Lorenzo Pellegrini, Wesley at right-back and Nahuel Molina on the left, while Madrid operated in a 4-2-3-1. Roma's intensity and two-touch football allowed them to dominate territorially and recover possession effectively through midfield pressure from Manu Koné and Marten de Roon. The giallorossi created multiple chances with striking ease and took a deserved lead through a goal that emerged from Paulo Dybala's sliding recovery challenge, exemplifying their determination throughout the opening period. Real Madrid's defensive structure was described as poor, with Kylian Mbappé creating danger through quick transitions despite the hosts' superior control. Roma doubled their advantage early in the second half when Rodrigo Mora set up Donyell Malen for a second goal, with Koné again instrumental in winning the ball in midfield. The lead lasted only briefly, however, before Real Madrid equalised—Mario Hermoso's poor clearance in a duel allowing Mbappé to punish the error. Koné departed injured and was replaced by Niccolò Pisilli, while Dybala also left the pitch injured. Despite these setbacks, Roma extended their lead to 2–0 approaching the hour mark, appearing to have secured a prestigious victory. The tactical balance rested on Roma's compact midfield aggression and Madrid's reliance on immediate transition and direct passes to their pacy attackers Vinícius and another forward. Mourinho responded with aggressive substitutions, introducing Eder Endrich and Arda Guler for Dumfries and an ineffective Vinícius, shifting Valverde to right-back, and later bringing in Jude Bellingham—referred to in the text as Silva—for Aurélien Tchouaméni, followed by Alejandro Balde and Carlos Espiñeira for Álvaro Cucurella and Maba Diomande. Fresh Roma changes saw Pellegrini replace Soulé and Leonardo Balerdi come on for the cautioned Gianluca Mancini. Madrid pressed relentlessly as Roma struggled to maintain defensive solidity, eventually conceding three times from set pieces near the corner flag—described as an "incredible" and "bewitched" match that delivered Mourinho's side a dramatic late victory. Both managers acknowledged the match featured two distinct contests in one fixture, with the stronger side emerging victorious at the final whistle despite Roma's earlier dominance. Koné and Dybala's injuries marked a significant cost to Roma's effort on the evening.

Roma squandered a dominant 82-minute display against Real Madrid at the Olimpico to suffer a heavy defeat in the Champions League. After controlling the match with high-quality football and commanding Real Madrid for the opening phase, Roma's discipline collapsed in the final eight minutes as three goals — all conceded from corner kicks — left the Stadio Olimpico in despair. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini received a rating of 6.5 across the Italian press for his tactical setup, but his side's defensive frailties in set pieces proved fatal. The match saw several substitutions: Manu Koné was withdrawn after just 16 minutes for Niccolò Pisilli, while Gianluca Mancini departed at the 63-minute mark for Leonardo Balerdi. Daniele Ghilardi and Nahuel Molina both entered late in the contest. Among the five major Italian outlets' player ratings, Donyell Malen emerged as Roma's standout performer, earning marks of 7.5 to 8 across the press box. Pierluigi Gollini and Balerdi drew the harshest assessments, with ratings ranging from 4.5 to 6 for the goalkeeper and 5 to 6 for the defender. Wesley drew consistent praise for a solid defensive showing, rated 6.5 to 7.5, while Matías Soulé and Evan N'Dicka also featured prominently in the squad across the 90 minutes.

Roma suffered a cruel 4–3 defeat to Real Madrid in a Champions League match at the Olimpico on 15 October 2026, throwing away a winning position through three consecutive set-piece goals in the final eight minutes. For the majority of the evening, Gasperini's side controlled the Spanish giants with courage, intensity and clear tactical discipline, but a complete breakdown in the closing stages turned a performance of genuine substance into disaster. Marten de Roon gave Roma the lead at the 20th minute after a recovery by Paulo Dybala, but Kylian Mbappé equalised two minutes later following a defensive error and an unfortunate deflection off Gianluca Mancini. Roma regained the upper hand in the second half when Rodrigo Mora set up Donyell Malen to make it 2–1 at the 49th minute, and Malen struck again at the 57th minute from a perfect pass by Matías Soulé—a goal initially disallowed before VAR overturned the decision. Real Madrid then emptied their bench to bring on fresh legs including Endrick, while Roma, increasingly fatigued and with limited substitution options, retreated too deep. Between the 82nd and 90th minutes, three set-piece goals unravelled the entire performance: Espí pulled one back from a corner at the 82nd minute, Endrick equalised from another at roughly the 85th minute, and Rüdiger completed the turnaround with a headed goal at the 90th minute that silenced the stadium. The collapse was made harder by injuries to Manu Koné, who left the field in tears, and Dybala in the second half. Despite the bitter finale, the article notes Roma demonstrated they can compete as equals with Europe's elite.

Roma hosted Real Madrid in a Champions League fixture at the Olimpico featuring a tactical contest that saw the giallorossi control the game for the opening hour before succumbing to late changes by José Mourinho. Gasperini deployed a 3-4-2-1 formation with Matías Soulé replacing Lorenzo Pellegrini, Wesley at right-back and Nahuel Molina on the left, while Madrid operated in a 4-2-3-1. Roma's intensity and two-touch football allowed them to dominate territorially and recover possession effectively through midfield pressure from Manu Koné and Marten de Roon. The giallorossi created multiple chances with striking ease and took a deserved lead through a goal that emerged from Paulo Dybala's sliding recovery challenge, exemplifying their determination throughout the opening period. Real Madrid's defensive structure was described as poor, with Kylian Mbappé creating danger through quick transitions despite the hosts' superior control. Roma doubled their advantage early in the second half when Rodrigo Mora set up Donyell Malen for a second goal, with Koné again instrumental in winning the ball in midfield. The lead lasted only briefly, however, before Real Madrid equalised—Mario Hermoso's poor clearance in a duel allowing Mbappé to punish the error. Koné departed injured and was replaced by Niccolò Pisilli, while Dybala also left the pitch injured. Despite these setbacks, Roma extended their lead to 2–0 approaching the hour mark, appearing to have secured a prestigious victory. The tactical balance rested on Roma's compact midfield aggression and Madrid's reliance on immediate transition and direct passes to their pacy attackers Vinícius and another forward. Mourinho responded with aggressive substitutions, introducing Eder Endrich and Arda Guler for Dumfries and an ineffective Vinícius, shifting Valverde to right-back, and later bringing in Jude Bellingham—referred to in the text as Silva—for Aurélien Tchouaméni, followed by Alejandro Balde and Carlos Espiñeira for Álvaro Cucurella and Maba Diomande. Fresh Roma changes saw Pellegrini replace Soulé and Leonardo Balerdi come on for the cautioned Gianluca Mancini. Madrid pressed relentlessly as Roma struggled to maintain defensive solidity, eventually conceding three times from set pieces near the corner flag—described as an "incredible" and "bewitched" match that delivered Mourinho's side a dramatic late victory. Both managers acknowledged the match featured two distinct contests in one fixture, with the stronger side emerging victorious at the final whistle despite Roma's earlier dominance. Koné and Dybala's injuries marked a significant cost to Roma's effort on the evening.

Roma face a mounting injury crisis following their 3–4 defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League. Manu Koné suffered the most serious blow, limping off after just 17 minutes with a muscular problem to his thigh. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini confirmed the injury and indicated it would be the more severe of two fresh concerns. Paulo Dybala also departed at half-time with what Gasperini described as a calf strain and tightness in the soleus muscle, though the initial assessment suggests a shorter absence than Koné's. Instrumental tests on both players were scheduled for today to establish the precise nature and extent of their injuries. The fear surrounding Koné is a right-leg bicep femoris strain with potential recovery taking roughly a month, meaning he could miss matches until after the international break in mid-November. The worst-case scenario would rule him out for several weeks. Dybala's presence against Genoa on Saturday appears heavily compromised, though Roma hope for a swift recovery in time for subsequent fixtures, particularly the crucial clash against Napoli. This crisis compounds existing absences. Mile Svilar will remain sidelined at least until November's international break owing to a stress fracture of the fifth toe, while Bryan Cristante is unavailable with knee inflammation and no confirmed return date. The midfield emergency has become particularly acute: without Cristante and, in all likelihood, without Koné for multiple matches, Gasperini has only Marten de Roon and Niccolò Pisilli as natural options for the two central midfield spots. Lorenzo Pellegrini would become the primary alternative to drop deeper into midfield if required, leaving the squad perilously thin in reserve. The timing is delicate given Roma's fixture schedule and the demands of balancing Serie A and Champions League football. Genoa, managed by Daniele De Rossi, visit the Olimpico on Saturday. The coming hours will determine how heavily the Champions League night weighs on Roma's resources.

Roma looked destined for a historic victory against Real Madrid at the Olimpico, leading 2–0 deep into the second half before conceding three goals in seven minutes to lose 3–2. De Roon's shot, slightly deflected by Konaté, put Roma ahead early despite Koné's injury (tests scheduled for today) and the prestige of Real's lineup. Real equalised through Mbappé after Mario Hermoso's poor pass, with Mancini's deflection assisting the leveller. In the second half, Paulo Dybala was withdrawn with a muscle strain and replaced by Rodrigo Mora, who set up Donyell Malen for Roma's second goal after five minutes. Matías Soulé then crossed for Malen to make it 2–0 at the 57th minute, and Roma came close to a fourth when Lorenzo Pellegrini threatened the scoreline further. The Olimpico, where Francesco Totti watched from the stands, erupted with each Roma goal. Then the collapse began. Real Madrid manager José Mourinho, celebrated by the stadium before and during the match with banners and a dedicated choreography, engineered the turnaround through substitutions, bringing on Endrick and Éspinoza. Both attackers, along with Rudiger, combined to reverse the result between the 83rd and 90th minutes on set pieces, handing Mourinho a dramatic victory.

Roma hosted Real Madrid in a Champions League fixture at the Olimpico featuring a tactical contest that saw the giallorossi control the game for the opening hour before succumbing to late changes by José Mourinho. Gasperini deployed a 3-4-2-1 formation with Matías Soulé replacing Lorenzo Pellegrini, Wesley at right-back and Nahuel Molina on the left, while Madrid operated in a 4-2-3-1. Roma's intensity and two-touch football allowed them to dominate territorially and recover possession effectively through midfield pressure from Manu Koné and Marten de Roon. The giallorossi created multiple chances with striking ease and took a deserved lead through a goal that emerged from Paulo Dybala's sliding recovery challenge, exemplifying their determination throughout the opening period. Real Madrid's defensive structure was described as poor, with Kylian Mbappé creating danger through quick transitions despite the hosts' superior control. Roma doubled their advantage early in the second half when Rodrigo Mora set up Donyell Malen for a second goal, with Koné again instrumental in winning the ball in midfield. The lead lasted only briefly, however, before Real Madrid equalised—Mario Hermoso's poor clearance in a duel allowing Mbappé to punish the error. Koné departed injured and was replaced by Niccolò Pisilli, while Dybala also left the pitch injured. Despite these setbacks, Roma extended their lead to 2–0 approaching the hour mark, appearing to have secured a prestigious victory. The tactical balance rested on Roma's compact midfield aggression and Madrid's reliance on immediate transition and direct passes to their pacy attackers Vinícius and another forward. Mourinho responded with aggressive substitutions, introducing Eder Endrich and Arda Guler for Dumfries and an ineffective Vinícius, shifting Valverde to right-back, and later bringing in Jude Bellingham—referred to in the text as Silva—for Aurélien Tchouaméni, followed by Alejandro Balde and Carlos Espiñeira for Álvaro Cucurella and Maba Diomande. Fresh Roma changes saw Pellegrini replace Soulé and Leonardo Balerdi come on for the cautioned Gianluca Mancini. Madrid pressed relentlessly as Roma struggled to maintain defensive solidity, eventually conceding three times from set pieces near the corner flag—described as an "incredible" and "bewitched" match that delivered Mourinho's side a dramatic late victory. Both managers acknowledged the match featured two distinct contests in one fixture, with the stronger side emerging victorious at the final whistle despite Roma's earlier dominance. Koné and Dybala's injuries marked a significant cost to Roma's effort on the evening.

Radio commentators analysed Roma's 2–3 defeat to Real Madrid, with debate centring on whether to focus on the loss or the quality of the performance that preceded it. Carina on Radio Radio said: "It is difficult to explain Roma's collapse. Roma played a spectacular match, dominated, but matches last until the 90th minute and beyond. There were certainly individual errors: on Endrick's goal there is a marking error by Balerdi, on Rüdiger's by Molina. But it would be unfair to blame them entirely: it was a general collapse. Then Madrid put on the pitch players who, at Roma, would play with the captain's armband." He added: "I fear Koné will be out for three or four weeks, and Dybala is a question mark: it is a bad injury. Gasperini must certainly look at the final eight minutes, but he must make the 82 previous minutes count, because they played an extraordinary match." Pruzzo on Radio Radio observed that the squad has "a starting rhythm that is too high to maintain for the whole match" and noted the defensive control shown before the late collapse. Orsi argued the loss came "from a lack of ability to hold on" rather than poor play by Roma: "Real scored on a corner kick. It was Roma's demerit." Mattiolo called it "a remediable defeat that teaches you something." Pedrelli on Radio Bruno 101.5 took a longer view: "I do not look at the result, but the performance. A great match by Roma despite the many absences, against one of the strongest teams in the world. It is not far to a real great leap. Gasperini is the manager I wanted." Ferri on the same station argued that supporters must "have the clarity needed to realise how much good was done in the face of Real Madrid, a squad that should have won far more easily." Verdenelli added: "I know it is not simple, I know it hurts and the stomach burns, but you must believe in the path. Roma is there, Roma is strong and proved it." Carina noted absences for Roma's next fixture, against Genoa: Svilar, Cristante, Koné, Dybala and Malen will all be absent.

Roma suffered a cruel 4–3 defeat to Real Madrid in a Champions League match at the Olimpico on 15 October 2026, throwing away a winning position through three consecutive set-piece goals in the final eight minutes. For the majority of the evening, Gasperini's side controlled the Spanish giants with courage, intensity and clear tactical discipline, but a complete breakdown in the closing stages turned a performance of genuine substance into disaster. Marten de Roon gave Roma the lead at the 20th minute after a recovery by Paulo Dybala, but Kylian Mbappé equalised two minutes later following a defensive error and an unfortunate deflection off Gianluca Mancini. Roma regained the upper hand in the second half when Rodrigo Mora set up Donyell Malen to make it 2–1 at the 49th minute, and Malen struck again at the 57th minute from a perfect pass by Matías Soulé—a goal initially disallowed before VAR overturned the decision. Real Madrid then emptied their bench to bring on fresh legs including Endrick, while Roma, increasingly fatigued and with limited substitution options, retreated too deep. Between the 82nd and 90th minutes, three set-piece goals unravelled the entire performance: Espí pulled one back from a corner at the 82nd minute, Endrick equalised from another at roughly the 85th minute, and Rüdiger completed the turnaround with a headed goal at the 90th minute that silenced the stadium. The collapse was made harder by injuries to Manu Koné, who left the field in tears, and Dybala in the second half. Despite the bitter finale, the article notes Roma demonstrated they can compete as equals with Europe's elite.