Roma suffered a devastating 3–4 defeat to Real Madrid on 14 October in a Champions League match at the Olimpico, losing a commanding position in the closing stages. The evening began with an extraordinary atmosphere, as captured in footage showing a Real Madrid supporter visibly moved by Roma's anthem—Venditti's 'Roma Roma'—as the crowd sang in unison and the stadium shook. Other visiting supporters recorded the moment, aware they were witnessing something rare. Roma's fans delivered a performance worthy of a Champions League night, and the team matched that intensity until the 80th minute, when the situation unravelled.
Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini reflected on the collapse after the match, telling Prime Video: "We planted ourselves on the finish line, in the least expected way." He highlighted set pieces as the critical weakness, saying Roma were passive on corners and became "paralysed by the situation" as Real Madrid's substitutions altered the dynamic. Gasperini defended his tactical choices and substitutions, including bringing on Mancini and Hermoso, describing them as necessary despite the defensive absences. He rejected suggestions Roma ran out of steam, insisting that "those who could not do any more were them," and that Roma had outclassed Real Madrid in most aspects of play. Midfielder Marten de Roon echoed the frustration, saying: "I find it hard to comment on this match. It's a great shame, this is a heavy result. We played a great match and dominated Real Madrid for 80 minutes." He identified poor corner defending as decisive. The club confirmed that Koné suffered a muscle strain, Dybala picked up muscle irritation, and several other players sustained minor knocks requiring assessment.
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