Roma's shock after Real Madrid collapse: 'It hurts. Seven minutes ruined everything'

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 lost 3-4 to Real Madrid in a Champions League match at the Olimpico, despite delivering what the article describes as an impressive performance with high tempo, quality and dominance for over 80 minutes. Wesley was among Roma's standout performers, putting in a display that caught the attention of Real Madrid manager José Mourinho. After the match, Mourinho spoke to TNT Sports and offered public praise for the Brazilian defender. "I knew already that he was strong, but seeing him up close was the first time," Mourinho said, highlighting Wesley's impact during the fixture.

José Mourinho encountered three of his former Roma players after the 3–4 draw between Roma and Real Madrid on Thursday, 15 October 2026. Gianluca Mancini, Lorenzo Pellegrini and Paulo Dybala spoke with Mourinho in the plaza outside Stadio Olimpico near the team coaches at the end of a particularly significant evening for the Special One, who returned to the capital as an opponent. The meeting underscored the enduring connection between Mourinho and the club he managed during his time in Rome. The encounter took place in the immediate aftermath of a dramatic fixture that delivered plenty for both sides to reflect on. In the ratings published by five daily newspapers covering the match, Donyell Malen emerged as Roma's highest-rated performer with an average of 7.60. Matías Soulé followed with 7.10 and Wesley with 7.00, while Marten de Roon closed at 6.80. Leonardo Balerdi received the lowest average rating at 5.10. Among the starting players, Nahuel Molina posted the lowest average mark at 5.20, followed by Mario Hermoso at 5.30 and Pierluigi Gollini at 5.50.

José Mourinho encountered three of his former Roma players after the 3–4 draw between Roma and Real Madrid on Thursday, 15 October 2026. Gianluca Mancini, Lorenzo Pellegrini and Paulo Dybala spoke with Mourinho in the plaza outside Stadio Olimpico near the team coaches at the end of a particularly significant evening for the Special One, who returned to the capital as an opponent. The meeting underscored the enduring connection between Mourinho and the club he managed during his time in Rome. The encounter took place in the immediate aftermath of a dramatic fixture that delivered plenty for both sides to reflect on. In the ratings published by five daily newspapers covering the match, Donyell Malen emerged as Roma's highest-rated performer with an average of 7.60. Matías Soulé followed with 7.10 and Wesley with 7.00, while Marten de Roon closed at 6.80. Leonardo Balerdi received the lowest average rating at 5.10. Among the starting players, Nahuel Molina posted the lowest average mark at 5.20, followed by Mario Hermoso at 5.30 and Pierluigi Gollini at 5.50.

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.

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.

José Mourinho encountered three of his former Roma players after the 3–4 draw between Roma and Real Madrid on Thursday, 15 October 2026. Gianluca Mancini, Lorenzo Pellegrini and Paulo Dybala spoke with Mourinho in the plaza outside Stadio Olimpico near the team coaches at the end of a particularly significant evening for the Special One, who returned to the capital as an opponent. The meeting underscored the enduring connection between Mourinho and the club he managed during his time in Rome. The encounter took place in the immediate aftermath of a dramatic fixture that delivered plenty for both sides to reflect on. In the ratings published by five daily newspapers covering the match, Donyell Malen emerged as Roma's highest-rated performer with an average of 7.60. Matías Soulé followed with 7.10 and Wesley with 7.00, while Marten de Roon closed at 6.80. Leonardo Balerdi received the lowest average rating at 5.10. Among the starting players, Nahuel Molina posted the lowest average mark at 5.20, followed by Mario Hermoso at 5.30 and Pierluigi Gollini at 5.50.

Roma delivered an almost perfect performance against Real Madrid for 80 minutes but collapsed late in the match, conceding a goal to Rudiger in a defeat that left much to regret. The display showcased the quality the team possesses, yet the harsh reality of football meant that merit did not translate to points. Gasperini has instilled a different mentality at Roma. The side now understands its capabilities and knows it can compete with any opponent. A telling detail emerged after De Roon's goal: while every other player celebrated, Gasperini remained unmoved, offering instructions to each teammate who passed him and reminding them of mistakes made up to that moment. That winning mentality sustained Roma for 80 minutes. A late blackout is concerning but not decisive. Roma will recover, and with Gasperini in charge, the club can look ahead with confidence.

Roma held their own against Real Madrid for 80 minutes in a Champions League encounter at the Olimpico, twice taking the lead through Donyell Malen's brace, but conceded three goals in a devastating late collapse that handed the Spanish side victory. Malen emerged as the standout performer, earning praise across all six major Italian newspapers for his attacking display and two-goal contribution. Matías Soulé also drew consistent ratings in the 7–7.5 range for his involvement in Roma's attacking play, notably providing the assist for the second goal. Gasperini's side dominated large stretches of the match and came close to a third goal, but a series of set-piece lapses—attributed in the match analysis to tactical adjustments—proved fatal. The defensive vulnerabilities were magnified by poor individual performances: Leonardo Balerdi received ratings of 4.5 to 5.5 across the papers, while Nahuel Molina struggled throughout, rated between 5 and 5.5 by all outlets. Gazzetta dello Sport awarded Malen 7.5 and Soulé 6.5, while Corriere dello Sport rated Malen 7.5 and Soulé 7. Il Messaggero gave identical marks—Malen 7.5, Soulé 7—as did Il Tempo, which rated Soulé 7.5. Corriere della Sera and Leggo both scored Malen 7.5, the latter's most generous assessment across the match report cards. Balerdi's substitution at the 63-minute mark failed to arrest Roma's defensive decline. Gasperini himself received a consistent 6.5 from every outlet, reflecting the tactical merit of Roma's performance offset by the costly failure to manage the closing stages. Wesley earned widespread praise in the 6.5–7 range for his defensive work, while Evan N'Dicka and Marten de Roon also registered solid marks of 6–7.

José Mourinho encountered three of his former Roma players after the 3–4 draw between Roma and Real Madrid on Thursday, 15 October 2026. Gianluca Mancini, Lorenzo Pellegrini and Paulo Dybala spoke with Mourinho in the plaza outside Stadio Olimpico near the team coaches at the end of a particularly significant evening for the Special One, who returned to the capital as an opponent. The meeting underscored the enduring connection between Mourinho and the club he managed during his time in Rome. The encounter took place in the immediate aftermath of a dramatic fixture that delivered plenty for both sides to reflect on. In the ratings published by five daily newspapers covering the match, Donyell Malen emerged as Roma's highest-rated performer with an average of 7.60. Matías Soulé followed with 7.10 and Wesley with 7.00, while Marten de Roon closed at 6.80. Leonardo Balerdi received the lowest average rating at 5.10. Among the starting players, Nahuel Molina posted the lowest average mark at 5.20, followed by Mario Hermoso at 5.30 and Pierluigi Gollini at 5.50.

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 surrendered a 3–1 advantage to lose 4–3 to Real Madrid in a Champions League match at the Olimpico on 15 October, squandering what appeared to be a historic night. Leading 3–1 at the 82nd minute, Roma conceded three goals in seven minutes—all from set pieces—as Real Madrid mounted an extraordinary comeback. Eder Espí made it 3–2 at 83 minutes, Endrick equalised at 85, and Rüdiger completed the turnaround at 90 to leave Gian Piero Gasperini's side devastated. Roma had performed boldly before the collapse. Marten de Roon opened the scoring at the 20th minute with a slightly deflected effort that deceived Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. Kylian Mbappé immediately levelled through a second-half error by Vinicius Junior and a rebound off Pierluigi Gollini. Roma then took control after the interval. Donyell Malen struck twice—first at 51 minutes after exploiting space left by Vinicius's error, then at 57 minutes following a cutting pass from Matías Soulé—to build the commanding 3–1 scoreline. The Olimpico was on its feet; Real Madrid appeared beaten. But the match unravelled when Roma failed to consolidate. The article notes that "a two-goal lead can vanish in minutes, especially against Real Madrid," and this proved prophetic. In the second phase, Real Madrid abandoned intricate play and attacked directly into the box with more bodies and aerial pressure, exposing structural weaknesses in Roma's defending on set pieces. Roma also suffered compounding losses: Manu Koné withdrew with a muscular injury in the opening 15 minutes, forcing Niccolò Pisilli into the midfield with Bryan Cristante already unavailable; Paulo Dybala did not return after the interval with a muscle problem. Gasperini found himself progressively without the players most accustomed to reading and governing critical moments—men like Cristante, Koné and Dybala who bring experience and composure. "The Roma this time was not stealing anything," the analysis states. "It had lost Koné and Dybala, had to change men and reference points, yet managed to build a two-goal advantage against one of Europe's strongest teams." The turnaround revealed that Roma possesses enough quality to trouble Real Madrid but lacks the structure and cunning required when matches shift into physical combat inside the penalty area. Roma host Daniele De Rossi's Genoa on Saturday at the Olimpico. Gasperini's squad must absorb the blow immediately and demonstrate the character that separates great performances from great victories.