José Mourinho got a hero’s welcome on his return to Roma as Real Madrid coach on Wednesday night, then took all three points as his side scored three times in the last 10 minutes to win 4-3 in the Champions League; the Associated Press reported it.
The Stadio Olimpico gave the Portuguese a long ovation when the announcer read out his name, and Roma’s ultras unfurled huge banners of their former coach, one showing him with the Conference League trophy he won in Rome. The AP described the fans bestowing “eternal glory” on him. It was the Mourinho Roma return the home crowd had waited for since he left the club.
Mourinho Roma return starts with a tribute
On the pitch the mood turned sour for Mourinho. Marten de Roon put Roma ahead in the 20th minute with a deflected strike, Kylian Mbappé levelled five minutes later on his 100th Champions League appearance, and Donyell Malen scored twice, in the 51st and 57th minutes, to make it 3-1. That is how ESPN’s match report tells it.
Madrid rescue the Mourinho Roma return
The comeback came from corners alone. Carlos Espí scored in the 83rd minute, Endrick levelled two minutes later, and Antonio Rüdiger headed the winner in the 90th. Our report on Rüdiger’s stoppage-time winner in the 4-3 has the full match story.
Vinícius ban and a painful night for Roma
Before the Mourinho Roma return, Madrid had learned that Vinícius Júnior had been given a four-match league ban that includes the Clasico, yet he still started in Rome.
For Roma, the night was a hard one. It began with banners and a standing ovation, and it ended in a late collapse. Gian Piero Gasperini’s side now have one point from two games in the new Champions League format. Madrid have won both of theirs and sit on six.
The Mourinho Roma return will be remembered in the Italian capital for the welcome, and in Madrid for the win. Mourinho did it the hard way, against a team that had seemed in complete control.
Watch the club’s own reaction below.
Real Madrid on X: “WHAT A COMEBACK IN ROME!”
