Mourinho's subs spark Real Madrid comeback, but Champions League glory feels far away - ESPN

ROME — On an exhilarating night at Stadio Olimpico, Real Madrid left it very, very late in a dramatic 4-3 victory.

Down 3-1 to AS Roma into the 80th minute, José Mourinho's team were facing another, humbling defeat — this time in the Champions League. It would have been a loss that raised more questions about Madrid's trophy-winning prospects this season, and about Mourinho's long-term future at the club he took over four months ago.

But then, Mourinho responded, and so did his team. Seven explosive minutes changed the narrative.

At the hour mark, Mourinho sent in Endrick and Arda Güler as substitutions to make the difference, and 18 minutes later, he added Carlos Espí. Those three substitutes were involved in all three of Real Madrid's late goals, turning the game around, and allowing Mourinho to leave his former home with his head held high.

First Espí — who often looks like Madrid's most productive forward in the minutes he is given — pounced to make it 3-2 in the 82nd minute. The chance was made by Endrick, who was electric. It only took half an hour for the Brazilian to be rightly named the game's MVP by UEFA.

Endrick changed the game's dynamic entirely, and two minutes after creating Espí's goal, his own header made it 3-3. Both goals had come from corners. Roma couldn't deal with Güler's deliveries, and Madrid's aerial threat. In the 90th minute, another Güler cross allowed Antonio Rüdiger to make it 4-3.

Güler ended the night with two assists. You can make a pretty convincing argument that he's Madrid's most important player. With performances like this, he's making himself undroppable.

This comeback was vintage Real Madrid in Europe. By the time Rudiger's header hit the net in added time, Madrid felt