Mourinho's tactical twist rescues Real Madrid against Roma

Real Madrid experienced two different matches: the one they lost 3-1 and the one they won 3-0. The reaction came in the final 30 minutes, when Mourinho completely changed the setup and found in Arda Güler the compass the team had lost.

• Real Madrid's plan A collapsed for an hour: no control of the game and a 3-1 deficit.
• The introduction of Güler, Valverde at right-back and a new attack with Endrick, Espí and Mbappé changed the course.
• Three corners taken by Güler ended in goals in the final stretch.
• The match reopens the debate over the Turkish midfielder's starting role and Vinicius's position.

Plan A falls apart in an hour: a lost Real Madrid

The initial setup, with Valverde and Tchouaméni protecting the midfield and Vinicius enjoying attacking freedom, produced very little. Gasperini's Roma pressed with man-to-man marking all over the pitch and Real Madrid got stuck without ideas.

The first hour left an unrecognizable team, outplayed in intensity and unable to impose their rhythm. The 3-1 reflected Roma's dominance and exposed the structural problems of a starting eleven that never really got going.

Mourinho's revolution: Güler takes control

The reaction came from the bench. Mourinho moved his pieces boldly: Valverde dropped to right-back, Güler took charge of the game and the attack was rebuilt with Endrick, Espí and Mbappé.

Güler, who had watched the 3-1 from the bench, changed the match as soon as he stepped onto the pitch. His tactical awareness, left-footed precision and growing maturity allowed him to run the game and give purpose to every possession.

All three goals came from corners delivered by the Turkish midfielder. It showed that his impact was not only in open play, but also in set pieces, an area Real Madrid desperately needed to fix.

Vinicius under fire: carelessness and lack of defensive effort

The Brazilian had the occasional moment in attack, but his defensive attitude raised questions once again. His mistake led to the 3-1 and sparked Mourinho's fury, who did not hesitate to take him off.

The comparison with his teammates was inevitable. While Espí and Endrick drove forward and showed an impressive scoring instinct, Vinicius neglected his defensive duties and left a worrying sense of disconnection.

A new tactical direction for Real Madrid?

The final stretch sent a clear message: Real Madrid have players who are too good to play as badly as they had been playing. With Güler alongside Tchouaméni in midfield, Valverde at right-back and Vinicius out of the lineup, the team looked more balanced and fluid.

Mourinho may take credit for fixing the game with his substitutions, but it would be better if he admitted that his plan A is not working and that last night's display points to a new path.

The debate over Güler's starting role and the need to rethink Vinicius's position remains open. The second half proved that another Madrid is possible: more organized, more direct and with a player who understands the game from the first pass.