Roma 3-4 Real Madrid: How Arda Guler stole the show from the bench

Real Madrid barely won against Villarreal at the weekend, and it seemed the problems were going to get worse in Europe. Initially, it looked like Jose Mourinho’s men were at it. Mbappe fired in an equalizer just five minutes after Martin de Roon opened the scoring for Roma.

These ratings would not have been much different had the LaLiga side not completed a comeback. Mourinho deployed the right substitutes, and at the right time. The goalscorers usually get all the credit in games like this, but this time, it’s another type of player that gets the spotlight.

From 3-1 down to 4-3 up, these are the Real Madrid player ratings from a game that looked bleak with less than 15 minutes to go:

Thibaut Courtois (GK): 4.5/10

Courtois looked to be having a bad game, and that’s because he was. He didn’t really make any blunders. I mean… he made four saves, but still conceded three goals. Yes, Real Madrid made a historic comeback, but the shot-stopper didn’t play much of a role in that.

Denzel Dumfries (RB): 5.5/10

Dumfries was only allowed an hour on the pitch, and rightly so. He was a near non-factor, and that’s because AS Roma made the 15-time UEFA Champions League winners second-best for the first 60 minutes.

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Ibrahima Konaté (CB): 7/10

Konate’s positioning was very good, but his reading of the game was not great. His distribution was exceptional, which is likely why Mourinho kept him on for the full 90 minutes. It was a difficult game for him because Roma is very good. His role in building was crucial for the comeback.

Antonio Rüdiger (CB): 7.5/10

Rudiger’s reading of the game was much better than his partner’s. However, he’d be remembered for something much bigger. The former Chelsea defender stood tall to head home Real Madrid’s winning goal. His passing was not as neat as Konate’s, but his defending eventually stabilized. Both center-backs were busy in the first third.

Marc Cucurella (LB): 6/10

Cucurella got a very good chance in the first half. It was no surprise he missed, considering he’s not known for goalscoring. Mourinho took him off in the 78th minute, and the goals started flowing not long after. Make of that what you will.

Federico Valverde (CM): 7/10

Valverde set a good example as the team captain, distributing the ball well and doing his best to weather the storm that was Roma in the first 60 minutes. He wasn’t flashy, but by the time the game ended, you could see why he was kept on.

Aurélien Tchouaméni (CM): 6.5/10

Tchouameni’s defending was a bit shaky, and his passing was unconvincing. He was hooked 70 minutes in. He has not been getting starts under Mourinho, and this game will not help his case.

Yan Diomande (RW): 8/10

Diomande was great at creating space in the final third, but he was also defensively alert. He made as many interceptions as the two center-backs combined. He also broke down Roma’s backline with his dribbles, winning fouls in key areas of the pitch. The Cote d’Ivoire winger assisted Kylian Mbappe for Madrid’s first goal.

Jude Bellingham (AM): 6/10

Bellingham won a lot of fouls, but didn’t do much else. He didn’t really do much. However, those duels won in the middle and final third helped the team. He got a golden opportunity, but he squandered it.

Vinícius Júnior (LW): 5/10

Sitting on a four-game ban after getting a red card against Villarreal, the Brazil winger failed to make an impact tonight. AS Roma had a comprehensive plan for him. The plan worked.

Kylian Mbappé (ST): 7.5/10

You can always expect goals from Mbappe, and he got one today. His shooting was very good, keeping all his shots on target. His shots were relatively easy for Pierluigi Collini, except the one, of course.

Arda Guler (59’): 9.5/10

Mourinho made late substitutions, which looked strange considering how the game was going. However, you won’t be blamed for calling these genius substitutions. The subs were the show. Guler was exceptional, as always. The Turkiye midfielder may be the best creator in football at the moment. He played 31 minutes and took 37 touches, but those touches were gold dust. He won the game, providing two assists for the third and fourth goals.

Endrick (59’): 7/10

Endrick was hardworking, intelligent, and technically brilliant. His shooting was accurate and effective. He scored the goal that pulled Madrid level. He tried to give Mourinho a selection headache, and he made a good case.

Bernardo Silva (70’): 7/10

Silva was brought in to stabilize the team, and stabilize, he did. His tenacity, technical brilliance, and ability to control possession proved essential for the galacticos. His performance was particularly striking compared to the man he replaced.

Alvaro Carreras (78’): 7/10

I know I said the substitutes were the show, but I may have overstated it a bit. Carreras was solid, but he did nothing exceptional.

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Carlos Espi (78’): 7.5/10

Is it just me, or does Espi seem to score EVERY time he comes on? He knows his way around the six-yard box, that’s for sure.

Jose Mourinho: 9/10

His team was getting pummeled, and he didn’t panic. He picked the right subs and brought them on at the perfect time. His team still needed to produce the goods on the pitch, but the role he played is unmistakable. Granted, he cannot hope to make perfect substitutions every game, so he’d do well not to get himself into this kind of hole often.