Gian Piero Gasperini defended his players after AS Roma collapsed against Real Madrid.

The Giallorossi took a 3-1 lead at the Stadio Olimpico following a Donyell Malen brace, but José Mourinho orchestrated a comeback against his old club in the final ten minutes of the match.

·‘In a match like this, these episodes shouldn't have happened’

Set-piece goals from Carlos Espí, Endrick and Antonio Rüdiger gave the guests a 4-3 victory.

Roma's strong first 80 minutes

The fact that Los Blancos had to throw everything at the final phase of the game gives a sense of the strength of the hosts’ display, and Gasperini was not blind to the work done in the first 80 minutes.

"We could have done better, because in the first half we also conceded quite a few corners and defended well, without ever being in any real danger. In that phase, as well as the three chances, there was a fourth where the ball went just two centimetres wide.

"There is a real risk of erasing everything this match has been about and focusing solely on the last seven minutes. I cannot do that, although it is clearly also true that you have to know how to see matches through to the end.

"We got stuck at the finish line, paralyzed, yet even in the first half they had taken corners and we hadn't shown this fragility.

"They scored goals far too easily; in a match like this, these episodes shouldn't have happened. It's hard to get back up after a defeat like this. We must start again from the match up until the goals were conceded, we must react, otherwise everything good we've done is cancelled out.