Real Madrid revive their late comeback spirit under Jose Mourinho

Real Madrid have rescued victory in the closing stages for the fifth time this season, completing another comeback in Greece as Fede Valverde’s outstanding shooting helped Jose Mourinho’s side secure a valuable win.

The latest turnaround began after the home side scored their second goal in the 75th minute. That strike served as a warning to Real Madrid, who responded strongly and once again gave their supporters the familiar feeling of watching their team snatch victory at the end of a demanding match.

According to Spanish newspaper Sport, Mourinho’s Real Madrid are reviving a tradition that had appeared to lie dormant at the Santiago Bernabeu: the uncompromising comeback and the ability to win matches in the final moments.

The club have now produced dramatic victories against Espanyol, Elche, Roma, Barcelona and, most recently, the Greek side. In each of those matches, the decisive goals arrived from the 87th minute onwards. Those late successes have brought Real Madrid 10 points from seemingly impossible situations and restored the competitive spirit Florentino Perez had sought to revive by bringing Mourinho back.

The previous day’s match represented another chapter in this new Mourinho era, with the Portuguese manager transferring the magic of European-style victories into domestic competition.

Real Madrid’s familiar identity returns

Re-establishing that tradition has provided a significant boost inside the Real Madrid dressing room. Winning at a moment when a draw would have been a damaging result has strengthened the squad’s belief and their psychological resilience.

The change was visible in the players’ mood. Disappointment following the 1-2 deficit was replaced by a major lift ahead of the visit to Mestalla, where Real Madrid will seek an eighth consecutive victory.

Maintaining such late comebacks is regarded as one of the defining characteristics of the biggest clubs. Mourinho’s team have continued to collect wins and have now put together seven in a row, increasing the sense of pressure on their opponents.

Those rivals must remain mentally prepared to contest every ball until the final whistle if they are to avoid another late collapse. Such matches bring enormous satisfaction to the team that completes the comeback, while leaving their opponents to reflect on a particularly bitter defeat.

Real Madrid’s refusal to accept that a match is settled before the final whistle is the tradition Mourinho has brought back to the club. As the Portuguese manager continues to build a run of successive victories, his side are becoming an increasingly difficult opponent for everyone they face.