Real Madrid came away from Athens with a win on Champions League matchday four after Fede Valverde scored from around 20 metres deep into stoppage time, according to BILD. The same report says Liverpool lost their first match of this European campaign, going down in Istanbul after three wins from three. BILD framed the night under the headline "Real-Wahnsinn, Liverpool-Patzer."
Why it matters
Matchday four produced two results that shift the picture in this season's league phase. Real Madrid were outplayed for long stretches in Athens and still left with the points, a habit that matters in a competition decided over a single table. Liverpool, by contrast, had won all three of their previous matches and lost their perfect record in a game that swung back and forth. BILD reports that the Istanbul side's victory was their first of the campaign and keeps their hopes of reaching the playoffs alive.
AEK Athens push Real Madrid to the brink
The hosts started far the stronger side and took a deserved lead in the 12th minute. Aboubakary Koita got past Marc Cucurella and struck left-footed from 12 metres into the right corner, giving Thibaut Courtois no chance. BILD described AEK as close to pinning Real against the wall in the opening phase.
Athens nearly doubled the lead five minutes later. Mijat Gacinovic, a former Eintracht Frankfurt player, set up another ex-Frankfurt man, Luka Jovic, for a major opportunity, but Courtois saved on that occasion.
Real had a goal ruled out for offside before Jude Bellingham levelled in the 32nd minute. The former Borussia Dortmund midfielder met a Cucurella cross with a backheel from eight metres, a finish BILD called a dream goal and technically superb.
AEK went back in front through Stavros Pilios in the 75th minute, only for Kylian Mbappé to equalise three minutes later at 2-2. Mbappé then came close to winning it himself, but Athens goalkeeper Alberto Brignoli managed to turn his powerful effort onto the crossbar.
With a draw looking likely, Valverde took matters into his own hands and drove the ball beyond reach into the far corner from roughly 20 metres. BILD summed up the finish as "Real-Wahnsinn in Athen" — Real madness in Athens.
Liverpool's lead twice erased in Istanbul
Liverpool went ahead in the 25th minute through Trey Nyoni, whose shot from the edge of the penalty area took a deflection on its way in. The home side responded almost immediately: Mason Greenwood's free kick, deflected off the Liverpool wall, brought a deserved equaliser in the 29th minute, per BILD.
Liverpool made a triple substitution on 66 minutes, with Florian Wirtz coming on for Joe Gomez. Alexander Isak, also newly introduced alongside Wirtz, headed the visitors back in front in the 69th minute, only three minutes after entering the pitch.
The pattern of the first half then repeated. Four minutes after falling behind, Istanbul levelled again through Archie Brown in the 73rd. Vedat Muriqi put the hosts 3-2 up in the 79th minute, and that scoreline held.
BILD reports that the Turkish side's first win of the campaign leaves them with real hope of qualifying for the playoffs.
What to watch
Both clubs now turn to the next matchday, where Real Madrid will look to build on a win that owed much to timing and Liverpool will need a response after their first setback of the European season.
