Real Madrid left Athens with a 3-2 Champions League win over AEK Athens on Wednesday after Federico Valverde struck from outside the penalty area in the second minute of stoppage time, according to annahar.com. The result kept Madrid's perfect record in this season's league phase intact, Kooora reported. Kylian Mbappe had pulled Madrid level at 2-2 in the 77th minute before Valverde's late winner settled the match.
Why it matters
The match was the fourth round of the Champions League league phase, and AEK's own channels had billed it as a major European night for the Greek club. For long stretches the hosts looked capable of taking a point, or more, from the competition's most decorated side. Instead, Madrid maintained a full haul of wins, and the manner of the victory — a comeback after twice falling behind — was framed by Kooora as another hard-fought remontada. Monte Carlo International reported the result alongside Liverpool's defeat in Istanbul, placing Madrid's escape among the night's notable outcomes.
How the game turned
AEK took the lead through Aboubacar Koita, the Mauritanian forward, who surprised Madrid with an early goal. Madrid responded before the break. In the 32nd minute, Jude Bellingham met a cross from Marc Cucurella with a back-heeled left-footed finish that the goalkeeper could not reach, levelling the score at 1-1.
The hosts regained the advantage in the 75th minute. Bilou received a pass from Koita, who had been prominent throughout, and drove a left-footed shot between Thibaut Courtois's legs to make it 2-1.
Madrid's equaliser came two minutes later. Denzel Dumfries delivered a cross and Mbappe converted it, scoring his fourth goal of this Champions League campaign, per the match reporting. In the 87th minute, Endrick played a pass that sent Mbappe clear on goal, but the French forward's effort took a slight touch off goalkeeper Alberto Brignoli and rose onto the crossbar.
Valverde then decided it in the 92nd minute with a powerful strike from distance that beat Brignoli for 3-2.
Madrid's slow start and AEK's resistance
The first half was difficult for Madrid. Reporting on the match described the visitors working to absorb AEK's energy and calm the tempo, while looking for a chance to take the lead before the interval. AEK's goalkeeper Brignoli was busy: he kept out a Cucurella attempt from a narrow angle in the 38th minute, and after the break he dealt with a long-range drive from Eder Militao in the 49th minute.
Madrid improved markedly after half-time, according to the same reporting. Dumfries pushed down the right in the 55th minute and sent a low ball toward Cucurella in front of goal, but the Greek defence intervened in time. Mbappe then came close in the 62nd minute with a strike that passed just wide of AEK's goal.
The line-ups were reported before kick-off, with Vinicius Junior and Mbappe leading Madrid's attack, according to Youm7. AEK's build-up to the fixture was carried on the club's own channels, which promoted live coverage of the match and pre-match programming.
AEK's evening also included youth-team action: the club's K19 side faced Real Madrid in the Youth League earlier in the day, with coverage on AEK's YouTube channel.
Madrid's win means the Spanish side continues the league phase with maximum points. The next question is whether the pattern of narrow, late victories proves sustainable as the schedule tightens, and whether AEK can turn performances of this quality into points against the other contenders in the league phase.
