Real Madrid Defeats AEK Athens in Stoppage Time as Transfer Talks Advance for Young Talent

Real Madrid secured a dramatic 3-2 victory over AEK Athens on Wednesday during Matchday 4 of the UEFA Champions League league phase, thanks to a stoppage-time strike from midfielder Federico Valverde. The win propelled manager José Mourinho's side to 12 points in the competition, keeping their campaign on a flawless trajectory in the Greek capital.

The match in Athens saw the Spanish giants twice fall behind before mounting a resilient comeback. AEK Athens took the lead in the first half through Aboubakary Koita before Jude Bellingham leveled the score with a clever back-heel. Stavros Pilios restored the hosts' advantage in the 75th minute, but Kylian Mbappé quickly equalized three minutes later. As the match neared its conclusion, Valverde unleashed a long-range shot in the second minute of stoppage time to seal the win.

Manager José Mourinho praised his squad's determination after the final whistle, emphasizing their composure under pressure. "We won the first game in the last minute," Mourinho said in his post-match press conference. "Of course I prefer to win more calmly, but these games in the last minutes... only we can win them. The players have courage."

Valverde had originally started the match on the bench as a precaution following physical discomfort that sidelined him during the previous league fixture against Racing de Santander. Mourinho opted to rotate his squad considering a demanding upcoming schedule, which includes a trip to face Valencia at Mestalla on Saturday. The victory also marked Mourinho's 87th Champions League managerial win, placing him behind only Sir Alex Ferguson, Pep Guardiola, and Carlo Ancelotti in historical standings.

Away from European competition, Real Madrid is making significant moves off the pitch. The club has reached a verbal agreement with representatives of 16-year-old Manchester United academy standout JJ Gabriel. The teenager, who holds a recently secured European Union passport, has not returned to Manchester United since leaving in September and has been training independently in Spain.

While official club-to-club negotiations have not yet commenced, Real Madrid is increasingly confident of finalizing a move for the young prospect ahead of the January transfer window. Gabriel, widely regarded as one of Europe's top rising talents, drew strong interest from other European powerhouses including Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona, leaving Manchester United facing a painful departure of a prized academy asset.