Real Madrid Secures Late 3-2 Victory Against AEK Athens in Champions League

Real Madrid extended its winning streak to seven consecutive matches across all competitions after securing a dramatic 3-2 victory against AEK Athens in the UEFA Champions League. Played on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, the match saw the Spanish giants tested heavily on the road before ultimately prevailing in the dying minutes of the game.

The hosts came out aggressively, putting immediate pressure on the Madrid defense and forcing goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois into early saves. AEK Athens broke the deadlock in the 12th minute when Koita beat the Belgian goalkeeper with a unique strike to give the Greek side a 1-0 advantage.

Real Madrid attempted to respond quickly, and although Jude Bellingham initially had an equalizer disallowed for offside in the 28th minute, the English midfielder found the back of the net four minutes later. Receiving a cross from Marc Cucurella, Bellingham leveled the score with a left-footed finish to make it 1-1 heading into halftime.

The second half continued in a competitive fashion, with Real Madrid dominating possession but failing to capitalize on scoring chances created by Cucurella and Kylian Mbappé. The match took a surprising turn in the 75th minute when AEK Athens executed a swift counterattack, allowing Pilios to score from close range and reclaim the lead at 2-1.

Trailing late in the match, the visiting side quickly bounced back under manager José Mourinho. Just three minutes after falling behind, Mbappé equalized in the 78th minute by finishing a low cross from the right flank provided by Dumfries, bringing the score to 2-2.

As the match entered stoppage time, Federico Valverde delivered the decisive blow in the 92nd minute. Following a defensive recovery by Eduardo Camavinga and a pass from Brahim Diaz, the Uruguayan midfielder controlled the ball outside the penalty area and unleashed a powerful strike into the top corner to seal the 3-2 victory.

With this hard-fought result, Real Madrid maintains a flawless record with four wins from four matches in the Champions League group stage, accumulating 12 points alongside Paris Saint-Germain at the top of the standings. Meanwhile, Kylian Mbappé continues his prolific form, reaching 16 goals in 15 appearances across all competitions this season.