Real Madrid Secures Late Win Against AEK Athens in Champions League
Federico Valverde scored a dramatic stoppage-time goal to maintain Real Madrid's perfect record in the European competition.
Real Madrid secured a dramatic 3-2 victory against AEK Athens in Greece, extending their flawless start to the UEFA Champions League group stage with twelve points from four matches. The Spanish side had to mount two separate comebacks during a fiercely contested match before securing the three points.
Playing on Greek soil has historically proven difficult for Real Madrid. Prior to this fixture, the fifteen-time European champions had managed only a single victory in eight previous away matches in the country. This encounter continued that trend of testing moments for the visitors.
The hosts started strongly, taking the lead in the twelfth minute when Koita found the back of the net. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois soon had to deny Jović from doubling the advantage for the home side with a sharp save inside the penalty area.
Real Madrid attempted to respond before halftime when Jude Bellingham scored, but the goal was overturned following a VAR review for offside. However, Bellingham officially equalized in the thirty-second minute with an elegant backheel finish following a cross from Marc Cucurella.
The Spanish powerhouse applied heavy pressure early in the second half. Éder Militão unleashed a long-range shot that goalkeeper Alberto Brignoli punched away in the forty-ninth minute. Shortly after, a brilliant solo run by Kylian Mbappé set up Cucurella, whose shot was cleared off the goal line by Lazaros Rota.
Despite Real Madrid's dominance, AEK Athens regained the lead in the seventy-fifth minute through a goal by Pilios, complicating matters for the visitors. Nevertheless, the response from the Spanish squad was swift and decisive.
Just two minutes after falling behind, Mbappé leveled the score at 2-2 by turning in a precise cross from Denzel Dumfries. This strike marked the sixth consecutive game in which the French forward has scored, maintaining his record of finding the net in every Champions League fixture this season.
As the match neared its conclusion, Mbappé nearly secured a brace in the eighty-sixth minute, but his one-on-one effort was tipped onto the crossbar by Brignoli. Just when a draw seemed likely, midfielder Federico Valverde struck a spectacular shot from the edge of the penalty area during stoppage time to seal the victory.
With this hard-fought triumph, Real Madrid maintains a maximum twelve points in the tournament standings, while AEK Athens remains with three points after four games.