Real Madrid Maintain Perfect Champions League Run After Late Thriller in Athens

Real Madrid extended their winning streak to seven consecutive matches across all competitions on Wednesday, overcoming a resilient AEK Athens side in a 3-2 Champions League victory. The result keeps Jose Mourinho’s squad level with Paris Saint-Germain, maintaining a flawless record of four wins from four matches in the tournament’s league phase.

A Back-and-Forth Encounter

The match at the Agia Sophia stadium saw the Greek hosts take an early lead through Aboubakary Koita in the 12th minute. Despite early pressure from AEK, including attempts from former Madrid striker Luka Jovic, the visitors found their footing. Jude Bellingham leveled the score before halftime with a precise flick following a cross from Marc Cucurella.

The second half remained intense, with AEK regaining the lead in the 75th minute when Stavros Pilios finished through Thibaut Courtois’s legs. However, Madrid’s response was immediate. Kylian Mbappe, assisted by Denzel Dumfries, equalized shortly after, marking his fourth goal in four Champions League appearances this season.

The Decisive Moment

With the match appearing destined for a draw, substitute Federico Valverde struck a long-range effort in the 92nd minute to secure the win. Following the match, Mourinho noted that while he did not explicitly instruct Valverde to shoot, he had tasked the midfielder with attacking space and exploiting the high-speed nature of the game.

Valverde credited his teammates for the confidence required to take such a strike, stating, “I’m grateful to the players, to my teammates, because they’re the ones who give me the confidence so that, in those moments, I can make that decision.”

Match Context and Discipline

The victory was notable for the return of Vinicius Junior to the starting lineup, having missed recent domestic fixtures due to suspension. While Madrid controlled significant portions of the game, AEK’s defensive efforts—led by goalkeeper Alberto Brignoli—kept the scoreline tight until the final moments. Following the final whistle, AEK’s Koita was reportedly sent off for dissent.

According to reports from Channels Television and AFP, Real Madrid now look toward their remaining fixtures with a 100 percent record in the European competition, having successfully navigated a challenging atmosphere in the Greek capital.

Summary of Key Events

• 12′: Aboubakary Koita scores for AEK Athens.
• First Half: Jude Bellingham equalizes for Real Madrid.
• 75′: Stavros Pilios restores AEK’s lead.
• 76′: Kylian Mbappe equalizes for Madrid.
• 92′: Federico Valverde scores the winning goal.

Note: Information regarding specific tactical adjustments beyond those mentioned by the manager is not available.

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p class=”vbna-source-note”>Source: Channels Television

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