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Sports & Cricket
Valverde stunner seals Real Madrid 3-2 win at AEK Athens
Federico Valverde scored in the 92nd minute as Real Madrid came from behind twice to beat AEK Athens 3-2 in Athens and stay perfect in the Champions League.
⚡Key Highlights
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Federico Valverde scored in the 92nd minute as Real Madrid came from behind twice to beat AEK Athens 3-2 in Athens and stay perfect in the Champions League.
Special coverage and in-depth reporting from the Sports & Cricket desk.
Key analysis, background details, and full reporting below.
Federico Valverde struck in the second minute of stoppage time to complete a dramatic comeback for Real Madrid, who trailed twice before winning 3-2 at AEK Athens in the Champions League on Wednesday night.
By StoryTimesNow News Desk — 05 November 2026, 5:09 AM IST
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Key Takeaways
Federico Valverde scored in the 92nd minute as Real Madrid beat AEK Athens 3-2 in Athens on 4 November 2026.
Real Madrid trailed twice, through goals from Aboubakary Koita and Stavros Pilios, before Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe and Valverde replied.
Real Madrid stay perfect in the league phase, with 12 points from four matches.
What Happened?
Real Madrid came from behind twice to beat AEK Athens 3-2 at the OPAP Arena in Athens on Wednesday, 4 November 2026, in Matchday 4 of the UEFA Champions League league phase. Substitute Federico Valverde settled the match in the 92nd minute with a powerful long-range strike past AEK goalkeeper Alberto Brignoli, preserving the Spanish club's perfect start.
AEK led after 12 minutes, when Aboubakary Koita cut inside Marc Cucurella and fired a near-post shot beyond Thibaut Courtois. Real Madrid thought they had equalised when Jude Bellingham turned in a Vinicius Junior effort, but that goal was ruled out for offside. Bellingham was not denied for long: in the 32nd minute he finished a low Cucurella cross with a superb backheel flick to make it 1-1, on his 60th Champions League appearance, the youngest player to reach that mark.
Koita turned provider in the 75th minute, sliding a low cross to Stavros Pilios, whose finish went through the legs of Courtois to restore the AEK lead. The advantage lasted only three minutes. Bellingham played Denzel Dumfries in down the right, Dumfries rolled the ball across the six-yard box, and Kylian Mbappe finished from close range in the 78th minute. It was Mbappe's fourth goal in four Champions League games this season.
Substitute Endrick sent Mbappe through with five minutes remaining, but Brignoli tipped the shot against the crossbar. Valverde then had the final word, lashing a shot across Brignoli in the 92nd minute. Koita was sent off in added time.
Why Does This Matter?
The result keeps Real Madrid on a perfect record, with four wins from four matches and 12 points. Reuters reported that they sit second on goal difference behind Paris Saint-Germain, who also have a perfect record, so the race for a top-eight finish and direct passage to the last 16 remains tight.
For AEK, the defeat was cruel after twice leading the 15-time European champions. They remain on three points and sit 30th in the 36-team standings, with their hopes of reaching the knockout play-off round now under serious pressure, although Koita was a constant threat on the counter-attack.
The match also underlined Real Madrid's resilience under manager Jose Mourinho. Twice behind, and twice level within minutes, they refused to settle for a point, and Mourinho praised Bellingham's moment of magic for the first equaliser.
Important Details
Match: AEK Athens vs Real Madrid, UEFA Champions League league phase, Matchday 4, OPAP Arena, Athens, 4 November 2026.
Result: AEK Athens 2-3 Real Madrid. Attendance: 30,368.
AEK goals: Aboubakary Koita, 12th minute; Stavros Pilios, 75th minute. Koita also assisted the Pilios goal and was sent off in added time.
Real Madrid goals: Jude Bellingham, 32nd minute; Kylian Mbappe, 78th minute; Federico Valverde, 92nd minute.
Key moments: an earlier Bellingham goal was ruled out for offside; Brignoli tipped a late Mbappe shot against the crossbar before Valverde's winner.
Standings: Real Madrid have 12 points from four matches, second behind Paris Saint-Germain on goal difference; AEK have three points and sit 30th.
Mbappe form: Mbappe has now scored in each of Real Madrid's four Champions League games this season.
Background and Context
Before Wednesday, the sides had met only twice, in the group stage in 2002, and both games ended in draws, so Real Madrid had never previously beaten AEK in European competition. The early goal from Koita raised the noise inside the OPAP Arena, also known as the Agia Sophia Stadium.
Real Madrid arrived in Athens having won their first three league-phase games. Bellingham's landmark added to the occasion: his backheel finish came on his 60th Champions League appearance, a record for the youngest player to reach that total. AEK, meanwhile, had taken three points from their first three games, defended with discipline and broke quickly through Koita, but could not hold either lead.
What Happens Next?
Real Madrid's next Champions League match comes after the international window, when PSV Eindhoven visit Madrid on 24 November 2026. Another win there would move Mourinho's side close to a top-eight finish and direct qualification for the last 16, avoiding the two-legged knockout play-off round in February.
AEK must regroup quickly. With three points from four matches, they are likely to need wins from their remaining fixtures to climb into the top 24 and reach the play-off round.
FAQs
What was the final score between AEK Athens and Real Madrid?
Real Madrid won 3-2 in Athens on 4 November 2026, with goals from Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe and Federico Valverde. Aboubakary Koita and Stavros Pilios scored for AEK.
When did Federico Valverde score the winner?
Valverde scored in the 92nd minute with a long-range shot past Alberto Brignoli. Brahim Diaz was credited with the assist.
Where do Real Madrid and AEK stand in the Champions League?
Real Madrid have 12 points from four matches and sit second behind Paris Saint-Germain on goal difference. AEK have three points and sit 30th.
Who is Real Madrid's next Champions League opponent?
Real Madrid host PSV Eindhoven on 24 November 2026, after the international window.
Sources and Verification
Reuters, 4 November 2026: Valverde winner, twice from behind, 12 points from four matches, second on goal difference, AEK 30th on three points.
