Real Madrid captain Federico Valverde scored his second goal of the season
Federico Valverde scored a superb stoppage-time winner as Real Madrid avoided an upset at AEK Athens to maintain their 100% record in this season's Champions League.
The visitors had been trailing with 15 minutes to go but Kylian Mbappe levelled before Valverde thundered in a long-range strike to seal the three points.
The 15-time European champions had arrived in Greece looking to make it four wins from four in the league phase of the competition, but fell behind early on when Aboubakary Koita drove in a powerful finish.
Jude Bellingham produced an outrageous bit of skill to put Real Madrid ahead in the 32nd minute when he cleverly back-heeled a ball across the face of goal into the net.
That goal meant that at 23 years and 128 days he became the youngest player to score in seven successive Champions League seasons, surpassing team-mate Mbappe.
But AEK Athens kept plugging away for a second goal and that duly arrived 15 minutes from time.
Stavros Pilios first made a goal-saving block to deny Mbappe, then raced up the length of the pitch to finish off an attack with a near-post finish.
That looked on course to give AEK Athens a famous win, but Mbappe levelled three minutes later at the far post from Denzel Dumfries' ball, before Valverde's dramatic late strike completed Real Madrid's comeback win.
Koita was sent off for AEK Athens after the final whistle as the hosts' frustrations at the result bubbled over.
Last Updated 4th November 2026 at 20:52
Match momentum measures the swing of the match by comparing each team’s threat to see who is more likely to score within that minute. The momentum value is the difference between each team’s most dangerous moment, or team threat, in that minute.
Match momentum measures the swing of the match by comparing each team’s threat to see who is more likely to score within that minute. The momentum value is the difference between each team’s most dangerous moment, or team threat, in that minute.
Match ends, AEK Athens 2, Real Madrid 3.
Aboubakary Koïta (AEK Athens) is shown the red card.
Second Half ends, AEK Athens 2, Real Madrid 3.
Foul by Éder Militão (Real Madrid).
Zine (AEK Athens) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Goal! AEK Athens 2, Real Madrid 3. Federico Valverde (Real Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Brahim Díaz.
Attempt blocked. Endrick (Real Madrid) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Federico Valverde.
Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Aboubakary Koïta.
Attempt blocked. Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Álvaro Carreras.
Fourth official has announced 4 minutes of added time.
Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Stavros Pilios.
Brahim Díaz (Real Madrid) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Substitution, AEK Athens. Oleksandr Zubkov replaces Luka Jovic.
Attempt missed. Brahim Díaz (Real Madrid) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Kylian Mbappé with a cross.
Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Aboubakary Koïta.
Attempt saved. Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the top right corner by Alberto Brignoli (AEK Athens). Assisted by Endrick with a through ball.
Substitution, Real Madrid. Carlos Espí replaces Jude Bellingham.
Aboubakary Koïta (AEK Athens) wins a free kick on the left wing.
