Madrid/">Real Madrid extended their winning streak in the Champions League with a dramatic comeback against AEK Athens, relying once again on their trademark chaotic resilience rather than fluid play. Under José Mourinho's management, the Spanish side struggled to find rhythm throughout the match, appearing disjointed and slow until the final moments. The victory was ultimately sealed by Federico Valverde, who scored a stunning goal from outside the box during stoppage time to complete the turnaround.
The match began with Real Madrid looking unprepared while AEK Athens displayed significant hunger and organization. The Greek side capitalized on early opportunities, with Dušan Jović causing trouble for his former club before Moussa Koita converted a counter-attack to take the lead. Thibaut Courtois was forced into several crucial saves to keep the deficit manageable, but the visitors failed to connect their passing lines effectively. Vinícius Júnior, returning from rehabilitation, appeared disconnected and hesitant, often playing backward rather than driving forward, while the team generally moved the ball with a predictability that allowed AEK to defend comfortably.
Real Madrid eventually began to create chances through individual brilliance rather than systemic flow. Jude Bellingham was instrumental in the second half, scoring an equalizer with a clever backheel finish after a tense pass from Marc Cucurella. However, the team's lack of cohesion left them vulnerable on the counter-attack, allowing AEK's Pilo to score and extend their lead to two goals. The visitors seemed unable to break down the congested defense near the goal area, missing the creative spark often provided by Arda Güler.
The decisive phase arrived as Mourinho deployed emergency reinforcements Trent Alexander-Arnold and Endrick. Bellingham orchestrated a play that led to Kylian Mbappé scoring the equalizer, activating the team's comeback mode. Following this, Endrick created another chance for Mbappé, which was cleared off the line by AEK goalkeeper Brignoli. The match concluded with Valverde's golden strike in added time, securing a 3-2 victory that leaves Real Madrid at the top of their group alongside Paris Saint-Germain with four wins from four matches.
Sources: El País Deportes.