AEK Athens 2-3 Real Madrid: Valverde settles thriller with injury-time strike

UEFA Champions League,
League stage – 4

AEK Athens FC
AEK

Real Madrid
REA

Allwyn Arena

Mauricio Mariani

Aboubakary Koita 12′
Stavros Pilios 75′

Jude Bellingham 32′
Kylian Mbappé 78′
Federico Valverde 90+2′

Real Madrid avoid a massive Champions League disgusted when they came from behind to beat AEK Athens 3-2

Aboubakary Koita gave AEK the lead just 12 minutes into an absorbing game with a left-footed strike, only for Jude Bellingham to level things with a superb finish.

However, AEK looked set for a famous result when Stavros Pilos fired through the legs of Thibaut Courtois 15 minutes from the end of normal time.

But Kylian Mbappe restored parity once more, and AEK’s heart was broken in stoppage time when Federico Valverde unleashed a stunning strike into the far corner.

More to follow

The signs that it would not be an easy task for Madrid were early on, with Courtois forced to deny Mijat Gaćinović with his legs at the end of a well-worked home counter-attack in the fifth minute.

However, Courtois could do nothing to deny Koita after the Mauritania international burst into the box before curling an unstoppable effort into the top right corner.

Courtois had to make a smart save to prevent Luka Jović from doubling the lead by scoring against his former club, before Bellingham saw an equalizer ruled out for offside following a VAR check.

However, Bellingham had their goal moments later when he cheekily turned home a low cross from the left by Marc Cucurella with a sublime display of technique.

Cucurella then came close to putting Madrid ahead, but found Alberto Brignoli equal to his effort. The hosts were grateful to the Italian to keep level five minutes into the second half as he kept out an awkward shot from Eder Militao, before Mbappé was guilty of a stunning upset when he shot wide to spurn a gilt-edged chance.

And Madrid were punished for failing to assert their superiority as Pilos, who minutes earlier had made a crucial block to deny Mbappe, ended another excellent AEK break by exchanging passes with Koita and firing under Courtois at the near post.

But the home fans barely had a chance to dream of a momentous upset as Mbappe resumed normal service, Bellingham sending Dumfries free on the right side of the box to cross for the France star to tap in from distance.

Brignoli did heroics to tip a ferocious Mbappé strike onto the crossbar, but could do nothing to prevent Valverde’s deflection as Madrid made it four wins from four in the Champions League and claimed their seventh consecutive win in all competitions.

The UEFA Champions League table

Upcoming matches between AEK Athens FC and Real Madrid