AEK Athens 2-3 Real Madrid: Federico Valverde's Late Stunner Seals Dramatic UCL Comeback | Full Match Report

ALLWYN Arena, Athens — Real Madrid extended their stellar run in the UEFA Champions League with a heart-stopping 3-2 victory over a resilient AEK Athens side. Carlo Ancelotti’s men had to dig deep in Greece, ultimately sealing the three points through an extra-time winner.

Match Summary

• Venue: ALLWYN Arena, Nea Filadelfeia

• Competition: UEFA Champions League (League Phase - Matchday 4)

• Final Score: AEK Athens 2 – 3 Real Madrid

• Goalscorers:

  • AEK Athens: Aboubakary Koïta (12'), Stavros Pilios (75')

  • Real Madrid: Jude Bellingham (32'), Kylian Mbappé (78'), Federico Valverde (90+2')

First Half: Hosts Strike Early Before Bellingham Equalizes

AEK Athens came out with high intensity, stunning the visitors when Aboubakary Koïta fired home a clinical left-footed strike in the 12th minute to give the Greek side a 1-0 lead.

However, Real Madrid regrouped and found their rhythm. In the 32nd minute, Jude Bellingham capitalized on the pressure, slotting home an equalizer to level the score at 1-1 heading into the interval.

Second Half: Goal-Fest and Valverde's Late Drama

The second half delivered non-stop action. AEK shocked Madrid once again in the 75th minute when Stavros Pilios restored the home side's lead, making it 2-1.

Real Madrid responded instantly. Just three minutes later (78'), star forward Kylian Mbappé produced a moment of magic to equalize at 2-2.

As the match seemed destined for a draw, substitute Federico Valverde stepped up in style. In the 92nd minute (stoppage time), Valverde unleashed a dramatic winner to snatch a 3-2 victory for Los Blancos. AEK’s frustration boiled over moments later as Koïta received a red card.

Key Match Statistics

Statistic	AEK Athens	Real Madrid
Possession	36%	64%
Shots (On Target)	9 (5)	21 (8)
Passing Accuracy	81%	92%
Corner Kicks	0	7
Yellow / Red Cards	1 Yellow, 1 Red	1 Yellow, 0 Red