Real Madrid Snatch Late 3-2 Win at AEK Athens
Athens, Greece — Never count out Real Madrid in the dying moments of a UEFA Champions League night. Coming from behind twice in a thunderous cauldron of noise at the Agia Sophia Stadium on Wednesday night, Real Madrid snatched a dramatic 3–2 victory over AEK Athens courtesy of a sublime 92nd-minute stoppage-time strike from Uruguayan midfielder Federico Valverde.
Coupled with equalizers from Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappé, the late triumph keeps José Mourinho’s 15-time European champions flawless with four wins from four matches (12 points) atop the 2026–27 Champions League league phase.
Bellingham Backheel Cancels Out Early AEK Athens Shock
Having conquered Inter Milan, Roma, and RB Leipzig in their opening three European matches, Madrid found themselves trailing inside 12 minutes when former Madrid forward Luka Jović orchestrated a rapid counter-attack for Aboubakary Koita to slot AEK Athens into a shock 1–0 lead.
Madrid’s response was led by Jude Bellingham on his landmark 60th career UEFA Champions League appearance. After seeing an initial effort chalked off for offside following a VAR review, the English talisman drew Madrid level in the 32nd minute, cleverly flicking a backheel past the goalkeeper from Marc Cucurella’s pinpoint low delivery.
Mbappé Strikes Before Valverde’s 92nd-Minute Thunderbolt
The Greek hosts refused to buckle and regained the lead early in the second half when Stavros Pilios squeezed a driven strike through Thibaut Courtois to make it 2–1. Yet Madrid’s world-class firepower rose to the challenge:
- 2–2 (Kylian Mbappé): Rampaging right-back Denzel Dumfries whipped an exquisite delivery into the six-yard box for Kylian Mbappé to turn in Madrid’s second equalizer of the evening.
- 2–3 (92nd Minute – Federico Valverde): Introduced from the bench in the 67th minute, Valverde latched onto a neat lay-off from Brahim Díaz in the second minute of added time and blasted a ferocious 25-yard rocket into the top corner.
Key Match Takeaways & Group Standings
- Final Score: AEK Athens 2–3 Real Madrid (Koita 12′, Pilios 54′; Bellingham 32′, Mbappé 67′, Valverde 90+2′).
- Perfect European Run: Real Madrid stand on a flawless 12 points from four matches, taking a decisive leap toward automatic Round of 16 qualification.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who scored Real Madrid’s winning goal against AEK Athens?
Federico Valverde scored the winning goal in the 92nd minute of stoppage time, assisted by Brahim Díaz, to hand Real Madrid a 3-2 victory.
What landmark did Jude Bellingham achieve in this match?
Jude Bellingham made his 60th UEFA Champions League appearance, marking the occasion by scoring Madrid’s first equalizer with an audacious backheel finish.
