AEK Athens 2–3 Real Madrid: Valverde's stoppage-time strike completes a twice-from-behind comeback
Real Madrid twice came from behind to beat AEK Athens 3–2 at the Allwyn Arena in Athens on Wednesday 4 November 2026, in the Champions League league phase. Aboubakary Koita put AEK ahead in the 12th minute and Jude Bellingham levelled with a backheel in the 32nd; Stavros Pilios restored AEK's lead in the 75th, Kylian Mbappé equalised three minutes later, and substitute Federico Valverde struck the winner in the second minute of stoppage time. The win maintains Madrid's perfect start to the league phase; AEK stay on three points.
Key points
- Final: AEK Athens 2, Real Madrid 3 — Allwyn Arena, Athens, Wednesday 4 November 2026 (1–1 at half-time).
- Scorers: Koita 12' and Pilios 75' for AEK; Bellingham 32', Mbappé 78' and Valverde 90+2' for Madrid. Koita was sent off at 90+5'.
- Madrid led for barely two minutes all night and still won — four wins from four in the league phase; AEK stay on three points.
What happened
AEK, back in the Champions League league phase and roared on in Athens, twice had one of Europe's giants beaten — Koita was their outstanding player, scoring the first, making the second and then being sent off in the final seconds. Madrid's bench decided it: Valverde, introduced in the second half, produced the stoppage-time strike that has become a pattern for this side, who keep finding a way late in European away games.
Match facts — all verified
- ✓ VerifiedReal Madrid beat AEK Athens 3–2 at the Allwyn Arena in Athens on Wednesday 4 November 2026 in the UEFA Champions League league phase, Matchday 4, after the sides went in 1–1 at half-time.Reuters — Valverde rescues Real as Liverpool lose at Fenerbahce (4 Nov 2026) · TNT Sports — AEK Athens 2-3 Real Madrid: Valverde scores late stunner to complete comeback (4 Nov 2026)
- ✓ VerifiedThe goals: Aboubakary Koita put AEK ahead in the 12th minute, cutting inside and firing into the top corner; Jude Bellingham equalised in the 32nd with a backheel from Marc Cucurella's low cross, after an earlier effort of his had been ruled out for offside; Stavros Pilios restored AEK's lead in the 75th, set up by Koita; Kylian Mbappé tapped in Denzel Dumfries' cross three minutes later; and substitute Federico Valverde struck the winner at 90+2'. Koita was then sent off at 90+5', leaving AEK with ten men.Reuters — Valverde rescues Real as Liverpool lose at Fenerbahce (4 Nov 2026) · Flashscore — Valverde nets added-time stunner as Real produce comeback win against AEK Athens (4 Nov 2026)
- ✓ VerifiedThe win maintains Real Madrid's perfect start to the league phase — four wins from four — while AEK Athens stay on three points, 30th in the league-phase table on Reuters' account.Reuters — Valverde rescues Real as Liverpool lose at Fenerbahce (4 Nov 2026) · TNT Sports — AEK Athens 2-3 Real Madrid: Valverde scores late stunner to complete comeback (4 Nov 2026)