Valverde strikes late as Real Madrid survive AEK Athens test

Real Madrid preserved their perfect start to this season’s Champions League as Federico Valverde’s stoppage-time goal secured a dramatic 3-2 comeback victory over AEK Athens in Greece.

The 15-time European champions appeared set for a shock defeat after Aboubakary Koita gave the hosts an early lead. Jude Bellingham levelled in the 32nd minute, producing an exquisite backheel finish to bring Real Madrid back into the contest.

AEK Athens continued to threaten and regained the advantage with 15 minutes remaining. Stavros Pilios, who had just made a goal-saving block to prevent Mbappe from scoring, surged forward and finished at the near post to make it 2-1.

Real Madrid responded three minutes later. Mbappe met Denzel Dumfries’ delivery at the far post and converted to restore parity, setting up a tense finale.

The visitors pressed for a winner and found it in spectacular fashion in stoppage time. Valverde unleashed a powerful long-range strike to complete the comeback and give Real Madrid four wins from four in the Champions League.

After the match, coach Jose Mourinho praised his players’ courage and their belief in securing victories in the closing stages, a quality they have shown several times this season.

“These games in the final minutes… only we can win them,” said Mourinho.

“And if we do it, it’s because all of us feel that we can. The players have courage. I’m very lucky to have players of this quality. Very lucky.”

Mourinho also paid tribute to AEK Athens, saying the Greek side had pushed Real Madrid to their limits with an intense and disciplined performance.

“We played against a very difficult team, who played extremely well, better than ever,” he said. “From the first minute, they were very compact and played directly. An extraordinary game from them. A team with legs, intensity. They are the reason we didn’t play the perfect game. They played very well.”

Despite AEK Athens’ sustained pressure, Mourinho said Real Madrid remained capable of influencing the outcome at key moments.

“Within all that difficulty, we were always in the game,” he added. “We knew how to respond at the two critical moments. We showed personality despite being behind.

“And in the final minute, with the game stretched and both teams trying to win… the team with more individual quality won.”