Real Madrid target sixth straight win as AEK Athens await in Champions League

Real Madrid will attempt to maintain their perfect start to the Champions League league phase when they face AEK Athens in the Greek capital on Wednesday evening.

The Merengues sit fourth in the overall standings with nine points from three matches, while AEK Athens are 29th on three points.

AEK began with a 1-0 victory over LASK Linz but have since suffered heavy defeats by Shakhtar Donetsk and Manchester City, losing 3-1 on 14 October before a 5-1 defeat on 20 October. Marko Nikolic’s side have also lost four of their past five matches in all competitions, including their last two league games against PAOK and Panathinaikos.

The Greek club have faced Real Madrid four times and have lost only once. Their first two meetings came in the 1985 UEFA Cup, when AEK won the first leg 1-0 before Real Madrid responded with a 5-0 victory in the return match.

The teams then drew both of their Champions League group-stage matches in 2002-03, including a 3-3 draw in Athens. AEK therefore remain unbeaten at home against Real Madrid.

Real Madrid have won only one of their past eight European away matches against Greek clubs, drawing five times. However, Jose Mourinho’s team have won their last six games in all competitions, recovering strongly from a 2-1 defeat by Atletico de Madrid in the Madrid derby before the most recent international break.

They come into this match after a 3-0 La Liga victory over Racing Santander and a 4-1 Champions League win against RB Leipzig. Their remaining league-phase fixtures are against PSV Eindhoven, Arsenal, LASK Linz and Shakhtar Donetsk.

AEK’s home form in the Champions League is recorded as NVVDD, with their overall form listed as VDDVDD. Real Madrid’s corresponding records are VVV and VVVVVV.

Thomas Strakosha will miss the game for AEK Athens because of a hand injury, while Joao Mario and Lazaros Rota are doubts after illness. Former Real Madrid striker Luka Jovic is expected to lead the attack, having scored seven goals in 15 appearances this season. Barnabas Varga, the team’s leading scorer with nine goals in 13 appearances in all competitions, is also expected to start up front.

Vinicius Junior is available for Real Madrid and is likely to begin on the left, with the Brazilian suspended in the league. Federico Valverde has returned to training after a hamstring problem and could be included in the squad. Rodrygo, who has a knee injury, and Raul Asencio, who has a leg problem, are ruled out.

Yan Diomande could start on the right, allowing Arda Guler to move into midfield, while Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe operate further forward.

The suggested selections are Real Madrid to win and fewer than 4.5 goals at 1.77, Real Madrid to score a penalty at 4.10, and Yan Diomande to be decisive at 1.75.

Probable teams

AEK Athens: Brignoli; Rota, Moukoudi, Relvas, Pilo; Majer, Arriaga, Marin, Mario; Jovic, Varga.

Real Madrid: Courtois; Dumfries, Rudiger, Huijsen, Carreras; Tchouameni, Guler; Diomande, Bellingham, Vinicius; Mbappe.

Real Madrid are in excellent form and are expected to claim all three points against an AEK Athens side struggling for results.