Real Madrid completed a dramatic 3-2 comeback win over AEK Athens on Wednesday, November 4, after Federico Valverde scored in stoppage time to preserve the Spanish club’s perfect start to the 2026-27 UEFA Champions League league phase.
The match was played at the Allwyn Arena in Athens, where AEK twice took the lead before Real Madrid struck late to claim all three points.
UEFA listed the fixture as a Matchday 4 league-phase game, with kickoff at 19:45 local time in Greece (18:45 CET), according to the UEFA match centre.
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Real Madrid rallies after AEK takes early lead
AEK Athens opened the scoring in the 12th minute through Aboubakary Koita.
Mijat Gaćinović found Koita inside the penalty area, and the forward shifted the ball onto his left foot before firing past Thibaut Courtois.
Real Madrid controlled much of the possession but initially struggled to turn that advantage into clear chances.
Jude Bellingham levelled the match in the 32nd minute with a technically difficult finish after Marc Cucurella delivered the ball into the area.
Bellingham had appeared to score earlier in the half, but that effort was ruled out for offside following a video review.
The teams went into halftime tied 1-1, with AEK having made the more forceful start and Real Madrid gradually assuming control before the break.
Late goals decide a back-and-forth finish
AEK regained the advantage in the 75th minute when left-back Stavros Pilios scored to make it 2-1.
Real Madrid responded three minutes later through Kylian Mbappé, who brought the visitors level at 2-2.
With the match heading toward a draw, Valverde scored in the second minute of stoppage time, recorded as 90+2, to complete the turnaround.
The late winner gave Real Madrid a second comeback victory in the competition this season and denied AEK what would have been a notable home result against one of Europe’s most successful clubs.
Match reports listed the final score as AEK Athens 2, Real Madrid 3, with Koita and Pilios scoring for the hosts and Bellingham, Mbappé and Valverde replying for the visitors.
Real Madrid keeps perfect league-phase record
Real Madrid entered the match with three wins from three in the league phase, having defeated Inter, Roma and RB Leipzig.
The victory in Athens extended that run to four wins and kept José Mourinho’s side among the early leaders in the 36-team standings.
UEFA’s pre-match table placed Real Madrid fifth with nine points, while AEK Athens had three points from its opening three matches.
Real Madrid’s previous league-phase results included a 2-1 home win over Inter on September 8, a 4-3 away victory against Roma on October 14 and a 4-1 home win over Leipzig on October 21, according to UEFA’s fixtures and results listing.
The club’s next Champions League fixture is scheduled for November 24, when Real Madrid hosts PSV Eindhoven.
AEK Athens is scheduled to visit Como on the same Matchday 5 date.
AEK shows attacking threat despite defeat
Although AEK Athens lost, the Greek club repeatedly created problems for Real Madrid during the opening half and twice moved ahead on the scoreboard.
Koita’s early goal rewarded AEK’s aggressive start, while Pilios’ second-half strike briefly put the home side in position to earn a landmark result.
AEK’s lineup included former Real Madrid forward Luka Jović, who started against his former club.
UEFA identified the match as only the fifth competitive meeting between the clubs, following their previous encounters in the 1985-86 UEFA Cup and the 2002-03 Champions League group stage.
Before Wednesday’s match, AEK had been unbeaten in its two previous home games against Real Madrid, including a 3-3 draw in Athens in 2002.
What comes next for both clubs
Real Madrid will leave Athens with maximum points, but the narrow margin and AEK’s ability to expose space in the final third offered the visitors areas to address before the knockout stage.
For AEK, the result continues a difficult stretch in the league phase after losses to Shakhtar Donetsk and Manchester City, but the performance showed that the Greek side can compete with elite opposition at home.
The match was refereed by Italy’s Maurizio Mariani, with UEFA confirming the officiating team before kickoff.
Real Madrid’s official match listing also confirmed the fixture at the Allwyn Arena on November 4, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the score between AEK Athens and Real Madrid?
Real Madrid defeated AEK Athens 3-2 in the Champions League on November 4, 2026.
Who scored for Real Madrid?
Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappé and Federico Valverde scored for Real Madrid.
Who scored for AEK Athens?
Aboubakary Koita and Stavros Pilios scored for AEK Athens.
When did Federico Valverde score?
Valverde scored the winning goal in the second minute of stoppage time, recorded as 90+2.
What is Real Madrid’s next Champions League match?
Real Madrid is scheduled to host PSV Eindhoven on November 24, 2026.
Fact-Checked: The fixture date and weekday are correct: Wednesday, November 4, 2026. UEFA listed kickoff as 18:45 CET, equivalent to 19:45 local time in Athens, Greece. Match reporting recorded Valverde’s winner at 90+2. The schedule and officiating details were checked against UEFA and official Real Madrid information. ([uefa.com](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/02a8-2176fa83582b-d99f0b27f405-1000–champions-league-league-phase-fixtures-by-team/?utm_source=openai))
Disclaimer: Match statistics and competition standings may be updated by UEFA after publication.