Valverde's stoppage-time strike seals Real Madrid's twice-behind comeback at AEK Athens

Federico Valverde struck from range in the second minute of stoppage time at AEK Athens on 4 November to give Real Madrid a 3-2 victory, their fourth win from four Champions League league-phase matches and the second time this campaign they have come from behind to win away from home.

AEK took the lead through Koita in the 12th minute, and Jude Bellingham had a goal ruled out for offside before equalising in the 32nd minute with a backheel finish from Cucurella’s cross. The hosts went ahead again with 15 minutes of normal time remaining when Stavros Pilios ran onto a Koita pass and shot through Courtois’s legs. Madrid responded within three minutes, Denzel Dumfries rolling a low ball across goal for Mbappé to make it 2-2.

Valverde, who had started on the bench after feeling strong discomfort in his right hamstring during the Clásico win at Camp Nou — a match Mourinho later confirmed he had played through for more than 40 minutes injured — still had the final word in Athens, his long-range effort arriving just before the final whistle.

The night ended badly for Koita, who was sent off at 90+5, after the final whistle, for continuing to protest to the referee despite repeated warnings.

Madrid’s European record now reads four wins from four. They beat Inter 2-1 at home, came back to win 4-3 at Roma and defeated Leipzig 4-1 at home before this trip to Athens. Their tally of 12 points takes them past the 11–12 point mark Mourinho had set as his qualification target, with a top-eight finish now the next aim.

The pattern of resilience is becoming a hallmark of this campaign. Both the Roma and AEK victories came after Madrid had fallen behind away from home, and in Athens they were required to respond on two separate occasions.

Attention now turns to La Liga, where Madrid travel to Valencia’s Mestalla on 7 November still without the suspended Vinícius. The RFEF Appeals Committee rejected the club’s appeal on 16 October, upholding a four-game ban — two matches for pulling Nathan Saliba’s hair against Villarreal and two more for confronting the referee afterwards. The ban covered league fixtures against Sevilla, Barcelona and Racing, with the Mestalla trip the final of the four suspended games.

Madrid then return to European action when they host PSV on 24 November before travelling to Arsenal on 9 December.