Federico Valverde struck a stunning long-range effort in the 92nd minute to hand Real Madrid a dramatic 3-2 victory over AEK Athens in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday, 5 November 2026, extending Los Blancos' unbeaten run to seven consecutive matches across all competitions. The result keeps Madrid's perfect record intact in the league phase, their fourth straight win in this season's Champions League campaign.

Key Developments

AEK Athens drew first blood in the 12th minute when Aboubakary Koita cut inside the Madrid backline and beat goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois with a powerful near-post finish. Madrid gradually clawed their way back into the contest, with Jude Bellingham producing a deft flicked finish from a low delivery by Marc Cucurella to draw level — his first effort having been ruled out for offside moments earlier.

The Greek champions refused to buckle, and in the 75th minute, Koita turned provider, setting up Stavros Pilios, whose composed finish slipped through Courtois to restore the home side's lead at 2-1. Madrid's response was swift: Bellingham released Denzel Dumfries down the right, and his low cross was converted from close range by Kylian Mbappe to make it 2-2.

Valverde's Match-Winning Moment

With the contest drifting towards a share of the spoils, Valverde produced the decisive intervention, unleashing a ferocious long-range drive in the 92nd minute that flew beyond goalkeeper Alberto Brignoli to complete the comeback. The Uruguayan midfielder's late intervention proved the difference between a point and three for the visitors.

Mbappe and Bellingham Lead the Charge

Mbappe has now found the net in each of Madrid's four Champions League outings this season, cementing his status as the side's most reliable attacking outlet in Europe. He came close to a brace, but Brignoli produced a remarkable save to push his attempt onto the crossbar after Endrick had released him through on goal. Bellingham was similarly influential, combining sharp movement with technical quality throughout. Manager Jose Mourinho's side created several additional chances through Cucurella and Eder Militao in the second half, though Brignoli's series of impressive saves kept AEK competitive until the dying seconds.

Standings and What's Next

The victory lifts Real Madrid level with defending champions Paris Saint-Germain on 12 points after four league-phase matches, with both clubs maintaining perfect records. This is the third time this season that Madrid have come from behind to win a European fixture, underscoring Mourinho's side's resilience under pressure. As the league phase progresses, their ability to grind out results in hostile atmospheres will be a critical asset in the race for a top-eight finish.