VALVERDE SCORES LATE WINNER AS REAL MADRID BEAT AEK ATHENS 3-2
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Agency Report
Federico Valverde scored a stunning 92nd-minute winner as Real Madrid came from behind twice to defeat AEK Athens 3-2 in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday, maintaining their perfect start to the competition.
The Spanish giants had to fight back after falling behind twice against the Greek champions, with Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe also getting on the scoresheet before Valverde sealed the victory.
Aboubakary Koita opened the scoring for AEK after 12 minutes, but Bellingham restored parity with a brilliant flicked finish.
Stavros Pilios put the hosts ahead again in the 75th minute before Mbappe equalised for Madrid, setting the stage for Valverde’s late winner.
The victory extended Madrid’s winning run to seven matches across all competitions and kept them level with defending champions Paris Saint-Germain on four wins from four Champions League league-phase matches.
AEK started brightly at the Agia Sophia Stadium, with Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois making an early save from former Real Madrid striker Luka Jovic before Koita fired the hosts ahead.
The Mauritanian winger cut inside Marc Cucurella before driving a shot past Courtois at the near post.
Jovic threatened again as AEK sought to build on their early advantage, but Madrid gradually took control of the encounter.
Mbappe fired over the bar, while Bellingham initially had a close-range effort ruled out for offside before finding the net with a superb finish.
Cucurella delivered a low cross into the box, which the England international cleverly flicked past AEK goalkeeper Alberto Brignoli to make it 1-1.
Madrid continued to press before the break, with Cucurella and Bernardo Silva creating further opportunities.
After the restart, Brignoli denied Eder Militao from distance, while Lazaros Rota blocked another effort from the influential Cucurella.
Mbappe also came close with a curling attempt that narrowly missed the target before AEK regained the lead in the 75th minute.
Koita laid the ball into the path of Pilios, who finished through Courtois’s legs from close range.
Madrid responded almost immediately. Bellingham released Denzel Dumfries down the right flank, and the Netherlands defender sent a low cross across the six-yard box for Mbappe to tap home.
The goal was Mbappe’s fourth in four Champions League matches this season and his 16th across all competitions.
With five minutes remaining, substitute Endrick played Mbappe through on goal, but Brignoli produced an excellent save to push the Frenchman’s effort against the crossbar.
Valverde eventually settled the contest in the second minute of added time, unleashing a powerful strike across Brignoli to secure all three points for Madrid.
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