Valverde’s Late Goal Secures Real Madrid’s Perfect Record Against AEK

Substitute captain Federico Valverde scored in stoppage time, propelling Real Madrid to a 3-2 victory over AEK Athens. The triumph maintains Mourinho’s team’s perfect record in the Champions League group stage and surpasses his qualification goal ahead of an upcoming match against Valencia, where they will be without Vinícius.

Valverde entered the game as a substitute and proved decisive as Real Madrid came from behind twice. His long-range effort found the net just two minutes into stoppage time, marking yet another comeback victory for the team in this Champions League season. With four wins out of four, Mourinho’s squad remains undefeated.

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AEK Athens opened the scoring when Koita netted a goal in the 12th minute. Bellingham had a potential equalizer ruled out for offside shortly before the 30-minute mark, but he quickly redeemed himself, making it 1-1 with a backheel from Cucurella’s cross in the 32nd minute.

AEK regained the lead with 15 minutes left when Stavros Pilios shot through Courtois’s legs, putting the hosts up 2-1. However, Real Madrid answered swiftly, with Denzel Dumfries crossing for Mbappé, who leveled the score at 2-2 just three minutes later.

The match ended poorly for AEK’s Koita, who received a red card for continued protests to the referee after the final whistle, occurring in the 90+5 minute.

Valverde’s Late Strike Follows Injury Concerns

Valverde’s goal carried added significance due to recent concerns about his fitness. He experienced significant discomfort in his right hamstring during a previous match against Barcelona, playing for over 40 minutes while injured. Though he began this match on the bench, he managed to make a crucial impact.

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Real Madrid’s Champions League record now stands at four victories, having previously defeated Inter at home, come from behind to win against Roma, and secured a home win over Leipzig. Their accumulated 12 points exceed the 11 to 12 points Mourinho set as the target for advancement, with aspirations now set on finishing in the top eight.

The trend remained consistent, as both games against Roma and AEK saw Madrid rally after falling behind during away matches.

Madrid Prepares for La Liga Without Vinícius

Shifting focus to La Liga, Real Madrid will continue to be without Vinícius. On October 16, the RFEF Appeals Committee upheld his suspension, which includes penalties for pulling Nathan Saliba’s hair in a match against Villarreal and for confronting the referee afterward.