UEFA Champions League 2026/27 · League Phase Matchday 4 · Allwyn Arena (OPAP Arena), Athens
AEK Athens
2
:
3
Real Madrid
Wednesday, 4 November 2026 · Kick off 6:45 pm CEST
Koita 12' (ast. Jović)
Bellingham 32' (ast. Cucurella)
Pilios 75' (ast. Koita)
Mbappé 78' (ast. Dumfries)
Valverde 90+2' (ast. Brahim)
⚽ Another European escape act: Real Madrid came from behind twice to win in Athens and stay perfect in the Champions League, with four wins from four and twelve points. It is also their seventh victory in a row in all competitions. Jude Bellingham's goal came in his 60th Champions League appearance.
7
Mbappé shots (3 on target)
Some teams win by dominating. Real Madrid have built a brand on something harder to copy: winning when everything says they should not. In Athens they trailed twice, rode out a fierce start from a hungry AEK side, and then produced a stoppage time strike from Federico Valverde to take all three points. Seven wins in a row, a perfect Champions League record, and a story that sells itself.
The lineup carried real questions. Aurélien Tchouaméni and Arda Güler did not travel, so Mourinho picked a 4-2-3-1 with Courtois in goal; Dumfries, Militão, Rüdiger and Cucurella across the back; Camavinga and Bernardo Silva as the double pivot; and Diomande, Bellingham and Vinícius behind Mbappé. Huijsen, Konaté, Valverde and Endrick waited on the bench. AEK arrived low in the table but loud in the stadium, and they played like a team with nothing to lose.
They struck first. Aboubakary Koita opened the scoring on 12 minutes with a left footed finish after a pass from Luka Jović, the former Real Madrid striker. For long spells afterwards Courtois was the reason the score stayed at 1-0, making several saves that kept the deficit manageable. Madrid found their rhythm through Bellingham. His first effort was ruled out for offside after a Vinícius cross, but three minutes later he made no mistake, flicking in Cucurella's cross on 32 minutes to level the match before half time.
The second half repeated the pattern. Stavros Pilios put AEK back in front on 75 minutes after a weighted pass from Koita, shooting through Courtois's legs. The lead lasted three minutes. Dumfries picked out Mbappé, who finished from close range on 78. Mourinho had already changed the game, sending on Valverde and Endrick on 67 minutes, then Brahim and Carreras on 81, and Espí on 86 for Bellingham. Endrick's run won the corner that preceded the winner, and with the clock into added time Brahim slid the ball to Valverde on the edge of the box. His low drive left the goalkeeper no chance. Koita was then sent off in the fifth minute of stoppage time, a bitter end to a brave night for AEK.
Mourinho After The Match
Mourinho spoke to the media and the tone was generous. He credited AEK for a performance above their usual level, defended Vinícius while saying the substitutions were also shaped by Saturday's LaLiga game against Valencia, and singled out the substitutes Brahim and Carreras for praise. He also confirmed that Güler, Huijsen, Konaté and Tchouaméni will start against Valencia. His strongest words were reserved for Bellingham.
"no one can win them this way except us"
José Mourinho on late wins (Tribune India, via ANI)
"I watched AEK Athens deliver a wonderful match"
José Mourinho on the opposition (Goal)
"there's no other midfielder in the world like him"
José Mourinho on Jude Bellingham (The Sun Nigeria)
"80% with the right hand and 20% with the left hand"
José Mourinho, joking about how he manages Vinícius (Africa Soccer)
Player Ratings
Ratings blend published scores from Managing Madrid, Yahoo Sports, FotMob (via SI), Sofascore and Martin's Real Madrid with our own read of the match. Formation: 4-2-3-1. Substitutions: Valverde and Endrick on 67', Brahim and Carreras on 81', Espí on 86'.
🧤 Goalkeeper
6.8
#1
Thibaut Courtois
Judges disagreed sharply, and that tells the story. Managing Madrid rated him an 8 for three saves, two of them big, and for giving little blame on either goal. FotMob and Yahoo were colder at around 6, since two shots beat him. The fair reading sits in between. His early saves kept Madrid in the tie and he could not do much about Koita's strike, though Pilios's finish through his legs will be replayed.
Managing Madrid: 8.0 · Martin's: 7.0 · FotMob: 6.1 · Yahoo: 6.0 · Our Rating: 6.8
🛡️ Defenders
6.5
#24
Denzel Dumfries 🅰 78'
A split verdict with a clear reason. His pass for Mbappé's equaliser and his threatening overloads on the right created real danger, but his defending on AEK's second goal was poor and Managing Madrid marked him down to 5.5 for it. Yahoo was kinder at 7.5. An assist covers a lot, yet this was a performance that gave and took in equal measure.
Yahoo: 7.5 · Managing Madrid: 5.5 · Our Rating: 6.5
6.8
#3
Éder Militão
Handed a start in a makeshift defence, he took several defensive gambles that did not come off, and Managing Madrid noted he still does not look fully match fit. Yahoo gave him 7.5 for a solid overall shift. The positive reading is that he played the full game in a high pressure setting, which is exactly the minutes he needs.
Yahoo: 7.5 · Managing Madrid: 6.0 · Our Rating: 6.8
6.8
#22
Antonio Rüdiger
His distribution was good, but he was a step slow reading the play at times, and Managing Madrid pointed out that the absence of the two regular centre backs, Huijsen and Konaté, was noticeable all night. A steady rather than commanding performance against a front line that kept probing.
Yahoo: 7.0 · Managing Madrid: 6.5 · Our Rating: 6.8
7.8
#17
Marc Cucurella 🅰 32' 🟨 65' ↓ 81'
One of the better performers on a tricky night. His cross for Bellingham's equaliser was the key pass of the first half, he threatened constantly with runs into the final third, and he was unlucky not to score himself. Managing Madrid noted he could not close down Koita's shot for the opener and had little help on his flank, but the overall impact was strongly positive. Booked in the 65th minute and replaced by Carreras on 81.
Yahoo: 8.0 · Managing Madrid: 7.5 · Our Rating: 7.8
⚽ Midfielders
7.4
#20
Bernardo Silva ↓ 67'
Assured on the ball and important to Madrid's build up, though he had difficulties out of possession. Replaced by Endrick on 67 minutes as Mourinho looked for more attacking punch.
Yahoo: 7.7 · Managing Madrid: 7.0 · Our Rating: 7.4
7.8
#6
Eduardo Camavinga
A tackling machine. He made nine tackles, the most eye catching number among the Madrid midfielders, and his early escape from pressure helped start the move that led to the equaliser. There were a couple of poor defensive sequences, but the energy and ball winning were exactly what the night required.
Yahoo: 8.0 · Managing Madrid: 7.5 · Our Rating: 7.8
8.6
#5
Jude Bellingham ⚽ 32' ↓ 86' Man of the Match
The standout, and the numbers match the eye test. He scored with a brilliant flicked finish after a Cucurella cross, completed 57 of 61 passes, created two chances, won seven duels and drew three fouls, according to Sofascore, which also gave him the top rating of the match. He had a goal ruled out for offside earlier, pulled the strings in the first half and started the move for the equaliser. Fans and analysts agreed on the Man of the Match award. A complete performance from a player Mourinho clearly trusts.
Yahoo: 8.8 · FotMob: 8.6 · Sofascore: 8.6 · Managing Madrid: 8.5 · Martin's: 8.5 · Our Rating: 8.6
7.5
#25
Yan Diomande ↓ 67'
A constant threat with his dribbling, creating space for crosses and cutbacks. He completed four dribbles, more than anyone else on the pitch. His night ended on 67 minutes, when Valverde came on in his place.
Yahoo: 7.5 · Managing Madrid: 7.5 · Our Rating: 7.5
🔥 Forwards
5.5
#7
Vinícius Júnior ↓ 81'
The most debated rating of the night. Managing Madrid gave him a 4 after he lost possession 11 times, completed no dribbles, did not help Cucurella defensively and shot poorly. Yahoo was far more generous at 7.0. Mourinho defended him, calling the display acceptable and saying he did his job. The balanced view is a frustrating evening that fell short of his usual standard.
Yahoo: 7.0 · Managing Madrid: 4.0 · Our Rating: 5.5
7.8
#10
Kylian Mbappé ⚽ 78'
His equaliser from close range, set up by Dumfries, turned the match. He finished with seven shots, three on target, and hit the crossbar, so the goal total undersold his threat. Managing Madrid felt he lacked his usual accuracy and gave him a 7, while FotMob and Yahoo rated him above 8. He remained heavily involved from first whistle to last.
FotMob: 8.3 · Yahoo: 8.2 · Sofascore: 8.0 · Martin's: 7.5 · Managing Madrid: 7.0 · Our Rating: 7.8
🔄 Substitutes
8.2
#8
Federico Valverde ↑ 67' ⚽ 90+2'
The match winner, and a masterclass in impact. In 24 minutes he made a game high three key passes, was dominant in transition and then struck the decisive drive from the edge of the box after Brahim's pass. Managing Madrid, which called him joint best on the pitch with Bellingham, and Martin's both gave him 8.5. A substitute who changes the scoreboard is a rare asset, and Madrid keep finding him.
Managing Madrid: 8.5 · Martin's: 8.5 · FotMob: 8.0 · Yahoo: 8.0 · Sofascore: 7.8 · Our Rating: 8.2
7.0
#9
Endrick ↑ 67'
Full of life off the bench. He sent Mbappé through on a breakaway and produced the run that won the corner just before the winner, and he created two chances in his cameo. Not every outlet was convinced, with one pointing to a lapse in defensive effort on AEK's second goal, which explains the spread from 6.4 to 8.0.
Managing Madrid: 8.0 · Yahoo: 6.5 · FotMob: 6.4 · Our Rating: 7.0
7.0
#21
Brahim Díaz ↑ 81' 🅰 90+2'
Only a few touches, but they counted: a shot, a key pass and the assist for Valverde's winner. Mourinho singled him out for praise afterwards, and rightly so. Efficient impact from the bench.
Managing Madrid: 7.0 · Martin's: 7.0 · Our Rating: 7.0
6.5
#18
Álvaro Carreras ↑ 81'
Replaced Cucurella and was solid in possession as Madrid closed out the game, adding some good attacking runs. Mourinho also praised him after the match.
Managing Madrid: 6.5 · Our Rating: 6.5
N/R
#19
Carlos Espí ↑ 86'
Replaced Bellingham for the closing stages. Too short a spell for the outlets to publish a rating.
Our Rating: N/R
The bigger picture is simple. Real Madrid are four wins from four in Europe, seven wins in a row overall, and have now turned a deficit into a win twice in this league phase, in Rome and in Athens. The next test comes quickly with Valencia on Saturday, where Güler, Huijsen, Konaté and Tchouaméni are set to return. If the squad keeps finding match winners from the bench, the depth Mourinho talks about is a genuine competitive edge. Hala Madrid.
Labels:
2026/27
UCL
Champions League
Matchday 4
Away Win
Player Ratings
Real Madrid
AEK Athens
Valverde
Bellingham
Mbappé
Mourinho
November
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