Super drama in Athens: Real snatches victory in the 92nd minute and climbs to 2nd place

5 November 2026, 01:07·46·Sport

The clash between AEK and Real Madrid in Athens, held as part of the 4th round of the UEFA Champions League, turned into a real thriller. Trailing twice on the Greek club's home turf, the Madrid side displayed their characteristic grit and intensity, securing a 2-3 comeback victory thanks to a goal scored in stoppage time.

This crucial win significantly strengthened the "Royal Club's" position at the top of the competition table.

Goals and dramatic turns: The decisive strike in the 90+2nd minute

The match began with the hosts showing great activity and landing unexpected blows:

Koita's quick goal and Bellingham's response: Just 12 minutes into the match, Aboubakary Koita opened the scoring to put the hosts ahead. However, in the 32nd minute, Jude Bellingham managed to restore balance — 1:1;
75th minute: Pierrot's unexpected strike: At the climax of the second half, Frantzdy Pierrot scored the Greeks' second goal, putting the Madrid giants in a difficult position once again (2:1);
Mbappe's vital goal and Valverde's comeback: The Madrid side reacted immediately — in the 78th minute, Kylian Mbappé leveled the score again (2:2). Just as the game seemed destined for a draw, substitute Federico Valverde delivered a precise strike in the 90+2nd minute to secure three valuable points for Real — 2:3.

Match details and lineups:

Competition: UEFA Champions League, Matchday 4;
Score: AEK (Greece) — Real Madrid (Spain) — 2:3;
Goals: Koita (12), Pierrot (75) — Bellingham (32), Mbappé (78), Valverde (90+2);
Real Madrid lineup: Courtois, Dumfries, Militão, Rüdiger, Cucurella (Díaz, 82), Bernardo Silva (Endrick, 67), Camavinga, Vinícius (Carreras, 82), Diomande (Valverde, 67), Bellingham (Espi, 86), Mbappé.

Situation in the tournament table

Following the hard-fought and nerve-wracking victory in Athens, Real Madrid reached 12 points and climbed to 2nd place in the overall standings, gaining a significant advantage in the race for the top spots in the playoffs.

AEK, who put up a worthy fight, remains in 30th place with 3 points.