Valverde winner seals Real Madrid comeback at AEK Athens

Real Madrid recovered from two deficits to beat AEK Athens 3-2 on Wednesday, with Federico Valverde scoring in added time to secure another Champions League victory. The club's match report confirmed that José Mourinho's side now have 12 points from a possible 12, maintaining a perfect start despite twice falling behind in Greece.

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AEK made the first breakthrough when Aboubakary Koïta scored in the 12th minute. The hosts then had an opportunity to strengthen their position, but Thibaut Courtois stopped Luka Jovic's effort five minutes later. That save kept Madrid within one goal as they worked towards a response after the home team's early advantage.

According to Madrid's account, Jude Bellingham initially had a goal ruled out for offside following a review. His next finish counted: the midfielder met Marc Cucurella's cross with a backheel in the 32nd minute to equalise. Bernardo Silva subsequently headed narrowly off target before the interval, leaving the teams level at the break.

LaLiga's match commentary records further Madrid chances after half-time, including a saved long-range effort from Éder Militão and a blocked Cucurella attempt. Mourinho introduced Valverde and Endrick in the 67th minute. AEK nevertheless regained the lead eight minutes later, when Koïta supplied Stavros Pilios to finish a counterattack and put the hosts 2-1 ahead.

That lead lasted three minutes. Denzel Dumfries provided the assist for Kylian Mbappé to score from close range in the 78th minute, bringing Madrid level for a second time. Alberto Brignoli then saved from Dumfries and later denied Mbappé after an Endrick through ball, keeping the score at 2-2 as the match approached its closing stages.

Valverde finally settled the contest with a right-footed strike from outside the penalty area, with Brahim Díaz credited with the assist in LaLiga's record. The substitute's intervention completed Madrid's comeback after Bellingham and Mbappé had each cancelled out an AEK lead. For the hosts, a match in which they twice held the advantage ended without a point.