Real Madrid defeated AEK Athens 3-2 in Athens on Wednesday to remain undefeated in the UEFA Champions League League Phase with four wins from four matches.
Aboubakary Koita opened the scoring for AEK Athens. Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham equalized in the 32nd minute with a flicked finish off a Marc Cucurella cross.
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Stavro Pilo restored AEK’s lead in the 75th minute. Kylian Mbappé leveled again three minutes later from close range, and substitute Fede Valverde scored the winner in stoppage time with a shot from outside the penalty area.
Manager Jose Mourinho called Bellingham “a one-of-a-kind player” and said “there’s no other midfielder in the world quite like him.” Mourinho added that Bellingham is “well-rounded in every respect” and praised his leadership, ambition, and consistent ability to get into scoring positions.
Mourinho said Real Madrid has likely qualified for the knockout rounds with 12 points — level with Paris Saint-Germain at the top of the League Phase standings — but emphasized the need to earn more points to avoid the new play-off round. He estimated Madrid needs “seven or eight points” to secure direct advancement.
Vinícius Júnior started despite serving a four-match LaLiga suspension but had no direct impact on the result. Mourinho described his performance as “acceptable, not extraordinary” and noted the team’s overall effort was similarly modest.
The win extends Real Madrid’s winning streak across all competitions to seven matches.
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