Valverde completes Madrid's second comeback in Athens

Aboubakary Koïta gave AEK an early lead in the 12th minute, finishing after Luka Jović's pass. Madrid needed Jude Bellingham's ingenuity to get back into the game. The midfielder brought the sides level in the 32nd minute with a backheel finish from Marc Cucurella's cross, turning a difficult first half into an even contest.

AEK refused to let Madrid take control of the result. Kylian Mbappé came close to putting the visitors ahead, but Stavros Pilios produced a decisive intervention to deny him before joining the attack at the other end. Koïta supplied the pass for Pilios to finish in the 75th minute, restoring AEK's lead and putting Madrid under pressure again.

Madrid's answer came within three minutes. Denzel Dumfries delivered the ball across the area and Mbappé converted at the far post. Alberto Brignoli then kept AEK level with a save from the forward, who later struck the underside of the crossbar. Madrid still had one more decisive attack in them.

Introduced from the bench, Valverde collected the ball outside the area and drove it into the top corner in the 90+2nd minute. Brahim Díaz supplied the assist. The goal gave Madrid their fourth win from four league-phase matches and lifted them to 12 points, while AEK remained on three. Koïta was sent off after the final whistle, adding a final disciplinary setback to the Greek side's defeat.