UEFA Champions League: Valverde’s late winner keeps Madrid perfect

Real Madrid twice came from behind to snatch a dramatic late win against AEK Athens, as Federico Valverde struck in stoppage time to keep the Spanish giants perfect in the Champions League.

Jose Mourinho’s side are now level with holders Paris Saint-Germain on four wins from four league phase games after the 3-2 thriller in the Greek capital.

The hosts started with huge energy at the Agia Sophia Stadium and took a deserved early lead after 12 minutes.

Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois had already denied former Los Blancos striker Luka Jovic before Aboubakary Koita opened the scoring. 

The Mauritanian winger cut inside Marc Cucurella and thumped home at the near post, catching Courtois off guard.

AEK continued to press, and Courtois was called into action again to keep out Jovic as they tried to make their strong start count.

However, the Greek champions inevitably began to tire, and Madrid started to take control. Kylian Mbappe fired over, while Jude Bellingham’s close-range effort was ruled offside.

Moments later, Bellingham was not to be denied. Cucurella delivered a low cross, and the England international produced a sublime flicked finish to beat goalkeeper Alberto Brignoli and level the scores.

Former Chelsea defender Cucurella tested Brignoli again, while Bernardo Silva nodded off-target before the interval as Mourinho’s team dominated possession.

Madrid continued to push after the break, with Brignoli pushing away Eder Militao’s long-range effort and Lazaros Rota blocking superbly to deny the heavily involved Cucurella.

Mbappe bent a shot narrowly wide and was then frustrated when his effort was blocked after good work from Vinicius Junior, who had returned to the left flank after suspension.

AEK reclaimed the lead in the 75th minute when the impressive Koita nudged the ball into Stavros Pilios’s path, and the Albanian international finished through Courtois’ legs.

Madrid responded instantly. Bellingham played Denzel Dumfries in down the right, and his low cross Mbappe finished for his fourth goal in four Champions League games this season.

Substitute Endrick then sent Mbappe through, but Brignoli tipped his strike onto the crossbar.

Valverde refused to settle for a point and in the 92nd minute lashed home across Brignoli to seal a seventh straight win in all competitions.