AEK Athens 2-3 Real Madrid produced a breathless UEFA Champions League night at the OPAP Arena, where Real Madrid held off a spirited AEK Athens comeback to secure three points in a five-goal thriller. Kylian Mbappé, Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo found the net for the visitors, while Levi García’s brace kept AEK within touching distance until the closing stages. The away win strengthens Real Madrid’s position in the league-phase standings and underlines their ability to find a decisive moment when the match begins to slip away.

Match overview

Real Madrid started with the calm authority expected of a side with deep Champions League pedigree, controlling possession and pushing AEK back through quick switches of play. Bellingham drifted between the lines, Mbappé attacked the left channel and Rodrygo threatened from the right, forcing the Greek side into a cautious opening. The breakthrough arrived in the 12th minute when Mbappé latched onto a clever through ball and finished low beyond the goalkeeper to silence the home crowd.

AEK, however, were not merely passive hosts. Their midfield pressed with energy, Orbelín Pineda helped turn possession into forward momentum and Levi García began to occupy the Real Madrid centre-backs. The equaliser came in the 27th minute after AEK won the ball high and moved it quickly into the box, with Levi García converting from close range to bring the OPAP Arena back to life. Real Madrid restored their lead nine minutes after the restart when Bellingham arrived late in the area and guided a composed finish into the corner.

The match turned again in the 72nd minute. AEK’s set-piece delivery caused uncertainty in the Real Madrid box, and Levi García was on hand to score his second of the night. That goal set up a tense finale, but Real Madrid’s quality told in the 86th minute when Rodrygo cut inside from the right and curled a precise effort beyond the goalkeeper to make it 3-2.

Key moments

• 12’ – Real Madrid take the lead: Mbappé races onto a measured pass and finishes calmly for the opening goal.
• 27’ – AEK Athens equalise: Levi García rewards the hosts’ high pressing with a close-range finish.
• 54’ – Bellingham restores the lead: Real Madrid’s midfield runner arrives in the box at the perfect moment.
• 72’ – AEK level again: Levi García scores his second from a dangerous set-piece situation.
• 86’ – Rodrygo wins it: The Brazilian curls a superb effort into the far corner to settle the contest.

Tactical story

AEK Athens set up with an aggressive 4-2-3-1 shape, looking to press Real Madrid’s first line and force mistakes in central areas. That approach worked in patches, especially during the spells either side of their first equaliser, when Pineda and the wide players closed down passing lanes and fed Levi García quickly. The hosts were brave in possession and refused to sit deep for long periods, which made the match far more open than many expected.

Real Madrid’s 4-3-3 was built around control through Bellingham and the front three’s movement. Mbappé’s runs in behind stretched AEK’s back line, while Rodrygo’s drifting created space between full-back and centre-back. The visitors were not always secure defensively, particularly from set pieces, but their individual quality in the final third proved decisive. Courtois also produced important saves in the second half to protect the lead at key moments.

Standout players

Mbappé was a constant threat with his acceleration and movement, and his early goal gave Real Madrid the platform they wanted. Bellingham’s all-round performance combined energy, timing and composure in the box, while Rodrygo delivered the game’s defining moment with a finish worthy of winning any Champions League match. For AEK, Levi García was the outstanding performer, scoring twice and leading the line with physicality and intelligence. Pineda’s industry in midfield also gave the hosts a platform to compete.

What the result means

The 3-2 victory gives Real Madrid another valuable away win in the Champions League league phase and keeps them firmly in the race for a top-eight finish. For AEK Athens, the performance will offer encouragement despite the defeat: they matched a European heavyweight for long spells and scored twice, but they were ultimately punished for the small defensive gaps that Real Madrid exploited. The result leaves AEK needing points from their remaining fixtures, while Real Madrid can travel home satisfied with both the scoreline and the resilience shown in a difficult away environment.