AEK Athens vs Real Madrid: Champions League preview, predictions, team news and TV info
These two clubs will meet for the fifth time, with Real Madrid knocking out AEK Athens en route to winning the UEFA Cup in 1986, while the pair drew both meetings during the 2002 Champions League group stages.
Overall, Real Madrid have lost just one of their last 14 encounters with Greek opposition, including beating Olympiacos in Piraeus a year ago. Ahead of this clash, check out our preview, predictions, team news and TV info.
AEK Athens vs Real Madrid match info
Date: Wednesday 4 November 2026.
Kick off times: 7:45pm (local), 6:45pm (Spain) and 12:45pm (ET)
Competition: UEFA Champions League league phase matchday 4
Venue: Agia Sophia Stadium - Nea Filadelfeia, Athens.
How to watch: Paramount+ (USA), Movistar+ (Spain) and TNT Sports 3 (UK).
How can I watch AEK Athens vs Real Madrid?
| Country | Broadcaster(s) |
|---|---|
| United States | Paramount+ |
| Spain | Movistar Liga de Campeones |
| UK & Ireland | TNT Sports 3 and HBO Max |
| Australia | Stan Sport |
| Canada, New Zealand, Germany, Portugal and Austria | DAZN |
| Africa | SuperSport MaXimo 1 |
| South and Central America | Disney+ |
| Brazil | TNT |
| Mexico | FOX One |
| Southeast Asia | beIN Sports 3 |
| India | Sony LIV |
| Nordic nations | Viaplay |
| Netherlands | Ziggo Sport 3 |
AEK Athens vs Real Madrid match preview
Will Real Madrid's winning streak continue? So far in the Champions League, los Blancos are one of only five clubs to boast a perfect record. Following wins over Inter and Roma, the latter a jaw-dropping comeback, they swatted aside RB Leipzig a fortnight ago. Bernardo Silva, Arda Güler, Kylian Mbappé and Yan Diomandé all on target during a 4-1 demolition at the Bernabéu.
Meantime, in La Liga, José Mourinho's team cruised to victory against Racing Santander on Sunday, all three goals coming before half time; Mbappé, Jude Bellingham and Diomandé on target at El Sardinero. That is now four successive league wins for Real Madrid, most notably defeating leaders Barcelona at Camp Nou, thereby propelling themselves right back into title contention.
Los Merengues are still third, but Barça and Atleti face each-other on Sunday, meaning one is guaranteed to drop points, if not both. Back in the Champions League, since the implementation of the league phase, Real Madrid have never successfully finished in the top eight. This time round however, with PSV, Arsenal, LASK and Shakhtar Donetsk their remaining opponents, a victory in Greece would have them very likely to change that.
As for AEK Athens, this is just the second time they have qualified for the Champions League proper since 2006, ousting Levski Sofia in a play-off to get here. After losing all six group games in 2018, Marko Nikolić's team ended their wait for a win at this level on matchday one, courtesy of Răzvan Marin's stunning free-kick, enough to defeat LASK in the Greek capital.
However, since then, AEK have lost back-to-back matches in England, defeated 3-1 by Shakhtar Donetsk at Stamford Bridge, and then 5-1 by Manchester City at the Etihad. Stavros Pilios' goal in the latter offering little consolation.
The Yellow-Blacks were also beaten 2-0 by fierce rivals Panathinaikos on Sunday, dropping down to fourth in the Greek Super League. Nevertheless, everyone inside Agia Sophia Stadium is eagler awaiting Real Madrid's visit, albeit the outcome is likely to be a comfortable away win.
AEK Athens team news
First-choice goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha is injured, so 35 year old Alberto Brignoli will continue to deputise. There will be a familiar face leading the AEK Athens attack. Real Madrid paid €60 million to sign Luka Jović in 2019, for him to score just three goals for the club. So now, can he add to his eight goals this season against his former employers?
Real Madrid news
Vinícius Júnior remains suspended for another two La Liga matches, but can of course feature in the Champions League. However, in his absence, José Mourinho's team have been excellent with Arda Güler and Yan Diomandé out-wide, supporting Kylian Mbappé, presenting quite the dilemma.
Mbappé is seeking to score in a sixth successive Champions League match, while Jude Bellingham will become the youngest man to reach 60 appearances in the competition, a record currently held by Iker Casillas.
Trent Alexander-Arnold started at right-back in Santander, so Denzel Dumfries could be rotate in here; Álvaro Carreras will sit out the clash with PSV in three weeks time if cautioned.
Predicted Line-ups
AEK Athens predicted lineup: Brignoli; Rota, Moukoudi, Relvas, Pilios; Marin, Arriaga, Majer João Mário; Jović, Varga.
Real Madrid predicted lineup: Courtois; Dumfries, Konaté, Rüdiger, Carreras; Tchouaméni, Silva, Bellingham; Güler, Vinícius, Mbappé.
Score prediction: AEK Athens 1-3 Real Madrid.
