Real Madrid remain perfect in the Champions League thanks to Denzel Dumfries’ assist and another stunning goal from Federico Valverde in stoppage time
Real Madrid made it four wins from four in the Champions League league phase, but only by the narrowest of margins. They took the lead for the first time against AEK in Athens in stoppage time, when Federico Valverde's stunning strike sealed a 2-3 win. Moments earlier, Denzel Dumfries had set up Kylian Mbappé's equaliser at 2-2.
Mourinho started Dumfries for Real and rested Arda Güler. With the Turkish playmaker out, the manager was able to field both Yan Diomandé and Vinícius Júnior.
AEK, with former Real Madrid striker Luka Jovic in their starting line-up, took the lead after less than a quarter of an hour. Jovic laid the ball off to Aboubakary Koïta, who cut inside on the edge of the penalty area, beat Marc Cucurella and caught Thibaut Courtois out at his near post: 1-0.
Real thought Bellingham had equalised when he turned in a Vinícius cross. The Englishman was narrowly offside, but five minutes later he scored with a superb backheel that did count: 1-1.
Against the spirited Greeks, Real struggled at times to break through a defence that blocked plenty of attempts. A 1-2 lead still looked inevitable when Mbappé found the unmarked Cucurella, but the Spaniard's shot with his weaker foot struck the sliding Lazaros Rota.
Mbappé then tried his luck, sending a powerful shot just wide. A Real Madrid lead seemed only a matter of time. Instead, Koïta set up Stavro Pilo on the counter-attack, and Pilo finished under Courtois.
Shortly afterwards, Dumfries helped spark Real's comeback with a driven cross, despite having played a below-par match. The Netherlands international picked out Mbappé, who pointed straight to the right-back after scoring.
Real looked to be running out of time to snatch a winner. Valverde had other ideas. The Uruguayan unleashed a trademark thunderbolt and watched it sail into the top corner in stoppage time: 2-3. Real remain perfect with twelve points from four matches, while AEK sit 30th with three points from four.
