SOCCER
Valverde’s Stoppage-Time Winner Lifts Real Madrid Past AEK Athens, 3–2
Madrid recovered from a 2–1 deficit in the final 15 minutes to make it four wins from four in the Champions League.
Federico Valverde scored from outside the penalty area in stoppage time as Real Madrid came from behind to beat AEK Athens 3–2 in the Champions League on Wednesday.
The victory gave José Mourinho’s team four wins from four matches and 12 points in the league phase. Madrid had trailed 2–1 with 15 minutes of regulation remaining before Kylian Mbappé equalized and Valverde supplied the winner.
AEK took the lead through Koita in the 12th minute. Jude Bellingham had a goal disallowed for offside before making it 1–1 in the 32nd, meeting Marc Cucurella’s cross with a backheel finish.
Pilios restored the home side’s advantage in the 75th minute. Madrid responded two minutes later when Denzel Dumfries crossed from the right and Mbappé finished from close range. Mbappé scored for the sixth consecutive match and has found the net in all four of Madrid’s Champions League games.
Mbappé nearly added another in the 86th minute, but goalkeeper Alberto Brignoli’s intervention sent his effort onto the crossbar. Valverde then completed the comeback, according to Madrid’s official final report.
