Federico Valverde rescued Real Madrid in Athens on Wednesday. His long-range strike in stoppage time sealed a 3-2 Champions League win over AEK Athens. The Guardian and the Nile Post both reported the result. José Mourinho's side had trailed twice against the Greek champions.
Aboubakary Koïta put AEK ahead after 12 minutes with a powerful finish, the Guardian and the Nile Post reported. Jude Bellingham equalised with a back-heeled flick across the face of goal. The Nile Post put that goal in the 32nd minute. At 23 years and 128 days, Bellingham became the youngest player to score in seven successive Champions League seasons. He passed team-mate Kylian Mbappé.
AEK went ahead again with 15 minutes left. Stavros Pilios first blocked a goal-bound Mbappé shot, according to the Nile Post. He then raced the length of the pitch to finish an attack at the near post. Mbappé levelled three minutes later at the far post. Valverde then thundered in the winner from distance.
Tempers boiled over at the final whistle. The Nile Post reported that Koïta was sent off after the game as the home side's frustration spilled over. Vinícius Júnior started on the left flank, the Guardian said. He had missed Madrid's previous two La Liga matches through suspension.
The win keeps the 15-time champions perfect in the league phase. Madrid have now won seven games in a row across all competitions, according to the Guardian.
Elsewhere on Wednesday, Como thrashed Lens 9-1 away from home. That equalled the record for the most goals in a single Champions League game. Anastasios Douvikas scored a hat-trick. Porto beat Napoli 4-1, and Borussia Dortmund edged Real Betis 2-1. Arsenal also won away at Slavia Prague, with Viktor Gyökeres the difference, the Guardian reported.