Real Madrid Completes Comeback; Liverpool Falls to Fenerbahce

Real Madrid maintained their perfect Champions League record as Federico Valverde’s stoppage-time strike secured a 3-2 comeback win at AEK Athens on Wednesday. Madrid twice trailed before Valverde scored from long range in the 92nd minute, showcasing their resilience in the tournament.

Liverpool’s winning start ended with a surprise 3-2 defeat at Fenerbahce in the competition. The Spanish giants required a late rally to beat Roma 4-3 last month, managing to score three goals in the last 10 minutes, including a crucial 90th minute winner from Antonio Rudiger.

In Greece, AEK led through Aboubakary Koita in the first half, but Jude Bellingham leveled the match with a back heel before Stavros Pilios put the home team ahead 2-1 in the 75th minute. Kylian Mbappé equalized three minutes later. After hitting the bar, Valverde scored what would become the dramatic winner.

After the match, Madrid's coach Jose Mourinho commented on the team's late-game performance, stating, "We won the first game in the last minute. Of course, I prefer to win more comfortably, but these games in the final minutes — only we can win them. We — without making me sound like I’m blowing my own trumpet — we have them in the right place when it comes to doing that. And if we do it, it’s because we all feel that we can. The players have courage. I’m very lucky to have players of this quality. Very lucky.”

On this night, Bellingham became the youngest player to make 60 appearances in the Champions League, scoring a brilliant flicked goal in the 32nd minute from Marc Cucurella's cross. At 23 years, 128 days, he surpassed the previous record held by Iker Casillas.

Meanwhile, Mbappé extended his tally to 16 goals in 15 appearances this season and continued his scoring streak in the Champions League to six consecutive matches. For Liverpool in Istanbul, the team fell to back-to-back losses, losing their lead twice during the match. Trey Nyoni and Alexander Isak gave Liverpool the lead in each half, but Mason Greenwood and Archie Brown leveled for Fenerbahce. Vedat Muriqi scored the winner in the 89th minute.

Liverpool coach Andoni Iraola cited set pieces as a primary reason for their defeat, expressing frustration at conceding from a free-kick, a corner, and a long throw. "We knew it was one of the strengths of Fenerbahce. It’s frustration because it’s a difficult place to come here and play.”