Real Madrid head to Greece riding a six-game winning streak, and there is every reason to believe José Mourinho’s side will make it seven when they face AEK Athens in the UEFA Champions League. Los Blancos have been firing on all cylinders since the international break, and this trip to the OPAP Arena represents a golden opportunity to further cement their position in the top eight of the league-phase standings.
The State of Play
Real Madrid come into this fixture in outstanding form. They have won all six of their matches since returning from the international break — a run that includes a Clásico victory over Barcelona — and they have also recorded a perfect three-from-three record in the Champions League, beating Inter Milan, AS Roma and RB Leipzig along the way. That puts them fourth in the UCL table. Their most recent outing was a commanding 3-0 win over Racing Santander, and they also kept their first away clean sheet of the season in that stretch, which will give the defensive unit extra confidence heading into Athens.
AEK Athens, meanwhile, sit 29th in the Champions League table with just three points from three games. Their campaign began promisingly with a 1-0 win over LASK, but back-to-back defeats — a 3-1 reverse against Shakhtar Donetsk and then a brutal 5-1 hammering at the hands of Manchester City — have left them fighting for survival in the competition. Domestically, things are not much better: they sit fourth in the Super League Greece and have lost their last two games, conceding five goals without reply against PAOK in the cup and Panathinaikos in the league. There is certainly a vulnerability here that Real Madrid will look to exploit.
That said, one stat worth keeping in mind is AEK’s remarkable home record. The Greek side have won each of their last seven games at their own ground, scoring 30 goals and conceding just once in the process. Whether that sort of form can withstand a Real Madrid side in this kind of mood is a different question, but Mourinho’s men cannot afford to be complacent from the first whistle.
Team News & Probable Lineups
For the hosts, goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha is ruled out with a hand injury, while Joao Mario and Lazaros Rota are both racing against the clock after spells of illness and will be assessed before kick-off. AEK are expected to line up in a 4-4-2 shape, with Alberto Brignoli between the sticks. Harold Moukoudi and Filipe Relvas should form the central defensive pairing, flanked by Rota and Stavros Pilios at full-back. Lovro Majer and Joao Mario are pencilled in for the wide roles, with Kervin Arriaga and Razvan Marin in central midfield. Up front, Luka Jovic and Barnabas Varga will be tasked with leading the line and causing problems for Real Madrid’s backline.
AEK Athens Probable XI (4-4-2): Brignoli; Rota, Moukoudi, Relvas, Pilios; Majer, Arriaga, Marin, Mario; Jovic, Varga
On the Real Madrid side, Mourinho is still without Rodrygo (knee), Ferland Mendy (hip), and Raul Asencio (leg). However, there is a significant boost in the form of Vinicius Junior, who is available for this European tie. With the fixture list packed, Mourinho is expected to rotate heavily and rest several key starters for the upcoming La Liga action. The likely setup is a 4-2-3-1, with Thibaut Courtois in goal. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Alvaro Carreras could occupy the full-back slots, while Antonio Rüdiger partners Dean Huijsen in central defence. Aurélien Tchouaméni and Eduardo Camavinga should form a solid double pivot in the engine room, with Brahim Díaz and Vinicius Junior wide, Jude Bellingham at number ten, and Kylian Mbappé leading the attack. Arda Güler and Yan Diomande are options from the bench.
Real Madrid Probable XI (4-2-3-1): Courtois; Alexander-Arnold, Rüdiger, Huijsen, Carreras; Camavinga, Tchouaméni; Díaz, Bellingham, Vinicius Junior; Mbappé
What This Means for Real Madrid — and the Prediction
From a fan perspective, this feels like the kind of fixture where you want to see the depth of the squad step up and deliver. With La Liga’s title race still tight — Los Blancos are three points behind the reigning champions — Mourinho will be keen to protect his key men ahead of a potentially decisive run of league fixtures. A strong showing from the likes of Brahim Díaz, Camavinga, and Huijsen in a rotated side would be the ideal outcome: three more Champions League points banked while the first-choice starters get some rest.
The numbers point heavily toward a Real Madrid victory. Los Blancos’ six-game winning momentum, their 100% Champions League record, and AEK’s shaky recent form all suggest this should be a comfortable night for the visitors. Vinicius Junior is the player to watch — his directness and pace on the left flank will stretch Athens’ backline, and given how much Real Madrid have leaned on his creativity this season in general, his availability here is a welcome piece of team news.
The Greek side’s home record demands a degree of respect, but giving up eight goals in their last two European outings tells its own story. Expect Real Madrid to come away with a win, keep things relatively tight at the back, and move firmly into the top four of the Champions League standings. Prediction: AEK Athens 0-2 Real Madrid.
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