Real Madrid must solve an old problem on their return to Athens

Athens has rarely been a simple trip for Madrid

AEK won the first leg of the clubs’ 1985 UEFA Cup tie 1-0 in Athens. Madrid answered with a 5-0 victory at home, while both Champions League meetings in 2002 ended level. Madrid have won only one of eight UEFA away matches against Greek clubs.

That single victory came against Olympiacos in 2025, when Madrid won a seven-goal match 4-3. The result ended a long wait but did not remove the need for control. AEK can defend close to their penalty area and turn a hurried pass into a direct attack.

Bellingham needs an appearance to reach his milestone

The match is scheduled for 4 November at 18:45 CET. Jude Bellingham will make his 60th Champions League appearance if he takes the field; he does not have to start. At 23 years and 128 days, he would become the youngest player to reach that mark, moving ahead of Iker Casillas.

Madrid are without Arda Guler and Aurelien Tchouameni, while AEK cannot use Joao Mario. Those absences reduce the options in central midfield and make the spacing around the first pass especially important.

AEK can threaten through transitions and set pieces

Former Madrid forward Luka Jovic gives AEK a direct route through the centre. Oleksandr Zubkov has also scored twice against Madrid in previous Champions League meetings with Shakhtar Donetsk. The visitors must protect the space behind midfield instead of treating possession as protection on its own.

Set pieces offer AEK another route. Jovic can occupy one centre-back while a teammate attacks the loose ball. Madrid must remain organised after the first clearance, when the temptation to move forward can leave the edge of the penalty area open.

Switching play is safer than forcing the middle

Madrid should have more of the ball, but repeated passes into a crowded central lane would give AEK the type of turnover they want. Faster switches can move the home block and create an isolated defender near the far touchline.

The contest is less about one individual duel than about which side handles transitions with greater discipline. If Madrid avoid giving AEK a series of open-field attacks, their attacking depth should create enough chances over the full evening in Athens.