Player Ratings: AEK Athens 2–3 Real Madrid

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Kickjolly · AI-written · automatically reviewed · Managing Madrid ↗ · GOAL ↗ · Managing Madrid ↗

Real Madrid secured a thrilling 3-2 victory over AEK Athens, maintaining their perfect European record, as reported by GOAL and Managing Madrid. The match was marked by tactical shifts and individual brilliance, with Real Madrid displaying resilience to snatch all three points despite trailing twice. Jude Bellingham scored the equalizing goal in the first half, while Kylian Mbappé and Fede Valverde scored in the second half. Valverde's late winner was a key moment in the game.

The game saw several Real Madrid players receive high ratings for their performances, according to Managing Madrid's player ratings. Jude Bellingham and Fede Valverde were standout performers, with ratings of 8.5. Bellingham scored a goal and controlled the game in the first half, while Valverde scored the winning goal and produced three key passes in just 24 minutes. Thibaut Courtois also made crucial saves to keep Real Madrid in the game.

Some Real Madrid players struggled with their defensive performances, as noted by Managing Madrid. Denzel Dumfries was criticized for his poor defensive display, particularly on AEK's second goal. Éder Militão took defensive gambles that did not pay off, and Vinícius Júnior lost possession 11 times and failed to complete a single dribble. Antonio Rüdiger was also a step slow in reading the play, highlighting the absence of both starting centre-backs.