AEK Athens vs Real Madrid Preview: Team News & Prediction | 2026-27 UEFA Champions League | League Phase
by Alex Lawes ·
Greek champions AEK Athens look to earn themselves a major scalp as they come up against 15-time European champions Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV & online: UK – TNT Sports & HBO Max / USA – Paramount+
AEK Athens preview: Tough run
AEK Athens come into this one on the back of back-to-back defeats; having been beaten 3-1 by PAOK Salonika last week before succumbing to a derby day 2-0 loss to Panathinaikos at the weekend.
That leaves the Greek champions sitting fourth in the Greek Super League, in behind both Olympiacos and PAOK, sitting seven points adrift of aforementioned league leaders Panathinaikos already.
Real Madrid preview: Form has been found
Real Madrid backed up their Clasico victory against Barcelona by easing to a comfortable 3-0 defeat of Racing Santander at El Sardinero at the weekend, courtesy of first half goals scored by Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe and Yan Diomande.
That means that Los Blancos, after a tough run of form just before the international break, have now enjoyed six successive victories across all competitions as they begin to find form under Jose Mourinho.
AEK Athens team news: Strakosha out
Thomas Strakosha remains unavailable for AEK due to a wrist injury but Hungary international striker Barnabas Varga returned to full fitness a couple of weeks ago, with him potentially partnering former Real Madrid man Luka Jovic up-front.
Predicted XI (4-4-2): Brignoli; Rota, Moukoudi, Relvas, Pilios; Majer, Arriaga, Marin, Joao Mario; Varga, Jovic
Unavailable: Strakosha (Injured)
Questionable:
Real Madrid team news: Possible rotation
Aiming to look after his squad, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Mourinho make a few changes for this one with Fede Valverde a doubt after missing the weekend and Vinicius Junior likely to start after being suspended domestically.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Courtois; Dumfries, Huijsen, Rudiger, Carreras; Tchouameni, Camavinga; Diomande, Bellingham, Vinicius; Mbappe
Unavailable: Asencio (Injured), Rodrygo (Injured)
Questionable: Mendy (Fitness), Valverde (Injured)
AEK Athens vs Real Madrid prediction
Jose Mourinho was finding it tough before the break but they have now found some form and a bit more cohesion, particularly with Vinicius Junior having been suspended in La Liga and perhaps making things less complicated in attack. AEK won their league phase opener against LASK but have gone on to be beaten by Shakhtar Donetsk and then Manchester City. Madrid, even with a hint of rotation, should ease to another comfortable victory here.
AEK Athens vs Real Madrid Tip: Real Madrid to win -1 handicap
