Fede Valverde delivered the decisive strike in Athens, netting in the 92nd minute to seal a 3‑2 comeback over AEK and preserve Real Madrid’s perfect Champions League group record. “I think about it a lot,” he admitted, “but I’m grateful to my teammates and coach for trusting me to make that decisive move.”
The Uruguayan described the match as tightly contested and hard‑fought. “We dominated overall but struggled to find the net,” he said on the pitch, adding that the squad deserves praise for its effort and should keep pushing forward.
Even after conceding, the side kept applying the patterns we practiced all week. Once we equalised we reclaimed control, and despite the blow, the players kept attacking with the intensity shown in recent games. “I’m thrilled for the whole group,” Valverde added, noting his bench role in Athens.
For my money, the group’s collective belief is its biggest weapon. “It’s the team’s merit to trust each other until the final whistle,” the captain told Movistar. “Every player backs his teammate, the staff fuels us with energy from the bench, and we love representing this coaching crew.”
Late minutes proved the squad never quits. After falling behind 2‑1, it looked another battle, yet the team rallied once more. Can Madrid sustain this resilience and turn it into a knockout‑stage surge?