AEK Athens v Real Madrid — UEFA Champions League preview, November 4, 2026
Real Madrid travel to Greece to face AEK Athens at the Agia Sophia Stadium in Nea Filadelfeia on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, in a UEFA Champions League 2026-27 league-phase fixture. Both clubs arrive seeking to strengthen their positions in the competition.
AEK will use the match as an opportunity to test themselves against one of Europe’s most successful clubs, while Real Madrid aim to maintain momentum in their European campaign and secure an important away result. The hosts will need a disciplined showing after struggling in recent Champions League fixtures. Both sides are conscious of the match’s significance for their standing in the group.
Barnabás Varga is a key attacking option for AEK, having scored twice in the UEFA Champions League this season. Kylian Mbappé has three goals in three Champions League appearances this season and is expected to lead Madrid’s forward line with his pace, movement and finishing. AEK’s defence has conceded eight goals across two European matches.
AEK will be without goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha, who is sidelined with a wrist injury. José Mourinho’s side has several players unavailable for the trip to Athens, with Federico Valverde dealing with a hamstring injury and Raúl Asencio recovering from a leg injury. Ferland Mendy is sidelined with a ligament injury, and Rodrygo is expected to remain out until late December after suffering a cruciate ligament injury.
Projected AEK XI: Alberto Brignoli; Lazaros Rota, Harold Moukoudi, Filipe Relvas, Stavros Pilios; Kervin Arriaga; Lovro Majer, Răzvan Marin, João Mário; Barnabás Varga, Luka Jović. Projected Real Madrid XI: Thibaut Courtois; Denzel Dumfries, Antonio Rüdiger, Dean Huijsen, Álvaro Carreras; Bernardo Silva, Eduardo Camavinga; Arda Güler, Jude Bellingham, Brahim Díaz; Kylian Mbappé.
Real Madrid have scored four goals in each of their last two Champions League matches. AEK conceded eight goals in their opening two defeats in the competition. Prediction: AEK Athens 1-3 Real Madrid.
The match is scheduled to start at 11:15 PM IST on Wednesday, November 4, 2026. Broadcast details: US — Paramount+, TUDN, UniMás, ViX; UK — TNT Sports 3, HBO Max, TNT Sports 9; India — SONY Ten 3, SONY LIV; fans in India can watch on SONY Ten 3 and SONY LIV. For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube or via the Khel Now Android or IOS app and the community on Whatsapp & Telegram.
As a league-phase fixture in the UEFA Champions League 2026-27, the result on Wednesday will directly affect both teams’ positions in the competition’s group standings.
