Real Madrid will take their perfect UEFA Champions League record to Athens on Wednesday, where they face AEK Athens with a chance to keep their top-eight push on track. The Spanish side have six wins from six in Europe, making them one of only five teams in the competition with a flawless record so far.
That run has come after a shaky start to the second José Mourinho era, but Real Madrid have recovered quickly and now look settled again. Their most recent European outing was a win over RB Leipzig, a result that kept the momentum going and showed why they have stayed among the strongest teams in the league phase.
AEK Athens face a difficult response
AEK Athens, meanwhile, are trying to regroup after a mixed spell. They lost to Panathinaikos at the weekend, and their last European outing was a 5-1 defeat away to Manchester City. That result highlighted the gap they still have to close against elite opposition, even if they are tougher at the ALLWYN Arena than in some other settings.
The home crowd should give AEK Athens some hope, but the Champions League picture is still not ideal. They have only one Champions League win so far this season, so a visit from Real Madrid arrives at a time when they need a strong response more than ever.
What the matchup means
For Real Madrid, the task is straightforward: stay focused, take care of business and preserve a perfect European record. For AEK Athens, the challenge is even clearer. They need to make the match competitive early, lean on the atmosphere in Athens and avoid another heavy setback against a team that has been efficient all season.
Wednesday's match also gives Real Madrid another chance to reinforce their status as one of the most reliable teams in the competition. A win would keep them firmly on course in the Champions League league phase and leave AEK Athens with a major problem to solve in the standings.
