AEK Athens vs Real Madrid: Jović faces his former club with a home record to defend

Luka Jović knows the badge coming to Nea Filadelfia. The AEK striker played for Real Madrid between 2019 and 2022, and now has a more pressing task than revisiting that history: help the Greek side avoid chasing the game from the outset. AEK's record after conceding first in the Champions League is stark. José Mourinho's visitors, meanwhile, have won all three league-phase fixtures.

• Competition: 2026/27 UEFA Champions League, league phase, Matchday 4.
• Fixture: AEK Athens vs Real Madrid; AEK are at home.
• Kick-off: Wednesday, 4 November, 17:45 UTC; 19:45 EET in Greece.
• Venue: Allwyn Arena, also known as Agia Sophia Stadium, Nea Filadelfia in the Athens area.

Athens offers a different test from AEK's recent away trips

AEK opened their European campaign with a 1-0 win over LASK. Defeats to Shakhtar Donetsk and Manchester City followed, the latter by 5-1. Three points after three rounds leave them well behind the clubs with perfect starts. But those away results are not the full picture: UEFA records ten wins, one draw and one defeat in AEK's last 12 European home games. The governing body's other figure is more troubling: AEK have never won a Champions League proper match after conceding first, drawing six and losing 15.

Their immediate preparation took another hit on Sunday, 1 November, when Panathinaikos won the Athens league derby 2-0. AEK conceded in the opening minute and again shortly after half-time. The match report carried by Real Madrid lists Jović and Barnabás Varga in AEK's starting attack, Oleksandr Zubkov also starting, and Zini and Aboubakary Koita appearing as substitutes. Those details establish who featured on Sunday; they do not predict Wednesday's team.

Jović can give AEK a focal point inside the penalty area, Varga another aerial and finishing presence, while Zubkov offers a route from wide positions. Zubkov has relevant history: UEFA notes that he scored in each of his two previous Champions League meetings with Madrid while at Shakhtar. Names alone will not hold off the visitors, but they show that AEK's attacking case rests on more than the atmosphere of their stadium.

Madrid beat Inter 2-1, won 4-3 in Rome and defeated Leipzig 4-1: nine points, ten goals scored and five allowed. On 1 November they added a sixth consecutive victory across competitions, beating Racing 3-0 in Santander. Kylian Mbappé scored a penalty, Jude Bellingham and Yan Diomande made it three before half-time, and Arda Güler supplied the through ball for Bellingham. The sequence showed how quickly Madrid can turn possession into a run behind the defence.

For Greek defenders, Mbappé's European run stands out: UEFA says he has scored in his last five Champions League appearances. Bellingham reached 59 appearances after Matchday 3 and could become the youngest player to reach 60, ahead of Iker Casillas, if he plays in Athens. The scoring streak is an established fact; the appearance record remains conditional on selection.

Who is available for the trip and the home side?

AEK Athens

As of 2 November, AEK had not released a match-specific medical bulletin or European squad announcement for Madrid's visit. Jović, Varga, Zubkov, Harold Moukoudi and Alberto Brignoli started the Panathinaikos match; Koita and Zini came off the bench. Playing on Sunday does not confirm their availability for Wednesday. There is no basis yet to declare a full squad available or assign an unannounced absence.

Real Madrid

Madrid's squad announcement for Racing on 31 October and the following day's match clarify several cases, but are not a travel list for Greece:

• Raúl Asencio: Madrid reported surgery for a stress fracture of his right tibia on 1 October. He was absent from the Racing squad, and the club has not announced a return for Athens.
• Thibaut Courtois: returned to the squad and played in Santander after missing El Clásico with flu. His return has happened; a start in Athens has not been announced.
• Kylian Mbappé and Jude Bellingham: both scored against Racing and played on 1 November. That does not confirm their places in Wednesday's squad.
• Vinícius Júnior: Mourinho said on 31 October that his suspension applies to LaLiga and he can play in the Champions League. The coach explicitly stopped short of promising him a start.
• Federico Valverde: Mourinho said he would not start against Racing, and he was not on the published squad list for that game. His status for AEK requires a fresh club update.

A first goal could change the shape of the night

AEK may try to use Jović and Varga to hold early passes and bring Zubkov or Koita into wide areas. If Madrid lose possession while their full-backs are advanced, that route could offer space. At the other end, Güler's passing into Bellingham and Mbappé's pace will force AEK's centre-backs to choose between stepping towards a receiver and protecting the box. These are possibilities grounded in recent line-ups and actions, not a declared tactical plan.

The opening phase matters unusually much. AEK conceded in the first minute of the derby and their historical Champions League results after falling behind are poor. Madrid have scored ten times in three European games, but conceded four in Rome and five overall. The home side need to avoid an immediate deficit; the visitors cannot assume their scoring rate will erase every defensive lapse in a charged away setting.

Mourinho spoke before the Racing trip about the burden of four successive away games and three journeys in seven days. It could affect his selections, but it does not establish a rotation plan. Head-to-head history offers no shortcut either: UEFA records one win for each club and two draws in four meetings. AEK were unbeaten in their two previous home games against Madrid, both played before the opening of the current stadium.

How to watch AEK Athens vs Real Madrid

• Venue: Allwyn Arena, Nea Filadelfia, Greece.
• Date and time: Wednesday, 4 November, 19:45 EET (17:45 UTC).

United States

• Kick-off: Wednesday, 4 November, 12:45 EST / 09:45 PST.
• TV: Paramount+ does not list a linear channel for this match in its fixture guide.
• Streaming: Paramount+ lists a live stream for subscribers.

Australia

• Kick-off: Thursday, 5 November, 04:45 AEDT in Sydney and Melbourne; 03:45 AEST in Brisbane; 01:45 AWST in Perth. Stan's stream listing begins at 04:40 AEDT.
• TV: Stan Sport does not name a linear channel for this fixture.
• Streaming: Stan Sport lists the live match; a Stan subscription with the Sport add-on is required.

United Kingdom

• Kick-off: Wednesday, 4 November, 17:45 GMT.
• TV: TNT Sports has identified the match for its coverage but has not confirmed a numbered linear channel in the match-specific information checked.
• Streaming: TNT Sports says the AEK–Madrid match can be watched on HBO Max with TNT Sports access.

The home side's European record in Athens will meet a visitor that has already found three different ways to win in this league phase. For Madrid, the test extends beyond attacking quality to another away journey in a compressed week.