Real Madrid visit AEK in Athens

Real Madrid will play AEK in Athens on Wednesday. The Spanish side have taken nine points from their first three Champions League matches and sit fourth in the 36-team table. AEK, on three points, are 29th.

AEK started the season with a 1-0 win over LASK Linz. They then lost 3-1 to Shakhtar Donetsk on 14 October and, six days later, 5-1 to Manchester City. In Greece, they have lost four of their last five matches and suffered back-to-back defeats to PAOK and Panathinaikos. The home side will be without goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha, who is out with a hand injury. Joao Mario and Lazaros Rota are doubtful because of illness, and their fitness will be assessed before the match.

The two teams have met four times in Europe. AEK have won once, Real Madrid have won once, and two matches ended in draws. AEK won the first leg of the 1985 UEFA Cup 1-0, while Real Madrid won the return leg 5-0. The Athens meeting ended 3-3. Away from home against Greek sides in European competition, Real Madrid have won only one of their last eight matches and drawn five.

Real Madrid have won their last six matches in all competitions. They lost 2-1 to Atletico Madrid before the international break but have bounced back since. They beat Racing de Santander 3-0 in La Liga and defeated RB Leipzig 4-1 in their most recent European match. Their remaining league phase opponents are PSV, Arsenal, LASK Linz and Shakhtar Donetsk.