AEK Atenas vs Real Madridprediction and how to watch

Prediction and how to watch for AEK Atenas vs Real Madrid: everything you need to know before the game.

AEK Athens host Real Madrid at the Allwyn Arena on Wednesday 4 November, with kick-off at 19:45 local time (11:45 in Mexico City), in matchday four of the Champions League league phase.

The Greek champions sit 29th with three points and a goal difference of minus five. Real Madrid are fourth on nine points, with a plus-five difference.

Match preview

AEK arrive in poor form. They lost 5-1 at Manchester City on 20 October and 3-1 to Shakhtar before that, which leaves them with two straight defeats in the Champions League.

Domestic football has brought no relief. They lost 2-0 to Panathinaikos on 1 November and 3-1 to PAOK in the Cup on 28 October. They thrashed Panetolikos 5-0 on 24 October, but they have one win and three defeats in their last four.

Home form is a different story. AEK won their only league-phase game at the Allwyn Arena 1-0, while on their travels they conceded eight goals in two matches and scored just twice. Barnabás Varga has two goals in this season's competition and leads the attack.

Marko Nikolić has stuck with a 4-4-2 despite the results, and his position is under scrutiny after the derby defeat to Panathinaikos.

Real Madrid, under José Mourinho, have won five in a row. They won 3-0 at Racing Santander on 1 November, 2-1 at Barcelona on 25 October, 4-1 against Leipzig, 4-1 against Sevilla and 4-3 at Roma.

They have three wins from three in the Champions League, with 10 goals scored and five conceded. They won both home games 6-2 on aggregate and won 4-3 away at Roma. That attacking threat has come with some leaks, as they have shipped six goals in their last five matches.

Kylian Mbappé has three goals in the competition and is the main danger. Bernardo Silva, Arda Güler, Mbappé and Yan Diomande all scored in the 4-1 win over Leipzig.

The head-to-head record is even, with four meetings producing one win each and two draws. Both Champions League games ended level in the 2002-03 group stage, the latest a 2-2 in Athens on 22 October 2002. Madrid have never won at AEK's ground.

AEK are 29th in the 36-team table and need points to climb out of the lower reaches. Madrid, fourth on nine points, are looking to close in on the leaders.

Team news

AEK remain without goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha, who is out with a wrist injury, so Alberto Brignoli should continue between the posts. Varga has recovered and could partner Luka Jović in attack.

Răzvan Marin is a doubt in terms of reports: one outlet lists him as suspended, while others include him in their probable XI. The official team sheet will settle it.

For Madrid, Raúl Asencio is still out with a stress fracture and Ferland Mendy is not in the Champions League squad. Vinícius Júnior's status is unclear, as one report has him out after a red card and another says his ban only covers La Liga.

Mourinho said after the Racing game that he would make four or five changes and that Aurélien Tchouaméni would not start. Published team news differs from source to source, so we have not listed a probable XI.

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