Madrid escape again, Liverpool stunned late

AP:

Real Madrid produced another late comeback in the Champions League as Federico Valverde struck in stoppage time to secure a 3-2 win over AEK Athens yesterday.

Liverpool, meanwhile, suffered a surprise 3-2 defeat to Fenerbahce, ending their 100 per cent start to this season’s competition.

Madrid’s perfect record was also under threat in Greece after they twice fell behind before Valverde fired home from long range in the 92nd minute at Allwyn Arena.

The Spanish giants had needed a late rally to beat Roma 4-3 last month, scoring three goals in the final 10 minutes, including a 90th-minute winner from Antonio Rudiger.

AEK took the lead through Aboubakary Koita in the first half before Jude Bellingham equalised with a backheel finish.

Stavros Pilios restored the home side’s advantage in the 75th minute, but Kylian Mbappé levelled three minutes later.

Mbappé then rattled the crossbar before Valverde’s dramatic winner.

“We won the first game in the last minute. Of course, I prefer to win more comfortably, but these games in the final minutes — only we can win them,” Madrid coach Jose Mourinho told broadcaster Movistar.

“We — without making me sound like I’m blowing my own trumpet — we have them in the right place when it comes to doing that. And if we do it, it’s because we all feel that we can. The players have courage. I’m very lucky to have players of this quality. Very lucky.”

Madrid’s Galacticos deliver

On a night when Bellingham became the youngest player to make 60 Champions League appearances, the England midfielder scored with a brilliant flicked finish and was named Player of the Match.

Bellingham, who was also the youngest player to reach 50 appearances in the competition, achieved his latest milestone at the age of 23 years, 128 days, surpassing former Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas.

He scored in the 32nd minute by connecting with Marc Cucurella’s cross and flicking a first-time effort past goalkeeper Alberto Brignoli.

“It was just instinct, really,” Bellingham said. “I found myself in a good position and managed to do the only thing that came naturally in that position. It was a nice one.”

Mbappé, meanwhile, took his tally to 16 goals in 15 appearances this season and extended his Champions League scoring streak to six consecutive matches.

Liverpool stunned by Fenerbahce

The story was very different for Liverpool in Istanbul, as they twice surrendered the lead before suffering their first defeat of this season’s Champions League campaign.

Trey Nyoni and Alexander Isak put the Merseyside club ahead in each half, but former Manchester United striker Mason Greenwood and Archie Brown responded for Fenerbahce on both occasions.

Vedat Muriqi struck the winner in the 89th minute as Liverpool slumped to back-to-back defeats in all competitions following Sunday’s Premier League loss to Arsenal.

“The main reason I can find for why we lost this game is, we conceded from three set pieces,” Liverpool coach Andoni Iraola said. “We knew it was one of the strengths of Fenerbahce. We concede from a free kick, a corner, and even from the long throw at the end. It’s frustration because it’s a difficult place to come here and play.”