Real Madrid will look to maintain their 100% record in the Champions League league phase when they visit AEK Athens on Wednesday evening.
The Merengues are fourth in the competition’s overall table with nine points from three matches, while AEK Athens are 29th on three points.
AEK began with a 1-0 win over LASK Linz but have since suffered defeats by Shakhtar Donetsk and Manchester City. They lost 3-1 on 14 October before a 5-1 home defeat by Manchester City on 20 October.
Marko Nikolic’s side have lost four of their past five matches in all competitions, including their two most recent league games against PAOK and Panathinaikos.
Despite their poor form, AEK have lost only once in four previous meetings with Real Madrid. Their first two encounters came in the 1985 UEFA Cup, when AEK won the first leg 1-0 before Real Madrid responded with a 5-0 victory in the return fixture.
The teams then drew both of their Champions League group-stage matches in 2002-03, including a 3-3 draw in Athens. AEK therefore remain unbeaten at home against Real Madrid.
Real Madrid have won only one of their past eight European away games against Greek clubs, drawing five of those matches.
Jose Mourinho’s team arrive in stronger form, having won their past six games in all competitions. They responded to a 2-1 defeat by Atletico de Madrid in the Madrid derby before the last international break with a 3-0 victory over Racing Santander in La Liga and a 4-1 Champions League win against RB Leipzig.
Their remaining league-phase fixtures are against PSV Eindhoven, Arsenal, LASK Linz and Shakhtar Donetsk.
AEK’s Champions League form is NVVDD, while their overall record is VDDVDD. Real Madrid’s corresponding records are VVV and VVVVVV.
Thomas Strakosha is unavailable for the hosts with a hand injury. Joao Mario and Lazaros Rota, both suffering from illness, will be assessed. Former Real Madrid striker Luka Jovic is expected to lead the attack, having scored seven goals in 15 appearances this season, with Barnabas Varga also likely to start after scoring nine times in 13 games.
Vinicius Junior is available for Real Madrid and is expected to start on the left while suspended in La Liga. Federico Valverde has returned to training after a hamstring problem and could be included in the squad. Rodrygo and Raul Asencio are out with knee and leg injuries respectively.
Yan Diomande could start on the right, with Arda Guler moving into midfield. Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe are expected to operate further forward.
Our selections are Real Madrid to win and fewer than 4.5 goals at 1.77, Real Madrid to score a penalty at 4.10, and Yan Diomande to be decisive at 1.75.
Probable teams
AEK Athens: Brignoli; Rota, Moukoudi, Relvas, Pilo; Majer, Arriaga, Marin, Mario; Jovic, Varga.
Real Madrid: Courtois; Dumfries, Rudiger, Huijsen, Carreras; Tchouameni, Guler; Diomande, Bellingham, Vinicius; Mbappe.
Real Madrid’s form suggests they should take all three points against an AEK Athens side struggling for consistency.