AEK host Real Madrid on 4 November as Real seek points in Athens in the Champions League

Real Madrid need points in Athens

Real Madrid arrived in Athens on Tuesday afternoon, 3 November, with the squad, and José Mourinho held his pre-match press conference the same day. The Real coach said his side needs a win because it has not yet secured direct qualification from the League Phase. He described AEK as very strong at home and said his team must approach the match with full seriousness. Mourinho also cited a figure from Real's Athens record: the club has won only one European match in Athens in eight attempts. The match is due to be played at the Allwyn Arena in Nea Filadelfia on Wednesday, 4 November, with kick-off at 19:45.

Mourinho on the challenge and a death in football

Mourinho spoke about the previous matchday, a come-from-behind win over Roma that he described as positive for morale but not a turning point. He said the team's work is gradually paying off and that the players are getting to know each other better. He praised Federico Valverde as captain, saying he would play in any position the team needs. Mourinho expressed condolences to the family of Jesús de Miguel, whose death he called a painful event that affects everyone in football, and said the moment was also very hard for the other player involved in the incident. He also said he does not like comparisons between the current squad and earlier Real teams, because those players were different.

AEK's build-up and team news

AEK completed its final training session on Tuesday, 3 November, at the Allwyn Arena, where coach Marko Nikolić saw Lazaros Rota and Thomas Strakosha take part fully. Rota had been affected by a viral infection and is expected to be available, likely in the starting lineup, while Strakosha, who has not played for two months, is expected to be with the squad. Joao Mario is absent because he is in hospital with pneumonia. Nikolić said the match will be AEK's 100th game at the new stadium and a considerable test of the team's competitiveness. The sequence of the build-up is shown below.

Nikolić on respect without fear

Nikolić told reporters that AEK should respect Real Madrid but must not fear them. He said playing naively, including trying to play tiki-taka against a side of this level, would not be realistic. He said the team needs adjustments, energy and a fighting approach, and that the atmosphere at the stadium can help. He also pointed to AEK's league title and its run to the Conference League quarter-finals as proof of step-by-step progress. Nikolić added that the squad must stay focused on domestic competitions, because the league is how the club reached Europe.