Valverde rescues Real as Liverpool let lead slip twice to lose at Fenerbahce

Nov 4 - Federico Valverde struck in stoppage time to give Real Madrid a dramatic 3-2 Champions League victory at AEK Athens on Wednesday, while Liverpool surrendered the lead twice in a 3-2 defeat at Fenerbahce.

Real twice came from behind to maintain their perfect start and sit second on 12 points from four matches, behind Paris St Germain on goal difference.

AEK threatened from the outset and Aboubakary Koita rewarded their early pressure in the 12th minute, cutting inside and firing into the top corner from just inside the box.

Thibaut Courtois denied Luka Jovic before Jude Bellingham, who had an effort ruled out for offside in the 27th minute, equalised five minutes later with a deft backheel from Marc Cucurella's low cross.

Koita's driving run and pass set up Stavros Pilios to restore AEK's lead in the 75th minute, his low shot going through Courtois' legs.

Kylian Mbappe tapped in Denzel Dumfries' cross three minutes later before Valverde delivered the winner, leaving AEK 30th on three points.

LIVERPOOL'S WINNING START ENDS

Liverpool arrived in Istanbul with three wins from three but Vedat Muriqi's 79th-minute winner ended that run and earned Fenerbahce their first victory of the campaign.

Trey Nyoni put the visitors ahead in the 25th minute, only for Mason Greenwood to equalise four minutes later.

Alexander Isak restored Liverpool's advantage in the 69th minute, but Archie Brown levelled in the 73rd before Muriqi completed the turnaround.

Liverpool dropped to fifth with nine points, while Fenerbahce climbed to 19th on five. REUTERS