Mbappé Mania in Athens: Real Madrid's four-goal masterclass seals a 4-3 victory

Madrid's dramatic comeback in Athens

In a pulsating UEFA Champions League group-stage clash, Real Madrid defeated Olympiakos 4-3 at the Karaiskakis Stadium in Athens. Kylian Mbappé spearheaded the turnaround, scoring four times in the 22nd, 24th, 29th, and 59th minutes to swing the momentum in Madrid's favor.

Olympiakos opened the scoring with a superb strike from a Greek forward in the 8th minute and added two more through Mehdi Tarimi (52') and Ayoub El Kaabi (81'), turning the tie into a dramatic back-and-forth.

Madrid's surge began when a Camavinga pass released Mbappé for the equalizer, then a rapid sequence saw Madrid take the lead with two quick goals—Mbappé struck again in the 29th minute to complete a first-half hat-trick, sending Madrid into a 3-1 advantage as the clock neared halftime. A disputed offside call later in the first half kept the scoreline close heading into the break.

The second half brought more drama. Tarimi pulled a goal back for Olympiakos in the 52nd minute to make it 3-2, and Mbappé steadied Madrid's grip with his fourth in the 59th minute, pushing the lead to 4-2. Ayoub El Kaabi then headed in at 81' to set up a frantic finale at 4-3, but Madrid held firm to seal the win.

Post-match, Mbappé spoke to Movistar Plus about the significance of the result: the victory was crucial as Madrid push to return to the knockout stage. “We needed to win; we had three games without a win,” he said. “We must keep going, improve where needed, and stay united.”

Madrid finished the night with 12 points in the group and a renewed sense of belief, while Olympiakos, on two points, remain in the mix but face a tougher path to qualification. The Greek side's goal of breaking Madrid’s form in Athens finally met a stubborn resistance from a Madrid attack that refused to quit.

In a broader sense, the match delivered a reminder that the Champions League can be a furnace for both teams’ ambitions—Madrid’s lethal finishing and Olympiakos’s resilience producing a night to remember. And yes, Mbappé’s highlight reel will be replayed more than a few times in the locker room and on social media for weeks to come.

Punchline time: Mbappé turned Athens into a scoring studio, and the net apparently filed a complaint for too much exposure. Another gem: Madrid’s defense may be a work in progress, but when Mbappé is around, it’s basically a “defense? what defense?” moment. Now go enjoy a well-deserved laugh—after all, even great teams need a little levity before they chase big dreams.