Olympiacos 3-4 Real Madrid: Mbappé's 'poker' saves the Whites from another embarrassment

Real Madrid took advantage of Olympiacos' defensive errors to secure a hard-fought victory in Greece (3-4) in the fourth matchday of the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 league stage. Kylian Mbappé, with a 'poker', settled the match for the 'merengues', who are in crisis after two consecutive draws in the league and friction between the squad and the coaching staff.

Xabi Alonso opted for an improvised defense due to the absences of Huijsen, Militao, and Rüdiger due to injury. Lunin returned to goal due to gastroenteritis that affected Courtois. Álvaro Carreras and Raúl Asencio were the center-backs, while Alexander-Arnold and Ferland Mendy occupied the flanks.

The Frenchman appeared in the starting XI for the first time since the Copa del Rey final. Tchouaméni also returned to midfield, partnering with Camavinga. Valverde returned to his natural position, as an inside midfielder, accompanying Arda Güler. Vinicius and Mbappé were the attacking references, with the '7' back in the starting XI amidst the 'war' with the club over his contract renewal.

Despite starting at a disadvantage in Piraeus, the Greeks' defensive fragility paved the way for the Whites' victory. Thus, **Madrid reaches 12 points and moves up to 5th place in the general standings**, positioning itself as one of the TOP-8 members at the end of the league phase in January

An unleashed Mbappé came back from Chiquinho's initial goal

Mbappé celebrating his first goal against Olympiacos

Olympiacos opened the scoring in the 8th minute with a spectacular goal from **Chiquinho**. After a good triangular play with **El Kaabi**, the Portuguese player unleashed a precise left-footed shot, impossible for Lunin, taking advantage of the passive marking by the 'merengue' center-backs.

Despite the initial blow, Madrid took control of the ball and found many spaces to attack, especially on the left. **Vinicius** easily outmaneuvered Rodinei, although Chiquinho himself came close to making it 2-0 in the 19th minute with a header that Lunin sent to a corner

Three minutes later, Vini broke through the Greek defense with an outside-of-the-foot pass, perfectly setting up a previously absent Mbappé. The '10' was alone against Tzolakis, who was ultimately beaten by a shot through his legs. Two minutes later, a good one-two between Valverde and Arda Güler allowed the Turk to send a cross to the penalty spot.

There was 'Kiki', once again free between the local center-backs, to score with a header. **The third goal came in the 28th minute**, this time with Camavinga assisting the French goalscorer with a through ball. Olympiacos' defense was a disaster and failed again trying to play the Real Madrid star offside.

In just eight minutes, Mbappé scored a hat-trick to all but seal the match. Vinicius scored the fourth in the 32nd minute, but VAR disallowed the goal for offside at the start of the play. The home team almost pulled one back before halftime with a header from El Kaabi, while Tchouaméni rattled the crossbar with a thunderous shot from outside the box

Taremi scored for Olympiacos, but Mbappé kept scoring

After the break, Mendilibar brought on **Hezze for Dani García**, while Xabi Alonso did the same with **Dani Ceballos for Camavinga**. The Greeks had lost Chiquinho to injury in the first half. In the second half, Pirolo would also go down with physical problems.

The locals livened up in the second half with a goal from Mehdi Taremi. The Iranian, completely alone, headed in a cross from Hezze in the 52nd minute to bring Olympiacos back into the game. Madrid was giving away too many licenses at the back, but the Greeks also struggled to settle in defense.

In the 59th minute, Tchouaméni's long pass allowed Vinicius to get past Retsos and make a pass to the middle, where Mbappé appeared unmarked in front of Tzolakis to seal his 'poker', the first with the 'merengue' jersey.

Olympiacos had Madrid on the ropes in the final stretch

The 2-4 seemed to definitively settle the match, but Olympiacos scored again in the 81st minute. This time it was Ayoub El Kaabi who appeared alone in the center of the box to beat Lunin with a header. The exhibition of Vinicius and Mbappé in attack contrasted with the fragility of the 'Merengue' defense, which by that point no longer had Asensio on the field.

Xabi Alonso brought on Brahim to play as a center-back to go for the fifth, but **the final minutes were a nightmare for the Whites**. Kaabi and Strefezza were inches away from scoring the equalizer, with Madrid relinquishing possession under the Greek onslaught.

Between the missed goals in the first half and the errors of an improvised defense, the 'merengues' almost completed another embarrassment in Greece, where they had never managed to win in the Champions League until this Wednesday. In the next matchday, Madrid will host Manchester City.

Match Report: Olympiacos 3-4 Real Madrid

• Olympiacos FC, 3: Tzolakis; Rodinei (Costinha, min. 72), Retsos, Pirola (Biancone, min. 62), Ortega; Mouzakitis, García (Hezze, min. 46), Podence (Strefezza, min. 72), Chiquinho (Taremi, min. 28), Martins; El Kaabi.
• Real Madrid, 4: Lunin; Trent, Asencio (Brahim, min. 73), Carreras, Mendy; Tchouaméni, Camavinga (Ceballos, min. 46), Valverde; Arda Güler (Bellingham, min. 61), Vinicius (Fran García, min. 90) and Mbappé.
• Goals: 1-0, Chiquinho (min. 8); 1-1, Kylian Mbappé (min. 22); 1-2, Kylian Mbappé (min. 24); 1-3, Kylian Mbappé (min. 28); 2-3, Mehdi Taremi (min. 52); 2-4, Jude Bellingham (min. 59); Ayoub El Kaabi (min. 81)
• Referee: Michael Oliver (England). Booked Eduardo Camavinga and Arda Güler for Real Madrid. Cautioned Francisco Ortega for Olympiacos.
• Stadium: Georgios Karaiskakis in Piraeus (Greece).
• Incidents: match corresponding to matchday 5 of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League.