Arda Guler absence exposes Real Madrid’s attacking imbalance in AEK Athens win

Real Madrid’s late victory over AEK Athens failed to disguise the uncertainty in their performance, with Arda Guler’s absence highlighting the team’s lack of balance and creativity in attack.

Guler was rested by Jose Mourinho, who appeared to prioritise the meeting with Valencia at Mestalla. Although Real Madrid ultimately secured the result, they lacked the Turkish midfielder’s vision, passing and ability to identify space, leaving them short of ideas when building attacks.

The team’s problems cannot simply be attributed to Vinicius Junior returning to the starting XI, according to AS. The Brazilian endured a difficult game and was below his best, but the wider issue was Mourinho’s decision to sacrifice an extra midfielder in order to field another winger.

Real Madrid pay for tactical gamble

Without Guler, Real Madrid relied more heavily on power and forward momentum than on controlled movement and carefully constructed passing. The player has become increasingly important because of his understanding of the game, his ability to improve the attacking output of those around him and the balance he provides when the team has possession.

His absence was particularly evident as AEK Athens applied pressure and performed better than expected. Aboubakari Koita stood out for his confident attacking transitions and technical quality, while Jasinovic and Maier made an early impression. Real Madrid, meanwhile, struggled when attempting to recover their defensive shape, leaving gaps between the lines.

Eduardo Camavinga improved as the match progressed, but he could not provide the same security as Aurelien Tchouameni in the holding role. Camavinga’s inclination to roam and his occasional distance from the tactical demands of the position affected the team’s overall structure.

Real Madrid began to regain control as Jude Bellingham became more influential. The England midfielder repeatedly moved into central areas and then drifted wide when required, taking responsibility for driving the side forward. His growing influence helped Real Madrid apply greater pressure, although their attacks still lacked consistency and clarity.

Limited attacking options

Vinicius was unable to find the space needed to trouble AEK Athens’ defenders, while Kylian Mbappe had little impact away from the final phase of attacks. Diomande was also less threatening when operating on the right.

The clearest route forward came from the flanks. Denzel Dumfries and Marc Cucurella repeatedly found opportunities in areas AEK Athens appeared vulnerable, prompting Mourinho to instruct his players to target the wide channels.

AEK Athens took the lead twice, but Real Madrid continued to pursue the game and refused to settle for a draw. Their eventual win owed more to persistence and determination than to a clear superiority in ideas or technical execution.

Federico Valverde was among those who threatened to decide the contest late on, while Dumfries’ runs on the right were crucial in the build-up to the 2-2 equaliser. He used an excellent pass from Bellingham to run beyond Koita before supplying Mbappe.

Real Madrid face Valencia in La Liga on 07 November 2026, while AEK Athens play Levadiakos in the Greek Super League on 08 November 2026.