Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho 'at loss for words' after Jude Bellingham magic against AEK Athens in UEFA Champions League

Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho hailed the performance of Jude Bellingham in his side's dramatic 3-2 victory over AEK Athens in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday, saying he was "at a loss for words" after the midfielder scored a delicate backheel.

Highlights: Thunderous Valverde strike seals stoppage-time win for Madrid

Video credit: TNT Sports

Bellingham's moment of magic levelled the scores after Aboubakary Koita's early strike had put the home side ahead.

Stavros Pilo gave AEK the lead once again in the 75th minute, only for Kylian Mbappe to equalise four minutes later.

And just as it looked like Real might have to head back to Spain with a point, a brilliant long-range effort from Federico Valverde in the 92nd minute secured all three points for Mourinho's side in dramatic fashion.

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Speaking in his press conference after the game, the Portuguese was full of praise for the England international.

"He's a unique player. There's no other midfielder in the world like him, so complete in every aspect," Mourinho said.

"I'm at a loss for words, because for me he's absolutely extraordinary. And even when he's not having a good day, he always delivers hard work, leadership, ambition, quality, attacking runs, goals.

"He's an extraordinary player. I repeat, I'm very lucky to have this squad."

The win continues Real's perfect start to the league phase, with four wins from four games. And Mourinho praised the mentality of his side to keep battling right until the final whistle.

"When the score was 2-2, we didn't accept it," he said. "That would always be an acceptable result, because it would have put us in with 10 points, but we wanted more, we took risks, and we got the points that now qualify us for the play-offs.

"Now it's about getting the points we need to avoid having to play in the play-offs."

Bellingham's 'ridiculous' backheel goal

Bellingham is no stranger to making headlines, and his performance in the first half against AEK Athens was more of the same.

By starting the game, Bellingham made his 60th Champions League appearance, becoming the youngest player to reach that mark in the competition's history at the age of 23.

And his fingerprints were all over the game from the early stages.

Midway through the opening half, he looked to have drawn Real level with a deft backheeled finish inside the box, only to see the assistant referee's flag raised for offside.

"I'm not so sure. That's tight," TNT Sports pundit Robbie Savage said on commentary. "Bellingham with a touch, maybe the defender stepped out just in time. Maybe just."

A lengthy check from the video assistant referee confirmed the decision. But it proved to be a mere warm-up for Bellingham.

Just minutes later, Bellingham showed deftness and precision as he attempted a similar finish - backheeling a powerful Marc Cucurella cross into the far corner - and this time, he was not to be denied.

"That is ridiculous. What a goal," Savage gushed. "The build-up was class. They created overloads, the weight of the pass.

"That is an incredible finish. The weight of the cross has allowed him to do that, it let it almost just hit his foot, the backheel. It's a brilliant, brilliant goal. Wow. Jude Bellingham, what a player.

"Bellingham there, because of the weight of the cross and the power on the cross, he could just use the momentum of the ball, keep your ankle strong and just guide it in.

"He didn't have to put too much into it but his technique there was outstanding."

Bellingham equalises for Madrid with 'ridiculous' backheel finish

Video credit: TNT Sports

The goal was Bellingham's first in this season's Champions League, and comes days after he scored his fourth league goal of the campaign in Real's 3-0 victory over Racing Santander.

It was not just in the attacking sphere in which Bellingham was having an impact. Savage highlighted his defensive work in the heart of Real's midfield.

"Everybody talks about how good [the Real players] are, the skill, but you watch in this game, Jude Bellingham has probably won the most second balls of anyone on this pitch," the Peterborough United manager explained.

"Second balls are so important. You can have the best players on the pitch but you need the desire because second balls are a massive part of the game. We're talking about some of the best players in the world and they're winning second balls."

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