Olympiacos Piraeus vs Real Madrid delivered one of the most unforgettable nights of the season. In the Matchday 5 fixture of the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 group stage, Kylian Mbappé exploded with a four-goal “Poker,” including a hat-trick in just 6 minutes and 42 seconds. His brilliance flipped the match on its head, lifting Real Madrid from a 0–1 deficit to a thrilling 4–3 victory in Athens.
Match context
Olympiacos entered the game with strong momentum and a roaring home crowd behind them, looking to secure qualification with a top-of-the-table finish. Real Madrid, meanwhile, were under pressure to collect maximum points and stabilize their campaign.
The match opened with the Greek champions striking first, unsettling Madrid’s defensive shape and forcing Carlo Ancelotti’s side into uncomfortable transitions. For a moment, it looked like another hostile Greek night would claim a European giant—until Mbappé stepped in.
Mbappé’s eruption: a 6:42 hat-trick
The game flipped rapidly between the 22nd and 29th minute.
Mbappé equalized from a sharp diagonal run, then added a second less than two minutes later. The third sealed what would go down as the second-fastest hat-trick in Champions League history.
Each finish was a demonstration of elite instinct: timing his runs perfectly, exploiting the defensive line, and striking with ruthless precision. Olympiacos’ defense simply had no answer. In less than seven minutes, Real Madrid went from trailing to leading—carried entirely by the No. 7.
The decisive fourth goal
Olympiacos responded bravely, clawing their way back to 3–3 early in the second half. The match teetered on chaos, until Mbappé cut through once more. In the 60th minute, he received space inside the box and fired a low shot across the keeper.
It was his fourth goal of the night—completing the Poker and restoring Real’s advantage. The stadium fell silent, and Madrid’s bench erupted. It wasn’t just a great performance; it was domination.
Notable match facts
• Final score: Olympiacos 3 – 4 Real Madrid
• Mbappé’s goals: 22’, 24’, 29’, 60’
• Hat-trick time: 6 minutes 42 seconds (2nd fastest in UCL history)
• Real Madrid trailed 0–1 before Mbappé’s blitz
• Competition: UEFA Champions League 2025/26 – Group Stage, Matchday 5
What this performance means
The result gave Real Madrid firm control of their Champions League group and restored belief in the squad’s attacking ceiling. More importantly, it marked a personal statement from Mbappé—his first true “Galáctico” moment in a Madrid shirt.
On a night where Real struggled for structure, Mbappé carried the team on his back. It was an individual show of force that reminded Europe why the club pushed so hard to sign him.
Conclusion
Mbappé’s Poker in Athens was more than a highlight reel—it was proof of how he can single-handedly dictate the outcome of a Champions League match. The season still has a long road ahead, but this performance already stands as one of the defining moments of the 2025/26 campaign. If Mbappé maintains this form, there may be few obstacles between Real Madrid and another deep European run.
