Benfica Edge Real Madrid 4-2 As Mourinho's Side Survives To Champions League Playoffs

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Real Madrid lost the chance to secure direct passage to the Champions League last 16 after a 4-2 defeat against Benfica, where goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin scored a stoppage-time header. The result, combined with Sporting CP’s late winner over Athletic Club, means Madrid must navigate the knockout play-off round instead of qualifying automatically.

Benfica needed one more goal to overhaul Marseille on goal difference and stay in the competition. With Madrid reduced to nine players in added time, Trubin met Fredrik Aursnes’ free-kick with a diving header in the 98th minute, sparking chaos inside Estadio da Luz and sealing the final play-off berth for Jose Mourinho’s team.

Earlier, Benfica had threatened first when Thibaut Courtois diverted Gianluca Prestianni’s strike onto the crossbar, before Heorhii Sudakov also hit the frame of the goal. Madrid responded on 30 minutes as Raul Asencio delivered a precise cross and Kylian Mbappe powered in a header, his 12th Champions League goal of this league phase.

Mbappe’s header gave Mbappe the highest scoring tally by any player in a Champions League group or league phase. However, Benfica answered quickly. Andreas Schjelderup nodded in a 36th-minute equaliser from a Vangelis Pavlidis cross, and Pavlidis then converted a penalty right on half-time after Aurelien Tchouameni pulled Nicolas Otamendi inside the box.

After the interval, matters deteriorated for Madrid. Pavlidis slipped a pass to Schjelderup, who drilled beyond Courtois to make it 3-1. Mbappe hit back four minutes later with a first-time finish from Arda Guler’s cutback. Courtois then produced another strong stop to deny Leandro Barreiro, while Trubin blocked Mbappe at the other end.

Madrid’s task became much harder in stoppage time when Asencio and Rodrygo both received red cards. With two extra players, Benfica piled on pressure. Trubin moved forward for a late set-piece and connected decisively, keeping Mourinho’s side in the Champions League. Madrid now await the play-off draw, where possible opponents include Benfica again or Bodo/Glimt.

Trubin’s late header delivered more than qualification. Opta data confirmed Trubin as the first goalkeeper ever to score against Real Madrid in any European competition. The match therefore carried historical weight, adding another twist to Mourinho’s meetings with Madrid and ensuring Benfica’s progress from the group stage play-off race.

Mbappe’s performance still carried major statistical significance. By reaching 12 goals in the league phase and then adding another, Mbappe surpassed Cristiano Ronaldo’s 11 goals from the 2015-16 Champions League group stage. Mbappe’s 13 goals in seven matches this season also matched Ronaldo’s 2013-14 Madrid record and Robert Lewandowski’s 2019-20 Bayern Munich return.

Underlying numbers suggested Benfica merited the result, with 2.99 expected goals compared to Madrid’s 1.5. Mbappe’s prolific run could not outweigh Benfica’s collective effort, which blended clinical finishing with intense late pressure. Mourinho’s side now advance with momentum, while Madrid enter the play-offs after missing automatic qualification in dramatic fashion.