Benfica 4-2 Real Madrid: Los Blancos drop to playoff spots after loss in Portugal
A last-minute header from Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin sealed the victory over Real Madrid and ensured that Jose Mourinho’s side snuck into the Champions League playoffs at the death.
Madrid started brightly and Kylian Mbappe hit the opener at the half hour, but two goals from Andreas Schjelderup and Vangelis Pavlidis ensured it was the Portuguese side heading into the break in the lead.
Matters worsened on the night for Madrid after Schjelderup scored his second and his side’s third nine minutes into the second period, meaning that despite Mbappe’s second goal Madrid remained on the back foot.
In the Madrid had two men sent off, Raul Asencio and then Rodrygo getting dismissed within five minutes of each other in stoppage time. It was always going to be a tall order for Madrid to avoid a loss, but brave Benfica still needed to win by at least two goals if they were to make it past Marseille and Pafos into the first 24.
Then came Trubin’s heroic moment, heading over to the opposition box and sending a thumping header past Thibaut Courtois to spark ecstatic scenes at the Estadio da Luz.
Defeat in Portugal means that Madrid finish in ninth place, outside the eight spots for automatic qualification to the last 16, and will need to play the double-header playoffs next month.
