Real Madrid suffered a significant setback in their UEFA Champions League campaign, missing out on automatic qualification for the Round of 16 following a dramatic 4-2 defeat to SL Benfica. This unexpected loss occurred in their final league stage match, pushing the Spanish giants into the challenging play-off rounds. For Benfica, the hard-fought victory was crucial, as it narrowly secured them a coveted spot in the play-offs, avoiding elimination.
The high-stakes encounter unfolded at the historic Da Luz Stadium in Portugal. Real Madrid, holding the impressive record of 15 UCL titles, initially appeared poised for an automatic qualification spot, having been ranked 8th in the league stage standings prior to the match. Their hopes were buoyed by star forward Kylian Mbappé, who opened the scoring for ‘Los Blancos’ in the 30th minute. The French international further extended Real Madrid’s lead with a second goal, but even his impressive performance could not prevent the team’s eventual collapse. Compounding their difficulties, Real Madrid also saw two of their players receive red cards during the intense game.
Under the shrewd management of former Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho, Benfica mounted a remarkable comeback. The Portuguese side showcased resilience, with Andreas Schjelderup netting two crucial goals. Vengelis Pavlidis then successfully converted a penalty kick, leveling the score. The decisive fourth goal, a dramatic moment that turned the tide, came late in the match from an unlikely source – goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin. This pivotal strike saved Benfica from exiting the competition and propelled them into the play-offs.
This crucial victory allowed Benfica to claim 24th place in the overall league stage standings, securing the final position that grants access to the knockout rounds. Despite earning only 9 points from their 8 league stage matches, Benfica managed to edge out Olympique de Marseille, who also finished with 9 points but were placed 25th due to a single-goal difference in goal aggregate.
In the post-match press conference, Jose Mourinho expressed immense satisfaction and praised his team’s performance, particularly highlighting goalkeeper Trubin’s historic late goal. “For Benfica, it is an incredible achievement to defeat a strong team like Real Madrid,” Mourinho stated. “The two clubs haven’t met for many years, but tonight it was a great honor for Benfica and a very special moment for the players. I knew we weren’t safe at 3-2, but we were fortunate to get a late penalty, and our 2-meter tall goalkeeper, Trubin, scored – a truly historical and amazing goal.”
Conversely, Real Madrid manager Alvaro Arbeloa conveyed his profound disappointment, attributing the missed automatic qualification to numerous errors made by his team against the formidable Portuguese side. The Spanish coach urged his players to regain their focus and address deficiencies in ball control and recovery ahead of their play-off challenge.
This marks the second time Real Madrid has been required to navigate the play-off rounds to secure a spot in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 since the competition’s format was reformed to include a single league stage. In the previous season, Real Madrid successfully overcame a strong English opponent, Manchester City, in the play-offs to advance to the last 16.
The draw for the UEFA Champions League 2025-26 play-off rounds, which will determine the matchups for teams ranked 9th through 24th, is scheduled for January 30, 2026. Meanwhile, eight elite teams have already secured their automatic berths in the Round of 16, including Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Barcelona, Chelsea, Sporting, and Manchester City.
