Real Madrid had all but secured direct qualification to the Round of 16 heading into the final matchday of the UEFA Champions League league phase. However, Benfica spoiled the party by defeating them 4-2, meaning Los Blancos must now compete in the knockout phase play-offs.
The match started on the right foot for the Spaniards when Kylian Mbappe scored the opening goal in the 30th minute, which seemingly paved the way for Real Madrid‘s direct advancement. Nevertheless, Andreas Schjelderup equalized minutes later, followed by a Vangelis Pavlidis penalty that put Benfica up 2-1 heading into the halftime break.
In the second half, Real Madrid came out searching for the equalizer, but Schjelderup surprisingly netted his second goal to extend Benfica‘s lead. Adding drama to the story, Mbappe scored again just two minutes later to narrow the deficit, a result that—at that moment—would have seen Benfica eliminated from the competition.
The match reached a cinematic conclusion that no one could have imagined. After the referee sent off both Raúl Asencio and Rodrygo, Benfica went in search of the goal that would grant them qualification to the knockout phase play-offs.
They would achieve it through the most unexpected player: goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin. The Ukrainian scored the 4-2 goal on the final play of the match from a cross, clinching a historic and miraculous qualification for his team.
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Benfica defeated 4-2 Real Madrid to earn a spot in the knockout phase play-offs and you lived every moment of this game with Bolavip.
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90'+7- GOOOOOAAAAL OF BENFICA!!!! (4-2)
Trubin extends the lead for Benfica and the game is over!!!!
The referee has awarded a penalty for Benfica after a foul from Tchouameni to Otamendi.
45'+3- Yellow card if Real Madrid (1-1)
Raul Asencio received a yellow card.
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42'- Another save by Courtois! (1-1)
Amar Dedic found space for a strike, but his effort lacked the power to beat Courtois.
40'- What a miss by Barreiro! (1-1)
Leandro Barreiro had a massive chance to put the hosts ahead, but his header flashed agonizingly wide of the post. Real Madrid survive another close call as the match remains deadlocked.
36'- GOOOOAAAAL OF BENFICA!! (1-1)
Schjelderup scores the equalizer after a great assist by Pavlidis!
Gianluca Prestianni unleashed a powerful strike from distance, but Thibaut Courtois produced a spectacular diving save to tip the ball around the post for a corner.
Following a VAR review, referee Massa has overturned his initial decision and awarded a foul in favor of Real Madrid.
15'- Penalty for Benfica! (0-0)
Davide Massa has awarded a penalty for Benfica after Bellingham's foul against Prestianni.
10'- Yellow card in Benfica (0-0)
Leandro Barreiro received a yellow card.
6'- What a miss by Benfica! (0-0)
A chaotic sequence almost put the hosts ahead at the Estádio da Luz. Alvaro Carreras’ clearance ricocheted off Tomas Araujo, sending the ball goalward and nearly catching Real Madrid off guard.
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2'- First yellow card of the game (0-0)
Aurelien Tchouameni from Real Madrid received a yellow card.
GAME ON!
The game between Benfica and Real Madrid is underway!
Players are on the pitch!
Players from both teams are on the pitch. Everything is ready for the start of the match!
Real Madrid returns to Estadio da Luz
Real Madrid return to the Estádio da Luz for the first time in over 11 years. This venue holds iconic memories for Los Blancos, as it was the stage where they captured their historic tenth Champions League title following a 4-1 extra-time victory over Atletico Madrid.
Both teams doing warm up activities
Players for both sides have taken the field for warmups at Estadio da Luz!
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Two different pictures for both teams
While Real Madrid stand on the verge of securing direct qualification to the Round of 16, Benfica require what would be considered a sporting miracle to claim a spot in the knockout phase playoffs.
Jose Mourinho’s side must secure a victory and hope for favorable results from other fixtures to advance; meanwhile, even a draw could be enough to grant the visitors their direct ticket to the next round.
Benfica lineup confirmed!
This is Benfica starting XI for today's clash: Trubin; Dedic, Otamendi, Tomás Araújo, Dahl; Barreiro, Schjelderup; Prestianni, Sudakov, Aursnes; Pavlidis.
This will be Real Madrid starting lineup for today: Thibaut Courtois; Federico Valverde, Raul Asencio, Dean Huijsen, Alvaro Carreras; Arda Guler, Aurelien Tchouameni, Jude Bellingham; Franco Mastantuono, Vinicius Jr.; Kylian Mbappe.
Italian referee Davide Massa has been appointed to officiate the clash between Benfica and Real Madrid. He will be joined on the field by Filippo Meli and Stefano Alassio, who are set to serve as the assistant referees.
Full officiating team:
Referee: Davide Massa (ITA)
Assistant Referee 1: Filippo Meli (ITA)
Assistant Referee 2: Stefano Alassio (ITA)
Fourth official: Luca Pairetto (ITA)
VAR: Marco Di Bello (ITA)
Kickoff time and where to watch
Benfica vs Real Madrid will get underway at the Estadio da Luz at 3:00 PM (ET).
Gianni Taina is a bilingual journalist, fluent in English and Spanish, with a specialization in soccer, NBA, and tennis. He began his professional career in 2020 with Mundo Deportivo US, where he first established himself as a writer. Throughout his career, Gianni has covered major sports events such as the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, the NBA Finals, and Grand Slam tournaments like the French Open. His ability to report on real-time events and perform well under pressure has made him a valuable member of a top-tier team of journalists. In 2024, he joined Bolavip US, bringing his expertise in soccer, NBA, and tennis to deliver original content while providing live coverage of important events.
