José Mourinho condemned his former employers to a ninth-placed finish in the league phase as his Benfica side stunned Real Madrid 4-2 on Wednesday. A sensational 98th-minute header by goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin secured the victory, keeping the Portuguese side alive in the competition and forcing the record 15-time winners into a two-legged knockout play-off.
A third defeat of the campaign proved costly for Madrid, as wins for Barcelona, Chelsea, and Manchester City bumped them out of the automatic qualification spots. New coach Álvaro Arbeloa was candid about the disappointment, admitting to Movistar that his squad was “far from the level” required and has significant room for improvement.
Despite a Kylian Mbappé brace, which took his Champions League tally to 12 goals this term, Madrid were undone by their own profligacy and over-confidence. Andreas Schjelderup netted twice for the hosts, while Vangelis Pavlidis converted a crucial penalty to keep the pressure on the Spanish giants throughout a frantic night in Lisbon.
For Mourinho, it was a storied first victory against his old club since his departure in 2013. He hailed the “incredible prestige” of the result, though he remained humble about Benfica’s long-term prospects, noting that while Madrid and Inter can win the trophy, his side can only aim to do “something incredible.”
Friday’s draw will reveal if the “Special One” faces a swift rematch against Madrid or a date with another former club, Inter Milan. Regardless of the opponent, Real Madrid now faces an unwanted and high-stakes February schedule to keep their European dreams alive.
