In one of the most dramatic nights in Champions League history, José Mourinho returned to haunt his former club as Benfica defeated Real Madrid 4-2 at the Estádio da Luz, sending the Spanish giants tumbling from 3rd place to 9th in the final standings. The match, played on January 28, 2026, will be remembered for Mourinho's tactical brilliance, two Real Madrid red cards, and an extraordinary 98th-minute header from goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin that secured Benfica's playoff qualification.
The Special One's Tactical Masterclass
Mourinho, who took charge of Benfica in September 2025 after replacing Bruno Lage, deployed his trademark 4-2-3-1 formation built on structure, compactness, and controlled pressing. Despite Real Madrid dominating possession with 67.3%, Benfica's disciplined defensive shape limited Los Blancos to just 6 shots on goal while creating 12 of their own through devastating counterattacks.
The Portuguese tactician positioned Fredrik Aursnes and Leandro Barreiro as the midfield shield, allowing the front four of Gianluca Prestianni, Georgiy Sudakov, Andreas Schjelderup, and Vangelis Pavlidis to launch rapid transitions. It was classic Mourinho: absorb pressure, stay compact, and strike with clinical precision on the break.
Match Timeline: A Night of Drama
30' - Mbappé Opens Scoring (1-0 Real Madrid)
After withstanding early Benfica pressure where Thibaut Courtois made several crucial saves, Real Madrid broke the deadlock. Raúl Asencio delivered a delightful cross and Kylian Mbappé headed home. At this moment, Real Madrid sat comfortably in 3rd place.
36' - Schjelderup Equalizes (1-1)
Benfica's response was swift. Andreas Schjelderup met a cross and directed his header through Courtois' legs. The goalkeeper later admitted the equalizer was a bit of my fault. Real Madrid's position began to wobble.
45+5' - Pavlidis Penalty (2-1 Benfica)
Just before halftime, Aurélien Tchouameni shoved his man inside the box. Referee awarded a penalty and Vangelis Pavlidis calmly side-footed down the middle. Real Madrid dropped to 5th in the live standings as other results came in.
54' - Schjelderup's Second (3-1 Benfica)
The Norwegian winger cut inside past Raúl Asencio and tucked a shot in at the near post. Real Madrid now sat outside the top 8, with Manchester City, Chelsea, and Sporting CP all surging ahead on other pitches.
58' - Mbappé Responds (3-2 Benfica)
The Frenchman pulled one back with his 12th Champions League goal of the season, setting a new record for most goals in a single league phase, surpassing Cristiano Ronaldo's previous mark. Hope flickered briefly for Los Blancos.
75' - Asencio Red Card
Disaster struck when Raúl Asencio received a second yellow for a reckless challenge. Real Madrid reduced to 10 men, their hopes of salvaging a top-8 finish fading rapidly.
84' - Rodrygo Sent Off
The situation worsened when Rodrygo received two quick yellow cards for dissent, leaving Real Madrid with just 9 players on the pitch. The Spanish giants were in complete disarray.
98' - Trubin's Historic Header (4-2 Benfica)
In the most extraordinary moment of the evening, Benfica needed one more goal to overtake Marseille on goal difference. From the bench, Mourinho instructed goalkeeper Trubin to go up for a corner. Fredrik Aursnes delivered a precise cross, and the Ukrainian keeper rose highest to power a header into the net. The stadium erupted as Benfica secured their playoff spot in the most dramatic fashion imaginable.
Starting Lineups
Benfica (4-2-3-1): Trubin; Dedic, Araújo, Otamendi, Dahl; Barreiro, Aursnes; Prestianni, Sudakov, Schjelderup; Pavlidis
Real Madrid (4-3-3): Courtois; Valverde, Asencio, Huijsen, Carreras; Tchouameni, Güler, Bellingham; Mastantuono, Mbappé, Vinícius Jr.
Complete Champions League Final Standings
The result had massive implications for the final table. Here are the complete standings after Matchday 8:
Direct Round of 16 (1-8): 1. Arsenal (24 pts) | 2. Bayern Munich (21) | 3. Liverpool (18) | 4. Tottenham (17) | 5. Barcelona (16) | 6. Chelsea (16) | 7. Sporting CP (16) | 8. Manchester City (16)
Knockout Playoffs (9-24): 9. Real Madrid (15) | 10. Inter Milan (15) | 11. PSG (14) | 12. Newcastle (14) | 13. Juventus (13) | 14. Atlético Madrid (13) | 15. Atalanta (13) | 16. Bayer Leverkusen (12) | 17. Borussia Dortmund (11) | 18. Olympiacos (11) | 19. Club Brugge (10) | 20. Galatasaray (10) | 21. AS Monaco (10) | 22. FK Qarabag (10) | 23. Bodø/Glimt (9) | 24. Benfica (9)
Eliminated (25-36): 25. Marseille (9) | 26. Pafos (9) | 27. Union SG (9) | 28. PSV Eindhoven (8) | 29. Athletic Club (8) | 30. Napoli (8) | 31. FC København (8) | 32. Ajax (6) | 33. Eintracht Frankfurt (4) | 34. Slavia Prague (3) | 35. Villarreal (1) | 36. Kairat Almaty (1)
What This Means for Real Madrid
Los Blancos will now face a two-legged playoff in February to reach the Round of 16. As the 9th-placed team, they are seeded and will face either Bodø/Glimt (23rd) or Benfica (24th) - meaning a potential rematch with Mourinho's men awaits. The playoff draw takes place on January 30, 2026.
Key Statistics
- Possession: Real Madrid 67.3% - 32.7% Benfica
- Shots on Target: Real Madrid 6 - 12 Benfica
- Mbappé's Record: 12 goals in league phase - new single-season record
- Red Cards: Asencio (75'), Rodrygo (84')
- Trubin's Goal: First goalkeeper to score in Champions League knockout qualification decider
Comments