REAL Madrid will face a Champions League knockout play-off after a 4-2 defeat to Jose Mourinho’s Benfica condemned them to a ninth-placed finish in the league phase.
The result, coupled with wins for Barcelona, Chelsea, Sporting Lisbon and Manchester City, means Madrid missed automatic qualification for the last 16.
New Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa admitted his side fell short of the required level. “We knew where we were coming from, what we were coming into, how difficult it would be, and obviously it got the better of us,” Arbeloa told Movistar.
“I think we were far from the level we need to show. I’ve said it these past few days: we’ve got a lot to improve.”
Benfica snatched the final qualification spot in dramatic fashion with a 98th-minute headed winner from goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin.
The goal sent Benfica through on goal difference and kept them alive in the competition.
“I think it was deserved, really deserved… for Benfica it’s an incredible prestige to beat Real Madrid,” said Mourinho, who coached Madrid between 2010 and 2013.
Kylian Mbappe netted a brace for Madrid, taking his Champions League tally this season to 12 goals.
Andreas Schjelderup scored twice for the hosts, with Vangelis Pavlidis converting a first-half penalty.
Benfica were the livelier side early on and thought they had a penalty after 15 minutes, but the decision was overturned following a VAR review.
Madrid took the lead against the run of play on the half-hour through Mbappe’s clinical back-post header.
Benfica responded quickly, equalising six minutes later through Schjelderup’s header after a swift counter-attack.
Pavlidis then put the hosts ahead from the penalty spot in first-half stoppage time after Aurelien Tchouameni was penalised for a shirt pull.
Schjelderup extended Benfica’s lead early in the second half with a fine finish after cutting inside on the edge of the box.
Mbappe pulled a goal back for Madrid just two minutes later, firing home from 15 yards after a neat team move.
The match turned further in Benfica’s favour as Madrid finished with nine men after late red cards for Raul Asencio and Rodrygo Goes.
With results elsewhere going against them, Benfica looked set to be eliminated until Trubin’s extraordinary late intervention from a free-kick.
“We were lucky to get a set-piece where Trubin, at two metres tall, goes up there and scores a fantastic goal, a historic goal,” Mourinho said.
Friday’s draw will determine if Benfica face a rematch against Madrid or 10th-placed Inter Milan in the play-off round.
