Goalkeeper sends Benfica through, Real Madrid to playoffs
Real Madrid missed out on direct qualification to the Champions League round of 16 and will have to go through the playoffs after a 4-2 defeat to Benfica in Lisbon on Wednesday night in the final match of group stage fixtures.
Norwegian winger Andreas Schjelderup scored twice for the home side in the 36th and 54th minutes, while Greek striker Vangelis Pavelidis added a third from the penalty spot in the fifth minute of first-half stoppage time. For the European champions, French forward Kylian Mbappé scored both goals in the 30th and 58th minutes.
In the eighth minute of second-half stoppage time, Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin ventured forward to join his teammates in attack, desperately seeking a goal to salvage his Portuguese coach José Mourinho's hopes of reaching the playoffs. Trubin's effort proved decisive, as he headed home a dramatic free-kick to give his side a lifeline. Benfica qualified for the playoffs after finishing 24th in their group. Thanks to a goal by Trubin, they edged out Marseille on goal difference (-2 to -3) after both teams finished with nine points.
Had Benfica won 3-2, they would have finished 25th and missed out on the playoffs due to Marseille's superior goal difference. However, their goalkeeper's heroics secured the final qualifying spot and denied the French side a place in the next round.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid, coached by Spaniard Álvaro Arbeloa, will have to go through the two-legged playoffs after failing to qualify directly for the Round of 16. The Spanish side finished the group stage with 15 points, one point behind Manchester City, who finished eighth. Real Madrid were eighth in the standings, despite trailing Benfica, before dropping to ninth due to other results in the final round, where all 18 matches were played simultaneously.
For the second consecutive season, Los Blancos have failed to finish outside the top eight and have not qualified directly for the round of 16. Since last season, the Champions League format has changed, with teams now being grouped into one larger group instead of being divided into eight.