Benfica produced one of the most dramatic results of the UEFA Champions League group stage on Wednesday, defeating Real Madrid 4–2 at the Estádio da Luz in Lisbon and clinching a playoff place in the competition’s knockout phase. Real Madrid looked in command early after Kylian Mbappé opened the scoring in the 30th minute with a well-taken strike. However, Benfica responded before halftime through Andreas Schjelderup, who headed home to level the tie and reignite the home crowd.
In a match reported byESPN, just before the break, Benfica were awarded a penalty and Vangelis Pavlidis confidently converted to give the Portuguese side a 2–1 lead at the interval. Benfica extended their advantage in the 54th minute when Schjelderup added his second of the match with a composed finish, putting Real Madrid on the back foot. Mbappé struck again in the 58th minute, reducing the deficit to 3–2 and briefly giving Real Madrid hope of a comeback.
However, in an extraordinary finale, keeper Anatoliy Trubin ventured forward in stoppage time and scored with a header in the 98th minute, sealing the victory for Benfica and sparking wild celebrations. The result was a stunning collapse for Real Madrid, who had been in contention for an automatic Round of 16 spot but now must enter the playoff round. Benfica, meanwhile, booked their place in the Champions League playoffs by edging ahead on goal difference after an unforgettable night in Lisbon. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express permission from ZAMBIA MONITOR.
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