Real Madrid experienced a shocking setback as they were pushed into the Champions League qualifying playoffs by their former manager Jose Mourinho, whose Benfica side advanced with a last-minute goal scored by their goalkeeper. The defending champions Paris Saint-Germain are also heading to the playoffs.
Madrid began the match in third place in the 36-team standings, but despite two goals from Kylian Mbappé, they ultimately succumbed to a 4-2 defeat against Benfica, dropping to ninth place—one spot short of securing direct advancement to the round of 16.
In a remarkable turn of events, Benfica secured their place in the knockout stage despite finishing in 24th position, advancing solely on goal difference after Ukrainian goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin scored a dramatic header in the eighth minute of stoppage time while Madrid played with only nine men due to prior red cards issued to Raúl Asencio and Rodrygo.
Madrid dropped out of the top eight when Sporting CP scored a stoppage-time winner in a thrilling 3-2 victory over Athletic Club.
Sporting’s surprising victory allows them to join Liverpool—who dominated Qarabag with a 6-0 win—along with Tottenham, Barcelona, Chelsea, and Manchester City in securing top-eight finishes. The leading Arsenal team, which achieved a flawless run with eight victories, capped off their success by defeating Kairat Almaty 3-2, while second-place Bayern Munich is also through to the round of 16 scheduled to start in March.
PSG and Newcastle, who initially ranked in the top eight, fell to 11th and 12th place respectively after their match ended in a 1-1 draw in Paris.
Real Madrid, PSG, Newcastle, and the previous year’s runner-up Inter Milan will be included in the qualifying playoffs draw on Friday for teams positioned ninth to 24th.
Despite the current circumstances, PSG successfully navigated the playoffs last year, taking a longer route with two additional matches in February to capture their first European title.
Norwegian newcomers Bodo/Glimt made an impressive entrance into the knockout stage by clinching 23rd place with a 2-1 victory at Atlético Madrid, a critical outcome following their previous win against Manchester City.
Benfica’s late heroics resulted in the elimination of Marseille, who faced a 3-0 defeat at Club Brugge and ended up in 25th place with just nine points.
Other teams in the playoffs include Qarabag, Brugge, Galatasaray, and Olympiakos, as well as Juventus and Atalanta from Italy.
Lastly, the Italian champions Napoli were eliminated in 30th place after falling 3-2 at home to Chelsea.