In a thrilling encounter at the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Group Stage, Benfica secured a dramatic 4-2 victory over Real Madrid, advancing to the round of 16 via a playoff tie. The win was especially sweet for Benfica’s head coach Jose Mourinho, who triumphed over one of his former teams. [Benfica celebrate their fourth goal]  Anatoliy Trubin of Benfica celebrates scoring his team’s fourth goal with a header during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 match against Real Madrid. (Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez Rey/Getty Images) The game saw late drama, with Real Madrid's Raul Ascensio and Rodrygo

In a thrilling encounter at the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Group Stage, Benfica secured a dramatic 4-2 victory over Real Madrid, advancing to the round of 16 via a playoff tie. The win was especially sweet for Benfica’s head coach Jose Mourinho, who triumphed over one of his former teams.

[Benfica celebrate their fourth goal] 
Anatoliy Trubin of Benfica celebrates scoring his team’s fourth goal with a header during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 match against Real Madrid. (Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez Rey/Getty Images)

The game saw late drama, with Real Madrid's Raul Ascensio and Rodrygo both sent off, and Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin rising to score a header that sealed the win for his team. This vital goal not only confirmed the victory but also propelled Benfica into the knockout stages of the competition.

Despite a strong performance, Real Madrid were left to rue missed opportunities, with Trubin's header being a final blow. The loss meant that Los Blancos fell to 9th place in the standings, missing out on automatic qualification for the round of 16.

[Jose Mourinho]
Jose Mourinho, Head coach of Benfica, looks on during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 match against Real Madrid. (Photo by Carlos Rodrigues/Getty Images)

Mourinho was clearly pleased with his team's performance. Speaking to UEFA after the match, he said, “In the end, one ball [for them] could have made it 3-3, and with that we would still be out. To win against Real Madrid carries importance and is significant. In that moment, we had to give it everything.”

Anatory Turbin scoring his team's fourth goal with a header
(Image by Jose Manuel Alvarez Rey/Getty Images)

Trubin’s heroic header marked his second such decisive moment in recent weeks. Mourinho added, “We knew he—Trubin—could do it. In the game at the Dragao two weeks ago, Trubin was also there in the final action and headed it, but a Porto player blocked it.”

With Benfica finishing 24th in the 36-team standings, they will now face a challenging playoff draw on Friday, January 30, where they will meet one of the remaining group stage teams for a chance to reach the next phase.

source: UEFA

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