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In an unforgettable climax, Benfica’s goalkeeper, Anatoliy Trubin, clinched a thrilling 4-2 win over Real Madrid with a spectacular header in the 98th minute, securing his team a spot in the UEFA Champions League play-offs. This victory was a significant milestone for Jose Mourinho’s squad.
Benfica, on the brink of elimination due to goal differences, found themselves with one final chance to change their fate through a free-kick in the dying moments of the match.
Seizing the moment, Trubin advanced into the box and met the ball with precision, sending it past Thibaut Courtois and igniting euphoric celebrations at Lisbon’s Estadio da Luz.
This triumph not only handed Mourinho his first victory against his former team but also capped off a remarkable comeback for Benfica, who had suffered defeats in their first four league-phase games.
The result marks Mourinho’s first win against his former club and completes an unlikely qualification for Benfica, who had lost their opening four league-phase matches.
Real Madrid, meanwhile, slipped from third to ninth and will also contest the play-offs, with a potential rematch against Benfica now possible.
Madrid had taken the lead through a Kylian Mbappé header, but Benfica responded swiftly as Andreas Schjelderup equalised after Vangelis Pavlidis capitalised on a defensive error. Pavlidis then converted a penalty just before half-time to put the hosts ahead.
Schjelderup struck again early in the second half to extend Benfica’s lead, before Mbappé pulled one back to set up a tense finish.
Late red cards for Raúl Asencio and Rodrygo reduced Madrid to nine men, but the decisive moment came in stoppage time with Trubin’s extraordinary intervention.
Trubin now joins an exclusive list of goalkeepers to have scored in the Champions League, alongside Hans-Jörg Butt, Sinan Bolat, Vincent Enyeama and Ivan Provedel.