*This content was translated by AI.
It's Jose Mourinho's Magic. SL Benfica under Mourinho caught Real Madrid and dramatically succeeded in surviving the European match.
Benfica defeated Real Madrid 4-2 in the final UEFA Champions League phase of the 2025-2026 season at Istadieu da Luz in Lisbon, Portugal on the 29th (Korea time).
With the victory, Benfica dramatically entered the top 24 and secured a ticket to the round of 16 playoff (PO). On the other hand, Real Madrid went through a rough playoff as it fell from third place to ninth place and failed to go straight to the round of 16.
Real Madrid used a large number of key players. Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham and Federico Valverde started. Thibaut Courtois defended the goal.
It was a dramatic game. Benfica was taken away by Mbappe for the opening goal but balanced by Andreas Shelderup's equaliser. Just before the end of the first half, Vangelis Pavlidis scored a penalty goal to turn the game around.
In the second half, Shelderup scored an additional goal to go 3-1 away, but Real Madrid also trailed 3-2 with Mbappe's comeback goal. Even if Benfica won, it was a desperate situation to be eliminated due to the goal difference.
The miracle happened eight minutes into second-half stoppage time. In his last free-kick opportunity, Mourinho even got goalkeeper Anatoly Truvin involved in the attack. Truvin connected the cross with a perfect RBI header to cut Real Madrid into the net.
Real Madrid self-destructed at the end of the game. In the 47th minute of the second half, Raul Asensio was sent off due to accumulated warnings, and even Rodrigo, who was replaced, was kicked out after receiving two warnings in a row in just a few seconds while protesting the referee's decision.
Mourinho proved the value of a master with a thrilling victory over his former team. Benfica, who was on the verge of being eliminated after losing all four of the first games of the league phase, was saved from the brink.
Coincidentally, Real Madrid, which was pushed back to ninth place, and Benfica, who stepped up to 24th, are likely to face off again in the playoffs according to regulations.
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*This content was translated by AI.
