Goalkeeper goal and a crazy ending: Benfica beat Real and broke into the Champions League playoffs

Lisbon’s Benfica produced one of the most dramatic matches of the entire Champions League league phase, defeating Real Madrid 4–2 and quite literally jumping into the playoff zone in the final second.

José Mourinho’s team came into the decisive Matchday 8 with no margin for error. During the game, Benfica managed to take the lead — 3:2 by the 58th minute — but that wasn’t enough. To break into the top 24 and overtake competitors, including Marseille, they needed one more goal.

Time was running out, Real were holding on defensively, and Madrid fans were already counting on an acceptable outcome. But in stoppage time, something happened that occurs maybe once in a career.

For the final set piece near the opposition goal, Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin went into Real’s penalty area. After the free-kick delivery, the Ukrainian keeper won the aerial duel and powered a header past Thibaut Courtois — 4:2. The stadium exploded, Benfica’s bench stormed the pitch, and Trubin instantly became the hero of the night.

That goal didn’t just seal the match — it completely changed the Portuguese club’s tournament fate.

Thanks to their goalkeeper’s goal, Benfica squeezed into the playoff zone, and this match can already be called one of the wildest stories of this Champions League campaign. Real, because of the defeat, dropped to 9th place and will play in the knockout playoffs.

Final table of the Champions League main phase
The top 8 teams qualify directly for the Round of 16.
Clubs finishing from 9th to 24th will play knockout playoffs for the right to join them.