Real Madrid’s hopes of a direct berth into the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League were dashed on Wednesday, as they were relegated to the qualifying playoffs. The stunning turn of events occurred after a dramatic 4-2 loss at the hands of former coach José Mourinho and his Benfica side, who clinched advancement with a last-minute goal from their goalkeeper, Anatoliy Trubin.
With this defeat, Real Madrid fell from third to ninth in the group standings, just below the cut-off for direct qualification to the round of 16. Despite two goals from star forward Kylian Mbappé, Paris Saint-Germain also faced disappointment, finishing in 12th place after a 1-1 draw against Newcastle. Both teams now find themselves in the playoff draw scheduled for Friday, where they will compete with other teams ranked from ninth to 24th.
The chaos unfolded as Real Madrid, already down to nine players after red cards were issued to Raúl Asencio and Rodrygo, conceded a dramatic header from Trubin in the eighth minute of stoppage time. Remarkably, Benfica managed to qualify for the knockout phase despite finishing in 24th place based on goal difference.
Madrid’s exit from the top eight was further compounded by a stoppage-time goal from Sporting CP, who secured a 3-2 victory over Athletic Club. This unexpected result allowed Sporting to join the ranks of Liverpool, Barcelona, Chelsea, and Manchester City among the top contenders. Arsenal completed a perfect group stage with an eighth consecutive win, defeating Kairat Almaty 3-2, while Bayern Munich also confirmed their place in the knockout rounds.
PSG’s earlier position in the standings had been bolstered by their star-studded lineup, but the draw against Newcastle proved costly. Both teams needed a win to maintain their top-eight status and secure a pass to the next round without the need for playoffs.
In a surprising twist, Norwegian debutants Bodo/Glimt made their mark by clinching 23rd place after a 2-1 victory over Atlético Madrid. This win underscored the importance of their previous triumph against Manchester City, which had significant implications for their advancement.
The playoffs will also feature familiar teams such as Juventus, Atalanta, Galatasaray, and Olympiakos, while last year’s beaten finalists, Inter Milan, will seek redemption after falling into the qualifying rounds. Napoli, the reigning Italian champions, were eliminated after finishing in 30th place following a 3-2 defeat against Chelsea.
As the footballing world awaits the playoff draw, the stakes are high for Real Madrid and PSG. Both clubs will need to navigate the challenging path ahead if they hope to reach the knockout phase and contend for the prestigious Champions League title.
