## Unlikely Hero Sparks Benfica’s Champions League Dream in Stunner Against Real Madrid
In a Champions League night etched into memory, Benfica clinched a spot in the playoff round through the most improbable of protagonists. It was goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin, defying all expectations, who powered home a 98th-minute header, sealing an astonishing 4-2 victory over Real Madrid and propelling his team into the next stage of Europe’s elite competition.
The Estadio da Luz erupted in pandemonium as Trubin, typically a shot-stopper, transformed into a match-winner, converting Fredrik Aursnes’ precise delivery. This dramatic intervention secured Benfica’s progression, snatching the crucial knockout berth from the grasp of Marseille, who were eliminated as a result.
Facing a monumental challenge to keep their Champions League dreams alive, Jose Mourinho’s Benfica delivered a masterclass against his former club, now managed by ex-player Alvaro Arbeloa. Despite Kylian Mbappe’s opener for Madrid, scored somewhat against the flow of the game, Benfica orchestrated a magnificent first-half comeback. Andreas Schjelderup netted a crucial equalizer, followed by a Vangelis Pavlidis penalty, completely flipping the script in a pulsating opening period.
### Benfica’s Resilient First-Half Turnaround
Though Real Madrid initially dictated possession, Benfica crafted the more dangerous opportunities. Thibaut Courtois was called into action early, making a spectacular save to tip Gianluca Prestianni’s curling shot onto the crossbar. Arda Guler then fired wide from range, while Denis Sudakov crashed a near-post effort against the woodwork from a tight angle, as Benfica saw further chances slip away.
Their early wastefulness proved costly when Mbappe, showcasing his predatory instinct, powerfully headed home Raul Asencio’s cross at the far post, further enhancing his impressive Champions League goal count.
Benfica’s response was immediate and emphatic. Schjelderup replicated Madrid’s opener almost identically, rising to meet a looping cross from Pavlidis and skillfully nodding the ball past Courtois and into the net. Schjelderup nearly added another, only for Federico Valverde to clear his shot off the line. However, Benfica completed their stunning turnaround from the penalty spot. Pavlidis confidently dispatched the spot-kick straight down the middle, awarded after Aurelien Tchouameni’s tug on Otamendi’s shirt inside the box.
### Second Half Saga: Red Cards, Goals, and a Goalkeeper’s Glory
Madrid’s woes deepened as the exceptional Schjelderup, cutting in from the left flank, unleashed a scorching low drive that left Courtois helpless, extending Benfica’s lead and completing his brace.
But Madrid refused to yield. Mbappe instantly retaliated, converting Arda Guler’s pass with a clinical first-time finish to halve the deficit. Jude Bellingham then squandered a golden opportunity to level, firing over from close range.
Courtois produced another magnificent save to thwart Pavlidis as Benfica desperately hunted the elusive fourth goal. Despite Real Madrid being reduced to nine men – first with Asencio’s red card for a reckless tackle on Schjelderup, then Rodrygo’s dismissal for two quick-fire bookings for dissent in injury time – that crucial fourth goal remained agonizingly out of reach.
Then, in the dying seconds, came the unthinkable. Trubin, venturing forward for a final desperate push, soared above the Madrid defense to meet Aursnes’ pinpoint right-wing cross. His header found the net, triggering scenes of absolute delirium and etching this extraordinary 4-2 victory into the annals of Benfica’s legendary European campaigns, setting up a playoff tie against either Inter Milan or Real Madrid themselves.