UEFA Champions League
Goalkeeper scores at death to keep Benfica in Champions League with 4-2 win over Real Madrid
- Summary
- Benfica goalkeeper scores with virtually the last touch of the game
- That keeps his side in the Champions League on goal difference
- Real Madrid denied an automatic spot in the last 16
Goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin scored an astonishing 98th-minute header as Benfica beat Real Madrid 4-2 on Wednesday to keep themselves in the Champions League and deny their illustrious opponents an automatic spot in the last 16.
In an extraordinary finale, the Portuguese side were heading out despite leading 3-2 with seconds of stoppage time remaining before Trubin came forward for a free kick to score the goal needed to sneak into the playoff round on goal difference.
That sparked wild celebrations from Benfica players, fans and their charismatic coach Jose Mourinho – a former manager of Real Madrid – at the Stadium of Light in Lisbon.
The Spaniards had hoped to finish in the top eight and go straight into the last 16, but their 15 points from eight games was not enough and they finished the match with nine men as Raul Asencio and Rodrygo were sent off.
Andreas Schjelderup scored two goals for Benfica and Vangelis Pavlidis netted from the penalty spot, while Kylian Mbappe netted twice for Real in a hugely entertaining, end-to-end contest.
Benfica advance at the expense of Marseille, who lost 3-0 at Club Brugge. The giant screen in the stadium in Belgium congratulated both teams for advancing to the next stage, but that proved premature as Trubin turned the tables.
THRILLING FINALE
Both Benfica and Real needed a goal for different reasons going into the final minutes, and it is a vindication of the competition’s format that a single goal could have such a dramatic effect on the table.
Benfica were denied two strong early penalty shouts, and Real took the lead on 30 minutes against the run of play when Asencio’s cross to the back post was headed in by Mbappe.
The home side drew level six minutes later when Asencio’s slip in the wet conditions allowed Pavlidis to provide a perfect cross for Schjelderup to head into the net.
Benfica were awarded a penalty in the first half added time when Aurelien Tchouameni was adjudged to have hauled Nicolas Otamendi to the floor, and Pavlidis buried his spot-kick.
Schjelderup scored his second of the game from Pavlidis’ perfect pass to make it 3-1, before Mbappe swept home his second too, his 36th goal of the season in all competitions.
Benfica were still outside the top 24 when they were awarded a free kick with virtually the final play, and Fredrik Aursnes’ delivery was headed in by Trubin to complete a night of high drama in Lisbon.
-Reuters
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UEFA Champions League
Real Madrid and PSG miss automatic qualification on frenetic group-stage finale
- Summary
- Thrilling finale to Champions League first phase
- Goalkeeper saves the day for Benfica with goal at death
- Real Madrid and PSG both forced into unwanted playoffs
- Debutants Bodo/Glimt grab playoff spot
- Barcelona and Man City reach knockout rounds
Real Madrid missed out on automatic qualification for the Champions League knockout rounds as they crumbled to a 4-2 defeat at Benfica on a frenetic final night of group-stage action across Europe on Wednesday.
Kylian Mbappe’s goal had put the 15-time winners on course for the win they needed to secure a top-eight finish, but their night ended in chaos as Jose Mourinho’s Benfica roared back.
Benfica were still heading for elimination despite leading 3-2 but goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin scored their fourth goal in the 98th-minute — a header that meant the Portuguese giants crept into the playoffs on goal difference in 24th spot.
Real, who began the night third but ended it ninth and could face Norwegian upstarts Bodo/Glimt in the playoffs, also had Raul Asencio and Rodrygo sent off in stoppage time.
Holders Paris St Germain also slipped out of the top eight as they could only draw 1-1 at home to Newcastle United – a result that left both sides facing a playoff despite starting the final night in the automatic places.
Liverpool thrashed Qarabag 6-0 to end their group campaign in style and finish in third place — Alexis Mac Allister scoring twice and Mohamed Salah also among the goals.
Barcelona began the evening in ninth spot but spared themselves a playoff tie as they came from a goal down to beat Copenhagen 4-1. Goals from Robert Lewandowski, Lamine Yamal, Raphinha and Marcus Rashford ensured they finished fifth, one place behind surprise package Tottenham Hotspur who won 2-0 at Eintracht Frankfurt.
Chelsea trailed 2-1 at Napoli but two goals by Joao Pedro earned them a 3-2 win to clinch sixth spot while defeat left Napoli down and out in 30th place.
That meant five of the six English clubs are in the last 16 and could yet be joined by Newcastle.
DRAMA GALORE
Portugal’s Sporting grabbed a last-gasp 3-2 win at Athletic Bilbao thanks to a goal by Alisson Santos to snatch a top-eight spot and effectively relegate Real Madrid to the playoffs.
Manchester City beat Galatasaray 2-0 at home to jump from 11th to eighth and spare themselves a repeat of last season when they failed to reach the last-16 after losing to Real Madrid in the playoffs.
Arsenal, who like Bayern Munich were already assured of a top-eight finish, became the first club in the new 36-team group format to finish with a 100% record, beating bottom club Kairat Almaty 3-2. Runners-up Bayern ended with a 2-1 victory at PSV Eindhoven that left the Dutch club eliminated.
Just like last season, UEFA’s expanded Champions League group stage has proved a masterstroke with the suspense lasting to the final seconds of the eighth round of fixtures.
Before the 18 matches kicked off only four of the 36 clubs were definitely eliminated and only Arsenal and Bayern Munich were guaranteed to be in the last 16.
Several who started outside the top eight needed wins and other results to go in their favour with Barcelona, Manchester City and Sporting seizing their chance.
Erling Haaland and Rayan Cherki were on target for City.
Inter Milan got the win they required, beating Borussia Dortmund 2-0 away but, like fellow Italians Juventus, will have to take their chances in the playoffs.
Juventus could only draw 0-0 at Monaco. Dortmund missed out on being seeded for the playoffs, ending 17th.
Nowhere was the drama more compelling than at Atletico Madrid’s Metropolitano Stadium where Diego Simeone’s side hosted Norway’s Bodo/Glimt. Atletico led through Alexander Sorloth’s goal and at one point were into the top eight but Bodo, who stunned Manchester City last week, hit back with goals by Fredrik Sjovold and Kasper Hogh for a remarkable 2-1 win to put the Arctic Circle debutants in 23rd and into the playoffs.
Atletico ended 14th and will have to be content with being one of the seeded teams in the two-legged playoffs.
Napoli and PSV Eindhoven were not the only illustrious clubs to finish below the elimination trapdoor.
Marseille had eyes on a top-16 place and a seeded playoff berth, but a 3-0 hammering at Club Brugge meant they finished 25th with Brugge grabbing a playoff spot at their expense.
The teams who finished ninth to 24th will learn who they will face in the playoffs in Friday’s draw.
-Reuters
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Manchester City players will dig into their own pockets to refund travelling fans after a humiliating 3-1 Champions League defeat to Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt in Arctic conditions.
The Premier League club suffered the upset on Tuesday as Bodo/Glimt secured a first Champions League victory thanks to Kasper Hogh’s quick-fire double and Jens Petter Hauge’s stunning solo effort.
City managed a consolation through Rayan Cherki, but the second-half dismissal of 2024 Ballon d’Or winner Rodri sealed a miserable evening in the Norwegian town of Bodo.
In the aftermath, senior City players Bernardo Silva, Ruben Dias, Rodri and Erling Haaland issued a statement acknowledging the sacrifice of supporters who made the long journey north.
“Our supporters mean everything to us … it was a lot of travelling for the fans who supported us in the freezing cold throughout a difficult evening for us on the pitch,” they said on Wednesday.
“Covering the cost of these tickets for the fans who travelled to Bodo is the least we can do.”
They will reimburse the 374 fans a total of 9,357 pounds ($12,568) after each paid about 25 pounds per ticket.
“The City support has an incredible connection with the players on a matchday, and this gesture is yet another reminder of that relationship – it means a lot to us,” said Kevin Parker, speaking on behalf of City’s Official Supporters Club.
“We know that the players are disappointed with the defeat to Bodo, but with our next game at home on Saturday there’s a chance to get back to winning ways and our fans will be in full voice, backing the team as they always do.”
Pep Guardiola’s side, who lost 2-0 in the Premier League at Manchester United on Saturday, host Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday.
City sit second in the Premier League with 43 points from 22 matches, seven points behind leaders Arsenal.
-Reuters
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Mohamed Salah was not named in Liverpool’s 19-man squad for Tuesday’s Champions League game at Inter Milan, after the forward said he had been “thrown under the bus” by the club.
Salah, an unused substitute during Saturday’s 3-3 draw at Leeds United, lashed out at the club and coach Arne Slot after the match, telling reporters that he had been made a scapegoat for their poor start to the season, as champions Liverpool sit ninth in the Premier League.
The Egypt international trained with the Liverpool squad on Monday morning.
-Reuters
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Real Madrid and PSG miss automatic qualification on frenetic group-stage finale
Goalkeeper scores at death to keep Benfica in Champions League with 4-2 win over Real Madrid
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