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| Late Chaos, Flying Goalkeeper, and a Message to Critics: Mourinho Demands Respect After Benfica’s Wild Win Over Real Madrid. |
If you blinked, you missed history. A goalkeeper scoring in the 98th minute, red cards flying, and Jose Mourinho firing back at his critics — this Champions League night had absolutely everything.
Jose Mourinho had one clear message after Benfica survived a jaw-dropping 4–2 win over Real Madrid: put some respect on our name.
The dramatic victory at Estadio da Luz pushed Benfica into the Champions League play-off round, but it took a moment straight out of a movie script to get there — a last-gasp header from goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin that sealed qualification and sent the stadium into chaos.
Winning… But Still Not Safe
On paper, Benfica won. On reality, they were seconds away from elimination.
The hosts led 3–2 heading into stoppage time thanks to a brace from Andreas Schjelderup and a goal by Vangelis Pavlidis, which canceled out Kylian Mbappé’s opener in the 30th minute. But Mbappé struck again late, turning the final minutes into pure tension.
Even with the lead, Benfica weren’t guaranteed a spot in the top 24. One wrong moment, one more Madrid goal, and they were out.
Red Cards, One Last Chance, and a Goalkeeper’s Dream
The match flipped again when Real Madrid were reduced to nine men after Raul Asencio and Rodrygo were sent off late. Then came Benfica’s final opportunity — a free kick deep into added time.
That’s when everyone started looking at Trubin.
Encouraged by teammates and Mourinho himself, the 32-year-old goalkeeper sprinted forward. The ball came in. Trubin rose above everyone. Header. Goal. Pandemonium.
The 98th-minute strike made it 4–2 and pushed Benfica into 24th place in the 36-team standings — just enough to qualify on goal difference, knocking out Marseille.
Mourinho Fires Back
Benfica may be struggling domestically, sitting 10 points behind Primeira Liga leaders Porto, and Mourinho has been under heavy pressure. But after one of the most unforgettable wins of his career, he wasn’t staying quiet.
“I’d like a little bit of respect,” Mourinho said bluntly.
“People don’t need to jump off balconies. Calm down. Benfica can lose again, sure. We can be hurt again. But what I ask for is respect — for Benfica and for these players.”
A Personal Milestone Against Madrid
This win meant more than just qualification for Mourinho. It was his first-ever victory over Real Madrid as a manager, after five previous attempts without success.
Ironically, Madrid had been the team he faced the most in his career without ever beating — until now. And Benfica didn’t just scrape by; they went toe-to-toe.
The numbers back it up. Benfica fired 14 shots in the first half alone, a rare occurrence against Madrid. In fact, since the 2003–04 season, Real Madrid have only faced more first-half shots once in the Champions League — 15 against Juventus back in 2013.
A Goal That Will Live Forever
Trubin’s header also put him in elite company. He became just the fifth goalkeeper ever to score in Champions League history, joining names like Jörg Butt, Sinan Bolat, Vincent Enyeama, and Ivan Provedel.
Mourinho admitted even he struggled to process what had just happened.
“I don’t remember a night like this,” he said.
“When you’re winning but it’s not enough, then you think it is enough, then suddenly it isn’t — you have to take risks. One ball could have made it 3–3 and eliminated us.”
He added that the goal carried huge weight.
“Beating Real Madrid always matters. This win is historic. It’s important for Benfica’s prestige, and economically, it’s very important too.”
Trubin: “I Didn’t Even Realize the Situation”
The hero of the night? Still in disbelief.
“At first, I didn’t fully realize what we needed,” Trubin said.
“But when we won the free kick, everyone looked at me and told me to go forward — even the coach.”
He paused, then smiled.
“It was a crazy moment. For Pavlidis, scoring is normal. For me? In 32 years, it was my first goal ever. Unbelievable.”
What’s Next?
Benfica now move on to the Champions League play-off round, where they could face Real Madrid again or Serie A leaders Inter Milan.
One thing is certain: after a night like this, Benfica aren’t just surviving — they’re demanding respect.