On a wild night at Estadio da Luz, Benfica beat Real Madrid 4-2 in the UEFA Champions League league phase, and the winning goal came from the unlikeliest hero: their goalkeeper. Anatoliy Trubin rose highest in stoppage time to head home and set off a roar that shook Lisbon. It was a stunning finish to a game that swung back and forth and carried huge stakes for both clubs.

With this win on Matchday 8, Benfica jumped into the playoff positions on goal difference over Marseille and Pafos. Real Madrid, who needed a result to protect a top-eight finish and skip the playoff round, slipped to ninth — still seeded, but with a headache they did not plan for.

Benfica vs Real Madrid: a frantic Champions League classic

Kickoff came just after 20:00 local time (3:00 p.m. ET), and from the first whistle, the game flew. Benfica thought they had an early penalty when Jude Bellingham brought down Gianluca Prestianni, but VAR asked the referee to look again and the decision was overturned. It was a warning that this would not be a quiet night for technology or tempers.

Real Madrid drew first blood. Kylian Mbappe, the superstar who bends big games to his will, headed in on 30 minutes to silence the home end. But Benfica did not shrink. Six minutes later, Andreas Schjelderup nodded in a fine equalizer to make it 1-1 and pour belief back into Jose Mourinho’s side.

Just before halftime, Benfica got the break they had earned. Vangelis Pavlidis smashed in from the spot to send the hosts into the tunnel 2-1 up.

“If your keeper is scoring, your plan worked — Mourinho masterclass?”

Schjelderup shines; Mbappe fights back

After the break, Benfica built on their edge. Schjelderup, lively all night, struck again to give the Eagles light at 3-1. The young forward had already scored with his head in the first half; his second after the interval showed the composure Benfica fans dream about.

To Madrid’s credit, they did not fold. Mbappe grabbed his second to make it 3-2 and set up a tense finish. For a stretch, it felt like Mbappe versus everyone, and Thibaut Courtois did his part with key saves to keep Madrid within reach. Benfica also had looks: headers from Leandro Barreiro and strikes from Amar Dedic and Georgiy Sudakov kept Courtois busy and the crowd on edge.

“Mbappe got two, but Madrid lost their heads. That’s the story.”

Red cards and a roaring finish

Then came the chaos. In second-half stoppage time, Raul Asencio saw a second yellow card. Five minutes later, Rodrygo also walked. Real Madrid ended with nine men, and Benfica smelled blood.

From a late set piece, the moment that will live in club lore arrived. Trubin, the Benfica keeper, came up for the dead ball and met the cross with a clean, brave header. The net rippled, the stadium exploded, and the scoreboard read 4-2. Goalkeepers rarely score; doing it to beat Real Madrid in the Champions League is the stuff of dreams.

“Benfica’s right side cooked all night; Trubin finished the meal.”

Mourinho’s plan, Benfica’s edge

Jose Mourinho faced his former club and set up Benfica to be bold yet compact. The right flank, highlighted by quick combinations and overlapping runs, gave Madrid trouble. As one on-air remark put it, Benfica’s right side was “impressive tonight,” and the chances backed that up. Barreiro’s aerial threat and Dedic’s driving runs stretched Madrid’s back line and forced Courtois into action.

Schjelderup’s brace showed why Benfica trust their young talent. Pavlidis stayed cool on the penalty. And when the late scramble came, Trubin had the courage to step up. This was a team win shaped by clear instructions and fearless execution.

Real Madrid’s costly night

Madrid had control at 1-0 and still had a path back at 3-2, but discipline slipped at the worst time. The red cards to Asencio and Rodrygo not only hurt them in the moment; they also cast a shadow over the playoff round to come. Carlo Ancelotti’s side, aiming for a top-eight spot and a direct path to the last 16, now face a two-legged tie that will test depth and focus.

Mbappe’s brace was elite finishing, and Courtois was strong, but too many phases belonged to Benfica. Madrid’s midfield could not slow the game enough, and the back line struggled against crosses and second balls. On this night, the details swung the game.

Why this result matters in the league phase

The new Champions League format means every point across eight games matters. Benfica needed a win to keep Europe alive into spring. They got it — and by two goals — which proved vital on goal difference. They edged Marseille and Pafos to make the playoff cut.

Real Madrid, meanwhile, slipped to ninth. That puts them in the seeded playoff places rather than the safe top eight. It is not a disaster, but it adds two more high-pressure matches to a busy calendar and invites risk against an in-form opponent.

Big moments that shaped the night

• Early VAR drama overturned a Benfica penalty after a check on Bellingham’s foul on Prestianni.
• Mbappe’s 30-minute header put Madrid ahead; Schjelderup’s 36-minute header leveled it.
• Pavlidis converted a penalty right before halftime for 2-1.
• Schjelderup struck again after the break; Mbappe answered to make it 3-2.
• Late red cards to Asencio (second yellow, 90+2) and Rodrygo (five minutes later) left Madrid with nine.
• Trubin’s stoppage-time header sealed a famous 4-2 win.

Final word

This was the Champions League at its wildest: stars scoring, tempers flaring, a goalkeeper flying. Benfica earned it with energy, bravery, and a smart plan. Real Madrid will still be a threat in the playoffs, but they will remember Lisbon as the night a keeper took points from them with his head.

For Mourinho’s Benfica, this could be a springboard. For Madrid, it is a warning. In the league phase era, every minute matters — and no one is safe when even the goalkeepers join the attack.