Benfica head coach Jose Mourinho ended up on the winning side against one of his former teams as the Portuguese oversaw Benfica’s 4-2 win over Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League..
The win sealed Benfica’s place in the group stage standings for a place in the round of 16 stage via a playoff tie. The Portuguese team finished 24th in the 36 team standings.
The biggest talking points in the game came late as Real Madrid’s Raul Ascensio and Rodrygo were dismissed while Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin rose highest to score a header to effectively seal the win with the fourth goal.
Real Madrid on the other hand, dropped to ninth in the standings after the loss to miss out on an automatic qualification spot. The playoff draw will take place on Friday, January 30.
“In the end one ball [for them] could have made it 3-3 and with that we would still be out. To win against Real Madrid carries importance and is significant. In that moment we had to give it everything.”
“We knew he-Trubin- could do it. In the game at the Dragao [two weeks ago],Trubin was also there in the final action and headed it but a Porto player blocked it” Jose Mourinho said to UEFA.
