Sports
Trubin Stunner Sends Benfica Through as Madrid Drop to Play-offs
Real Madrid were condemned to the UEFA Champions League play-offs after a chaotic 4-2 defeat at SL Benfica dropped them to ninth in the league phase, with goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin scoring a dramatic 98th-minute goal to send the hosts through in 24th.
Benfica, needing a win, dominated early and eventually took control despite Kylian Mbappe twice hauling Madrid level.
Andreas Schjelderup struck twice for the Portuguese side, while Vangelis Pavlidis converted a first-half penalty to punish Madrid’s lapses.
Mbappe’s brace, the first goals in this fixture since 1965, was not enough on a night that unravelled late for the holders, who finished with nine men after dismissals for Raul Asencio and Rodrygo.
Deep into stoppage time, Trubin rose from a free-kick to head home the decisive goal and cap a memorable European night in Lisbon, leaving Real Madrid to navigate an unwanted extra hurdle in their title defence.
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