Where he shouted in 2014, on the stage of Real Madrid's greatest joy in its modern era, the rain in Lisbon and the determination of a Benfica team that with three points and four goals, especially the fourth from goalkeeper Trubin, crowned their comeback towards the play-off. The Portuguese goals condemned Madrid at Da Luz, leaving them ninth, out of the top eight, forced to play the play-off against Norwegian Bodo Glimt or Benfica themselves. A last-minute disaster.
Arbeloa wanted to maintain the lineup that had shown promise at La Cerámica, with Mastantuono on the right and Güler in the midfield, but Lisbon was much tougher than Villarreal. The Kristin storm entered forcefully through one of the corners of Da Luz and influenced a match marked by Lisbon's courage and Real Madrid's passivity. Mourinho warned beforehand that "this is kill or be killed," and Benfica, outside the top 24 before the start of the eighth matchday, did not leave even a bit of air in their lungs.
The Portuguese capitalized on Madrid's apathetic ball distribution, with their feet in the water at Da Luz but their minds on the warmth of the dressing room. The Whites dominated possession but in a sterile manner, reminiscent at times of some of the worst moments of Xabi Alonso's final stretch. The supposed mental resurrection did not materialize, even though Mbappé put his team ahead after half an hour with the first shot on target in the entire match.
Earlier, everything happened in Courtois' area, back at Da Luz after falling with Atlético 12 years ago. The Belgian, as has been customary in recent years, prevented what seemed almost inevitable until he did not have enough hands and legs to stop the Lisbon onslaught.
The diminutive Argentine Prestianni was a nuisance for Carreras, erratic in marking the flank that was once his home. The best chances for Benfica came from that side, always with Pavlidis active at the top of the box to distribute play and seek the opponent's goal.
In the 14th minute, Davide Massa awarded a penalty for a foul by Bellingham on Prestianni, but he changed his decision after seeing the VAR replay. A warning that did not wake up Madrid, with Courtois flying again to deny Prestianni's curler in the 19th minute. Benfica won duels and accelerated in transitions against a leaky Madrid defense.
Mbappé's goal, unmarked to head in a good cross from Asencio, further relaxed Madrid and angered the Portuguese, who were out of Europe with that result. In the 35th minute, Asencio slipped twice on a counter, leaving Pavlidis unmarked, who delivered a precise cross for Schjelderup's header under Courtois' legs.
Absent in the midst of the battle
A deserved draw and continuous siege. Barreiro missed the second goal, heading wide, Valverde cleared Schjelderup's shot off the line, and just before halftime, in the 48th minute, Tchouaméni held Otamendi in a corner, and Massa awarded another penalty, this time confirmed after review. Pavlidis scored from the spot, and the break found Madrid in trouble.
The second half did not awaken the Whites, inexplicably absent at Da Luz in the midst of the 18-match battle of the Champions League's final matchday. In the 54th minute, Schjelderup, who had scored one goal this season, netted his second of the night after a poorly defended counter to put Madrid on the brink of the top eight.
Arbeloa brought on Rodrygo and Camavinga, and the team reacted to make it 3-2 with Mbappé, but they did not go all out or press. Asencio and Rodrygo ended up being sent off, and Benfica, needing one more goal to complete their heroics, found their reward in Trubin's miraculous header in the 98th minute. Madrid is now forced to play the play-off against Bodo or Benfica.