Goalkeeper’s Last-Gasp Header Sends Benfica Through, Stuns Real Madrid

Firsts are rare at this stage of Jose Mourinho’s long and dramatic career. But on Wednesday night in Lisbon, Benfica delivered one.

Simply beating 15-time European champions Real Madrid was not enough. Deep into stoppage time, Benfica led 3–2 but still faced elimination from the Champions League on goal difference. They needed one more goal.

A final free-kick gave them a last chance. Goalkeeper Anatoly Trubin was sent forward.

Moments later, Estadio da Luz erupted. Trubin powered home a bullet header, then slid on his knees in celebration as Benfica players ran in every direction. The goal sealed qualification and knocked Marseille out of the play-off places.

“A fantastic goal, a historic goal,” Mourinho said. “It nearly brought the stadium down, and it was deserved. For Benfica, beating Real Madrid is incredible prestige.”

With 18 matches played simultaneously on the final matchday, confusion was understandable. Benfica were heading out at the end of the eight-round league phase until Trubin’s intervention.

The Ukrainian goalkeeper admitted he did not realise what was required until teammates urged him forward.

“Before, I didn’t understand what we needed,” Trubin said. “Then everyone started pointing at me. I saw we needed one more goal. It was a crazy moment. I’m not used to scoring. I’m 24, and it’s the first time.”

Mourinho’s return to Benfica in September has not been smooth. His appointment, more than 25 years after a brief first spell at the club, was met with scepticism. Four and a half months on, Benfica remain unbeaten in the league but sit third, 10 points behind leaders Porto, who have dropped just two points all season. A ninth league title for Mourinho looks unlikely.

In Europe, Benfica lost their first four matches of the league phase. Even wins over Ajax and Napoli appeared insufficient after a defeat in the penultimate round. The club also exited the domestic cup with a quarter-final loss at Porto.

That January defeat, however, hinted at what was to come. Trubin went forward for a late set piece and nearly scored.

“We knew he could do it,” Mourinho told UEFA. “At the Dragao, he was also there at the final action, but a Porto player blocked it.”

This time, Trubin was not denied. His perfectly timed run and header pulled Benfica back from the brink.

“It’s massive for Mourinho,” said European football expert Julien Laurens on BBC UCL Match of the Day. “Nothing has really worked since he took over in September. To win like this, against Real Madrid, the narrative was perfect. They started so badly, but there was still life. That was a miracle.”

For Mourinho, the win carried special meaning.

“To beat Real Madrid is significant,” he said. “In that moment, we had to give everything.”

The former Chelsea manager spent three seasons at Madrid from 2010 to 2013, winning La Liga in 2011–12 ahead of Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona.

Guardiola was watching closely. Manchester City needed Benfica to hold on to secure a top-eight finish.

“We didn’t know Benfica needed a goal,” Guardiola said after City’s win over Galatasaray. “When the goalkeeper went up, we thought Madrid could equalise and we would be out. But it was a good strategy for Jose to score the fourth goal, right?”

Another meeting with Guardiola may come later. Benfica finished 24th in the league phase, while Madrid ended ninth, giving a 50% chance of a play-off clash in February. The other possible opponent is Inter Milan, where Mourinho won the Champions League in 2010.

“I can’t say I prefer one or the other,” Mourinho said. “Madrid or Milan—both are special places.”

Whoever Benfica face, few would rule out Mourinho producing another surprise. But even by his standards, surpassing Trubin’s magical moment may be difficult.