Champions League Upsets: Real Madrid and PSG Face Playoff Challenges

omidbasir- Real Madrid experienced a surprising exit into the qualifying playoffs of the Champions League, following a dramatic match against their former coach, José Mourinho, and his Benfica team. Benfica progressed thanks to an astonishing last-minute goal scored by their goalkeeper, which occurred just as Madrid was reduced to nine players.

Despite Kylian Mbappé scoring twice, Madrid lost 4-2 to Benfica and slipped to ninth place in the standings, just below the direct qualification threshold for the round of 16. Benfica’s advancement was particularly remarkable as they finished in 24th place, only progressing on goal difference.

Mourinho expressed his pride in his team’s performance, emphasizing the significance of the victory and praising his goalkeeper’s achievement. “This victory is historic and important. We knew that he could do it. You have to put the ball there, but it’s an amazing goal for the guy,” he stated. The goalkeeper, Anatoliy Trubin, remarked, “It was a crazy moment. I’m not used to scoring. I’m 24 years old, and it’s the first time.”

Madrid’s decline in the standings was exacerbated by Sporting CP, who scored a stoppage-time goal to secure a 3-2 win against Athletic Club, effectively pushing Madrid out of the top eight. Sporting CP’s surprising success allowed them to join Liverpool, Tottenham, Barcelona, Chelsea, and Manchester City in the knockout phase.

Arsenal topped the standings with a flawless record, completing their campaign with an 8-0 win against Kairat Almaty, while Bayern Munich also secured their place in the round of 16. PSG and Newcastle, both initially in the top eight, drew 1-1 in Paris, dropping them to 11th and 12th, respectively.

This development means that Real Madrid, PSG, Newcastle, and last season’s finalists Inter Milan will participate in the qualifying playoffs draw, which is scheduled for Friday. PSG’s coach, Luis Enrique, acknowledged the team’s performance, stating, “We could have played better, yes, granted. We could have obtained better results, yes. But after analyzing the type of matches, we’re still there, and we’re ready for the next matches.”

Norwegian team Bodo/Glimt made a notable entrance into the knockout phase by securing a vital 2-1 victory against Atlético Madrid. This win underlined the significance of their prior match against Manchester City.

The late drama from Benfica resulted in the elimination of Marseille, who fell to 25th place following a 3-0 loss to Club Brugge. Italian champions Napoli were also ousted, finishing in 30th place after a 3-2 defeat at home to Chelsea, where João Pedro’s brace led Chelsea to a comeback victory. Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior praised Pedro’s overall contribution to the team’s success.

Additional teams in the playoffs include Qarabag, Brugge, Galatasaray, Olympiakos, and Italian clubs Juventus and Atalanta.

The information for this report was sourced from The Associated Press and PA.