Goalkeeper's Dramatic Header Secures Benfica's Champions League Fate
In a breathtaking climax to the Champions League group stage, Benfica's goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin emerged as an unlikely hero, scoring a 98th-minute header to secure a 4-2 victory over Real Madrid and propel his side into the playoff round. The dramatic goal, which came deep into stoppage time, denied Real Madrid an automatic spot in the last 16, capping a night of high drama across Europe's premier club competition.
Last-Gasp Heroics Deny Real Madrid
With Benfica leading 3-2 and seconds remaining, Trubin rose to meet a free-kick, powering home the header that ensured his team progressed on goal difference. The result left Real Madrid, who finished with nine men after red cards for Raúl Asencio and Rodrygo, stranded in ninth place with 15 points, just shy of the top eight required for direct qualification.
The match itself was a thrilling, end-to-end affair. Andreas Schjelderup netted twice for Benfica, while Vangelis Pavlidis added a penalty. For Real Madrid, Kylian Mbappé scored a brace, but it wasn't enough to secure the automatic berth they craved.
Barcelona and Sporting Lisbon Secure Last 16 Berths
Elsewhere, Barcelona produced a commanding second-half performance to defeat Copenhagen 4-1 at the Camp Nou, sealing a top-eight finish. After falling behind to a fourth-minute goal from Viktor Dadason, the Catalans roared back with strikes from Robert Lewandowski, Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, and Marcus Rashford, finishing fifth overall with 16 points.
Sporting Lisbon also booked their place in the last 16 with a dramatic 3-2 away win over Athletic Bilbao. Twice coming from behind, Sporting saw Alisson Santos net a stoppage-time winner to complete a frenetic comeback. Ousmane Diomande and Francisco Trincão had earlier scored for the Portuguese side, who showed immense resilience to secure their progression.
Bodø/Glimt Stage Remarkable Comeback
Norwegian outfit Bodø/Glimt produced one of the shocks of the night, coming from behind to defeat Atlético Madrid 2-1 at the Metropolitano Stadium. After Alexander Sorloth gave the hosts an early lead, Fredrik Sjovold equalised before Kasper Høgh struck the winner in the 59th minute, silencing the home crowd and securing a playoff spot for the underdogs.
Other Key Results and Playoff Implications
In other matches, Internazionale scored twice late on to beat Borussia Dortmund 2-0, but both teams will enter the playoffs in February. Harry Kane came off the bench to score an 84th-minute winner for Bayern Munich in a 2-1 victory over PSV Eindhoven, securing second place in their group.
Meanwhile, Monaco and Juventus played out a cautious 0-0 draw, a result that was sufficient to send both sides through to the playoffs. The night's action sets the stage for a fiercely contested knockout phase, with several giants of European football now forced to navigate the playoff round.
The final group standings saw Arsenal top the table with 24 points, followed by Bayern Munich on 21. Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, and Barcelona rounded out the top five, with the latter's direct qualification underscoring their resurgence this campaign.
