Benfica vs Real Madrid 4-2: UEFA Champions League – as it happened

Thanks for joining our live coverage of Benfica against Real Madrid in the final round of Champions League group phase fixtures.

Benfica left it very late but just scraped into the play-off spots with a dramatic fourth goal against Los Blancos.

For now, from me, Adam Hancock and my colleague Kevin Hand, goodbye!

League phase 2025/26 ✅#UCL pic.twitter.com/fVUwH2Sq6d

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) January 28, 2026

We’ll shift our focus to tennis on Sunday and the men’s singles final at the Australian Open in Melbourne.

Novak Djokovic, Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev are all still in contention for the title.

That one starts at 08:30 GMT, and we will also bring all the build-up in the hours ahead of the final.

Paris Saint-Germain’s injury woes continued as star winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia limped off with a right ankle injury to compound the draw with Newcastle that condemned the holders to the Champions League playoffs.

Kvaratskhelia sustained the injury following a tackle from Anthony Elanga midway through the first half at Parc des Princes.

“Once again, we have an injured player. We will need to see what the [extent of] his injury is tomorrow,” PSG coach Luis Enrique said. “It’s complicated. I hope I’m wrong, I hope we will have good news tomorrow.”

After a few moments of treatment, he was helped off by right back Achraf Hakimi, who was injured on the same field against Bayern Munich in November, and a staff member.

Kvaratskhelia was unable to put any weight on his right leg, which was stretched out ahead of him as he was assisted down the tunnel. The Georgia star scored against Sporting last Tuesday and was looking sharp down the right flank before his injury.

Our match report following Benfica’s home win against Real Madrid is now live. Click here to read the full article following the dramatic night in Lisbon.

Here’s the state of play after the conclusion of the first stage of the Champions League.

Teams qualified automatically for the round of 16

Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Tottenham, Barcelona, Chelsea, Sporting Lisbon, Manchester City.

How the playoffs look for the remaining round-of-16 spots

Monaco or Qarabag vs Paris Saint-Germain or Newcastle (for the right to play Barcelona or Chelsea)

Club Brugge or Galatasaray vs Juventus or Atletico Madrid (for the right to play Liverpool or Tottenham)

Bodo/Glimt or Benfica vs Real Madrid or Inter Milan (for the right to play Sporting Lisbon or Manchester City)

Borussia Dortmund or Olympiakos vs Atalanta or Bayer Leverkusen (for the right to play Arsenal or Bayern Munich)

Qarabag or Monaco vs Newcastle or Paris Saint-Germain (for the right to play Chelsea or Barcelona)

Galatasaray or Club Brugge vs Atletico Madrid or Juventus (for the right to play Tottenham or Liverpool)

Benfica or Bodo/Glimt vs Inter Milan or Real Madrid (for the right to play Manchester City or Sporting Lisbon)

Olympiakos or Borussia Dortmund vs Bayer Leverkusen or Atalanta (for the right to play Bayern Munich or Arsenal)

The road to Budapest 🏆#UCL pic.twitter.com/3rNdxy6Rys

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) January 28, 2026

Click here to read our match reports from Barcelona’s win and PSG’s desperate draw.

Reaction is coming in from Lisbon after the conclusion of this dramatic Champions League encounter.

Here’s what Benfica manager Jose Mourinho has been saying:

“I remember winning or losing at the last minute; it had happened to me several times before, but in this situation, where we are winning, it’s not enough – then you think it’s enough, and it’s not. You have to change things and take risks, because in the end this ball could have made it 3-3 and we would still have been eliminated.”

On what this win means for Benfica: “This victory is historic and important – even more so from a prestige point of view.”

• Marseille
• Pafos
• Union Saint-Gilloise
• PSV
• Athletic Bilbao
• Napoli
• Copenhagen
• Ajax
• Eintracht Frankfurt
• Slavia Prague
• Villareal
• Kairat Almaty

Barcelona, who began the evening in ninth spot, spared themselves a play-off tie as they came from a goal down to beat Copenhagen 4-1 and finish fifth.

Seventeen-year-old Viktor Dadason opened the scoring for the Danish side after just four minutes, but the game changed at the start of the second half.

Robert Lewandowski opened the scoring for Barca on 48 minutes, before Lamine Yamal added a second on 60 minutes. Raphinha scored from the spot to make it 3-1, before Rashford added a late fourth.

“We ⁠all came here tonight thinking about getting into the top eight. We’re very happy with the win,” 18-year-old Yamal told Movistar Plus.

“When you concede a goal in the Champions League, it’s very difficult to come back, but the team was very resilient and managed to turn it around. With the number of matches we play in a season, having two fewer matches leaves you feeling much better,” he added.

There were a whopping 18 games across Europe this evening, as the Champions League group phase came to an end.

Holders PSG also failed to secure an automatic spot in the knockouts as they drew 1-1 at home to Newcastle United. The English side will join their French opponents in the play-off round.

Elsewhere and Liverpool secured a top-eight spot with a 6-0 win over Qarabag, while Tottenham and Chelsea joined them in automatic qualification with wins over Eintracht Frankfurt and Napoli.

Sporting Lisbon ended seventh in the table as they grabbed a last-gasp win at Athletic Bilbao, while Manchester City snuck into eighth place with a 2-0 win over Galatasaray.

League phase 2025/26 ✅#UCL pic.twitter.com/fVUwH2Sq6d

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) January 28, 2026

Amid all of the late drama in Lisbon, it is easy to forget that Real Madrid slipped down to ninth in the Champions League table and will now have to play a two-legged playoff to qualify for the knockout phase.

Los Blancos were cruising at 1-0 up against Benfica, but they went on to concede four and now face an unwanted set of games.

Champions League journey continues ✅#UCL pic.twitter.com/j6skDC3eIU

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) January 28, 2026

The 21-year-old Norwegian midfielder scored twice and put in a brilliant all-round performance for Benfica.

Gianluca Prestianni also deserves a mention for his performance this evening. The Argentinian was everywhere and caused a whole host of problems for the Madrid defence.

Schjelderup X2 🇳🇴 pic.twitter.com/OMvXPJtFo1

— SL Benfica (@SLBenfica) January 28, 2026

Anatoliy Trubin is just the fifth keeper to score since UEFA rebranded the Champions League in 1992.

He joins Hans-Jorg Butt, Sinan Bolat, Vincent Enyeama and Ivan Provedel on the list.

Anatoliy Trubin. #UCL pic.twitter.com/8qv7Uuw6hw

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) January 28, 2026

IT'S DONE!!!!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/BmtcsW4hHj

— SL Benfica (@slbenfica_en) January 28, 2026

Goalkeeper goals are always fun, but this one was particularly special.

Ukraine’s Anatoliy Trubin has a story to tell the grandchildren about …

WHAT HAVE WE JUST SEEN?!

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) January 28, 2026

It came down to the final seconds of the match, but goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin was in the right place at the right time to head past Courtois and secure Benfica a place in the play-offs.

There are plenty who criticise this new Champions League group stage format, but it has served up some real drama this evening.

Real Madrid will have to settle for a place in the play-offs after they slipped out of the top eight.

Unbelievable scenes in Lisbon!

Trubin has scored a crucial fourth goal to put Benfica into the play-offs.

Incredible drama.

It is full-time, and the party is just starting.

Full-time: Benfica 4-2 Real Madrid

The keeper has made it 4-2!!

90+8 mins: Benfica 4-2 Real Madrid

What on earth is happening?!

Real Madrid are down to nine after a furious Rodrygo is shown a red card.

90+7 mins: Benfica 3-2 Real Madrid

Madrid are seeing all of the ball as they push Benfica back.

Camavinga tries to cross the ball into the box, but it is a dreadful attempt that floats towards the keeper.

90+6 mins: Benfica 3-2 Real Madrid