Goalkeeper gamble delivers Benfica escape and eases pressure on Mourinho

January 29, 2026 Oliver Obel

Benfica’s Champions League season appeared to be ending quietly on Wednesday night, even with a famous win over Real Madrid. As results filtered in from across Europe, the Lisbon club were still facing elimination under the competition’s new league-phase format.

Then, in the final moments of stoppage time, a decision born of desperation altered the outcome.

With Benfica leading 3-2 but trailing rivals on goal difference, a late free-kick offered one last opportunity. According to UEFA’s match report, goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin was instructed to join the attack, despite initial uncertainty on the pitch about what Benfica still required to qualify.

The 24-year-old rose unmarked in the penalty area and headed home, securing a decisive goal that lifted Benfica into the play-off places and knocked Marseille out.

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“A fantastic goal, a historic goal, a goal that nearly brought the whole stadium down – and I think it was very deserved for us,” Benfica coach Jose Mourinho said afterwards. “For Benfica it's an incredible prestige to beat Real Madrid.”

Trubin later admitted he had not fully grasped the stakes until teammates urged him forward. Speaking to broadcasters, he said: “Before, I didn't understand what we needed. I see everyone start to point at me… We need one more goal.

“I don't know what to say. A crazy moment.”

The goal was Trubin’s first at senior level and made him only the fifth goalkeeper to score in the Champions League, according to UEFA statistics.

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Pressure on Mourinho eased, briefly

The result carried particular significance for Mourinho, whose return to Benfica in September had been met with scepticism. Despite remaining unbeaten domestically, his side sit third in the Portuguese league, 10 points behind leaders Porto, and have already been eliminated from the domestic cup.

In Europe, Benfica had lost their opening four league-phase matches, leaving qualification dependent on a late surge and favourable results elsewhere.

Mourinho said Trubin’s role had been discussed previously. “We knew he could do it,” he told UEFA, referencing an earlier match against Porto in which the goalkeeper nearly scored from a similar situation.

BBC football analyst Julien Laurens said the dramatic finish reshaped the narrative around Mourinho’s second spell at the club. “It's massive for Mourinho, because everything hasn't really worked out for him since taking over from Bruno Lage,” Laurens said on BBC UCL Match of the Day.

Familiar opponents ahead

The drama was felt beyond Lisbon. Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola acknowledged that Benfica’s late push briefly threatened his side’s position in the standings.

“We didn't know Benfica needed a goal to qualify,” Guardiola said after City’s match. “When the goalkeeper goes up, you think it’s dangerous but it worked.”

Benfica now face a play-off tie against either Real Madrid or Inter Milan. A rematch with Madrid would reunite Mourinho with the club he managed from 2010 to 2013, while Inter remains the site of his most celebrated achievement the 2010 Champions League title.

For now, however, Benfica’s European future rests on a moment few inside the stadium initially understood, but one that ultimately defined their season.

Sources: BBC, UEFA