Benfica’s Champions League journey appeared destined to end on a tense Wednesday night in Lisbon, even as they closed in on a famous victory over 15-time European champions Real Madrid. Winning the match alone was not enough. As stoppage time stretched into its final seconds, Benfica led 3–2 but were still heading out of the competition on goal difference under the new league phase format, with 18 matches being played simultaneously across Europe.
In the final moments, Benfica were granted one last opportunity from a free kick. With nothing left to lose, goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin was instructed to go forward. What followed was a scene that instantly entered Champions League folklore. Trubin met the delivery perfectly, thundering a header into the net to make it 4–2. Estadio da Luz erupted as players ran in every direction, while Trubin celebrated with an emotional knee slide, scarcely believing what he had just done. The goal not only secured victory over Real Madrid but also propelled Benfica into the playoff places, eliminating Marseille in the process.
From Confusion to Salvation as Trubin’s Goal Revives Mourinho’s Troubled Benfica Reign
José Mourinho was quick to recognise the scale of the moment. He described the strike as fantastic, historic, and fully deserved, adding that beating Real Madrid carried enormous prestige for Benfica. Yet the drama was heightened by the fact that Trubin himself did not initially realise the importance of the goal. Moments before, he had been trying to waste time after catching a cross, unaware that Benfica were still on course for elimination. Only when teammates began urgently pointing towards the opposition box did he understand what was required.
After the match, Trubin admitted his confusion. He explained that he did not understand the situation until everyone signalled for him to go forward. The goal was his first ever as a professional and an entirely new experience for the 24-year-old, who became just the fifth goalkeeper to score in Champions League history. His perfectly timed run and powerful header transformed him from a time-wasting keeper into an unlikely saviour within minutes.
Trubin’s Last Second Header Saves Benfica and Reignites Mourinho’s Champions League DreamThe goal also had deeper significance for Mourinho, whose return to Benfica has been anything but straightforward. Appointed in September, 25 years after a brief first spell at the club, the 63-year-old faced scepticism from the outset. Many believed his best years were behind him. Domestically, Benfica remain unbeaten in the league but sit third, ten points behind leaders Porto, who have been relentless. The likelihood of Mourinho adding another league title to his collection appears slim. Benfica have also exited the domestic cup, losing a quarter-final to Porto, a club deeply tied to Mourinho’s early rise.
In Europe, the picture initially looked bleak. Benfica lost their first four matches of the league phase, and even victories over Ajax and Napoli failed to convince observers that qualification was possible. A defeat in the penultimate round seemed to seal their fate. Yet the dramatic finale against Real Madrid rewrote the narrative. European football expert Julien Laurens described the win as massive for Mourinho, noting the powerful storyline. It came against his former club, against Real coach Alvaro Arbeloa, a player Mourinho once mentored, and at a time when his Benfica project appeared to be faltering.
Importantly, Trubin’s heroics were not entirely unexpected. Earlier in the season, during a domestic cup defeat at Porto, the goalkeeper had gone forward for a final set piece and nearly scored, only for a defender to block his header. Mourinho remembered that moment. He revealed that the staff knew Trubin was capable of delivering in such situations, and this time the Ukrainian was not to be denied.
European Ripple Effects and a Defining Moment That Sets Up Mourinho’s Next Test
The ripple effects of Benfica’s dramatic qualification were felt elsewhere. Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola admitted he was confused when he saw Trubin go forward, fearing the risk of a Madrid equaliser that could have affected City’s own standing. Once the goal went in, Guardiola jokingly praised Mourinho’s strategy, acknowledging the boldness of the decision.
Looking ahead, Benfica now faces either a rematch with Real Madrid or a tie against Inter Milan in the playoff round. Both opponents carry special meaning for Mourinho. He spent three intense seasons at the Bernabeu and famously won the Champions League with Inter in 2010 as part of a historic treble. Mourinho insisted he has no preference, expressing fondness for both destinations.
Whatever the draw, few would rule out Mourinho orchestrating another memorable European night. Still, even by his dramatic standards, eclipsing the sheer improbability and emotion of Anatoliy Trubin’s last-second header may prove impossible. It was a moment that saved a season, reshaped a narrative, and reminded football why it remains so compelling.
