Benfica exit after 2-1 Real Madrid defeat caps bittersweet Champions League campaign | OneFootball

Benfica’s Champions League hopes were dashed as Real Madrid punished mistakes to win 2-1, in a match where they still harboured hopes of qualification. The outcome leaves the Lisbon club with one of the weakest records by a Portuguese side in the competition.

According to Playmaker, Benfica’s European programme stretched to 14 matches including qualifiers. Managed first by Bruno Lage then José Mourinho, they lost seven of them, a 50% defeat rate.

Qualifying was almost flawless, with three wins and one draw.

The campaign proper began with four consecutive defeats, the reverse against Qarabag drawing the greatest attention across Europe. Results then stabilised, but the play-offs again underwhelmed.

The run ended on Wednesday, 25 February, with elimination in the Champions League play-off. Focus now shifts to Liga Portugal Betclic as the sole route back to the 2026/27 competition, with Gil Vicente next in the 24th round.

Source: Glorioso 1904