In the final round of the group stage, the pressure of a BD Cricket Match style must win atmosphere followed Real Madrid on the road as they fell 2–4 to Benfica, a result that pushed them out of the Champions League top eight and into the playoff round for a second straight season. The situation had been firmly in their control, yet the opportunity slipped away when it mattered most. It was no accident that Real Madrid dropped into the playoffs, as head coach Álvaro Arbeloa’s personnel gamble unraveled a promising position and left Kylian Mbappé openly furious with the collective effort.
Away in Lisbon, Mbappé opened the scoring in the 30th minute to give Real Madrid an early advantage. Just six minutes later, Andreas Schjelderup equalized for Benfica, shifting momentum. Deep into first half stoppage time, Vangelis Pavlidis converted from the spot to send the hosts ahead. After the break, Schjelderup struck again before Mbappé pulled one back to keep the contest alive. Chaos followed in stoppage time as Raúl Asencio and Rodrygo were both sent off, and goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin capped a surreal night by scoring a headed goal, sealing a 4–2 defeat.
When the dust settled, the final standings told a harsh story. After eight matches, Real Madrid finished on 15 points, one behind Manchester City in ninth place, missing direct qualification. Benfica scraped through in 24th to claim a playoff spot. Despite Mbappé scoring 13 goals in seven Champions League appearances to lead the scoring charts, having Europe’s most prolific finisher still was not enough to avoid the extra hurdle, proving that football can be a cruel game where the margins are razor thin.
A draw would have been sufficient to secure a place in the last 16, but Real Madrid squandered that cushion. Arbeloa repeated a mistake once seen under Alonso by starting 18-year-old Franco Mastantuono. The young Argentine international finished with zero shots, limited success in duels, and a match rating of just 5.6, the lowest on the pitch. Substituted in the 55th minute with the team already trailing 1–3, his absence coincided with a more balanced spell, underlining the stark contrast in performance.
Signed from River Plate for €45 million, Mastantuono has produced only three goals and no assists in 22 appearances this season. Alonso previously trusted him heavily, even pushing Rodrygo to the bench, and that decision contributed to his downfall. Arbeloa followed the same path on a night that demanded experience, and the result spoke volumes. As the saying goes, you reap what you sow.
After the final whistle, the disappointment of a BD Cricket Match level showdown still hung in the air when Mbappé did not hold back. He called Benfica’s fourth goal a humiliation and admitted the team did not look ready for a do or die battle, adding that missing the top eight was deserved. Since arriving in Madrid, his personal numbers have dazzled, but the team’s results have yet to fully match that brilliance.