"For all the drama, for all that Benfica's goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin rose through the rain to head an astonishing 98th-minute goal and Jose Mourinho raced up the line with his arms around a ballboy, everyone in the Estadio da Luz losing their minds; for all that Alvaro Arbeloa's team crashed out of the top eight, the biggest club of all have a second chance. Which is, of course, the way the Champions League is designed."
"Trubin's late goal, the moment of the competition, changed everything for Benfica but didn't really alter Madrid's fate; already destined for the playoff, it just deepened the shame, in Kylian Mbappe's words. Three weeks on, they meet again on Tuesday in Lisbon Madrid against Benfica, Mourinho against my boy with an opportunity to start over, some hope and enthusiasm allowed back in. A little easily perhaps, renewed belief built on not much and yet to withstand a proper test, but there may be something in"
Nineteen days after the dramatic Lisbon tie, Real Madrid return to Lisbon for a Champions League rematch with Benfica. Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin scored an astonishing 98th-minute header that reshaped Benfica's fortunes while deepening Madrid's humiliation after a 4-2 defeat. Madrid have a second chance under the Champions League format and enter the rematch buoyed by three consecutive domestic wins. Madrid currently top La Liga despite a Copa del Rey exit to second-division Albacete. Recent victories over Rayo Vallecano, Valencia and Real Sociedad restored confidence, with Saturday's win particularly comfortable and well-received by fans.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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