Benfica 4-2 Real Madrid Player Ratings: Five-Goal Thriller Ends in Home Victory

Real Madrid looked edgy from the opening whistle, repeatedly giving the ball away and struggling to settle into any rhythm. Their left flank was a clear concern early on, with Carreras often caught out of position and Benfica quick to exploit the space.

Just as the pressure began to mount, Madrid produced a moment of pure quality. Asencio delivered a perfectly measured cross from the right, and one of the best players, Kylian Mbappé, rose highest to power home a stunning header, giving Los Blancos the lead against the run of play.

Jose Mourinho's men, however, refused to back off. They turned up the intensity immediately, forcing Thibaut Courtois into a series of fine saves to keep Madrid ahead.
But the resistance eventually cracked. A defensive lapse from Asencio allowed Benfica a way back, and they made no mistake in drawing level.

The momentum stayed with the hosts, and just before the halftime whistle, a soft challenge by Aurélien Tchouaméni on Nicolás Otamendi inside the box proved costly. Pavlidis stepped up and calmly converted the penalty, completing Benfica’s turnaround heading into the break.

The hosts came out flying after the break and doubled their advantage early in the second half. A few minutes later, Arda Güler’s sublime cutback found Kylian Mbappé in space, and the Frenchman made no mistake to grab his second and Real Madrid’s second of the night.

For long spells thereafter, Benfica were firmly in control, managing the tempo and keeping Benfica at arm’s length. A draw was all Los Blancos needed to secure a place in the top eight, while Benfica were chasing one more goal to sneak into the top 24. Asencio got a second yellow and had to walk off, making things worse for Real. Rodrygo was sent off in the dying minutes due to a protest.

Then came a moment straight out of a football fairytale. Deep into stoppage time, Benfica threw everyone forward, including their goalkeeper. From the resulting set-piece, the unthinkable happened as the keeper rose highest to power home a dramatic header, scoring the fourth goal and sending his side through in unforgettable fashion. Let's take a look at Sportsdunia's Benfica Vs Real Madrid Player Ratings.

Key Takeaways

• Sloppy buildup and defensive lapses, especially on the left, left Madrid vulnerable despite Mbappé’s opener.
• The hosts responded with intensity, turned the game around before halftime, and dominated long spells after the break.
• Late red cards and a stoppage-time goalkeeper header sealed a dramatic Benfica triumph and qualification.

Benfica Player Ratings vs Real Madrid

Here's a look at the Benfica Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Anatoliy Trubin - 7.5: A solid if not spectacular performance. Trubin made four saves, including a couple of important ones inside the box. He couldn't do much about Mbappé's clinical finishes. We noticed his distribution was a bit hit-or-miss, but he commanded his area well enough. He even picked up an assist for a blocked shot, which shows his quick thinking. A decent outing. He scored the winning goal for Benfica and helped them qualify.

Defenders

Amar Dedić - 6.0: Had a very busy night against Madrid’s dynamic attackers. He made a couple of key tackles and interceptions, but was also caught out of position at times. We saw him try to get forward, even getting a shot on target, but his main job was defending, and it was a tough one. He lost possession a few too many times for our liking.

Nicolás Otamendi - 7.5: The captain led from the back with a typically combative display. He was instrumental in winning the penalty that gave Benfica the lead, showing great awareness to draw the foul. From our perspective, his experience was vital in organizing the defense during the frantic final minutes. His passing was crisp, and he won his share of duels. A true warrior's performance.

Tomás Araújo - 6.5: A quiet but effective game alongside Otamendi. Araújo made three crucial blocked shots, putting his body on the line for the team. He was composed on the ball, with an 85% pass accuracy, and didn't make any glaring errors. He might not grab headlines, but he did his job without much fuss, which is exactly what you want from a center-back.

Samuel Dahl - 5.5: A difficult evening for Dahl. He picked up a yellow card and seemed to struggle with the pace and movement of Madrid's wingers. He made a high volume of tackles but only won one, and his error led to a shot. From our view, he looked a bit overwhelmed by the occasion. He'll have better nights, but this was a tough learning experience.

Midfielders

Fredrik Aursnes - 6.5: Worked tirelessly in the midfield engine room. While he missed a big chance, his work rate couldn't be faulted. He was neat in possession and helped link the defense to the attack. What stood out to us was his constant running, trying to support both phases of play. He was a steady presence in a chaotic game.

Georgiy Sudakov - 7.0: A creative spark for the 83 minutes he was on the pitch. He created a remarkable four chances and was unlucky not to score, hitting the woodwork. His vision and passing caused problems for Madrid's midfield. We were a little surprised to see him taken off, as he seemed to be at the heart of Benfica's best moves. A very promising display.

Leandro Barreiro - 7.0: The destroyer in midfield. Barreiro was an absolute nuisance, winning 11 duels and making six tackles. He drew four fouls, constantly breaking up Madrid's rhythm. He did miss a couple of big chances, which prevents a higher rating, but his defensive contribution was immense. His energy was infectious.

Andreas Schjelderup - 9.0: What a performance. Two massive goals from the Norwegian talent. He was clinical, scoring with a smart header and a composed right-footed finish. He was a constant threat, taking five shots in total. From our perspective, his movement off the ball was world-class, always finding pockets of space. He was a nightmare for the Madrid defense all night long.

Gianluca Prestianni - 8.0: The young Argentine was electric. He won the penalty for Pavlidis's goal with his quick feet and trickery. He was a livewire, creating chances, taking shots, and constantly looking to run at his man. We were really impressed by his confidence on such a big stage. He was a key part of Benfica's attacking success before being subbed off late on.

Forwards

Vangelis Pavlidis - 9.5: The highest-rated player on the pitch, and for good reason. An absolutely phenomenal performance that had everything. He scored the crucial penalty with ice in his veins and provided two beautiful assists for Schjelderup. He created five chances, including two big ones. Pavlidis was the complete forward—holding up the ball, linking play, assisting, and scoring. A man-of-the-match display, without a doubt.

Substitutes

Enzo Barrenechea - N/A: Came on in the 83rd minute to help see out the game.

João Rego - N/A: A late substitution in the 87th minute.

Manager

José Mourinho - 8.5: A classic Mourinho masterclass in a big European game. His team was set up to counter-attack with pace, and it worked to perfection. He identified Madrid's defensive frailties and exploited them brilliantly. The decision to trust his attacking trio paid off handsomely. He managed the final stages well, ensuring his team held on for a famous victory.

Real Madrid Player Ratings vs Benfica

Here's a look at the Real Madrid Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Thibaut Courtois - 7.5: It feels strange to rate a keeper who conceded three goals this highly, but he was outstanding. Courtois made seven saves, many of them spectacular, to keep his team in the match. Without him, Benfica could have easily scored five or six. From our perspective, he was completely let down by a shambolic defensive performance in front of him.

Defenders

Federico Valverde - 6.5: Captain for the night and played in a deeper role. He was one of the few Madrid players who looked comfortable on the ball, with a 95% pass accuracy. Made a few important interceptions and clearances, including one off the line. However, the defense as a unit was poor, and as the leader of that unit, he had to take some responsibility.

Raúl Asencio - 6.0: Got a nice assist for Mbappé's first goal with a well-delivered cross. Defensively, however, it was a mixed bag. He won a decent number of duels but also picked up a yellow card and looked stretched at times by Benfica's quick attacks. A decent contribution going forward but was part of a leaky backline. He was sent off in the end.

Álvaro Carreras - 5.5: A very tidy passer of the ball, completing 96% of his attempts. However, his defensive contribution was limited. He was booked and didn't offer the solidity needed against Benfica's rampant attackers. He was substituted after 79 minutes as Madrid chased the game. An okay performance, but not impactful.

Dean Huijsen - 6.0: It was a chaotic game for the young defender. He made five clearances and a last-man tackle, showing moments of real quality. But he also looked shaky, losing duels and picking up a yellow card. The defense lacked cohesion, and he was part of that struggle before being subbed off.

Midfielders

Jude Bellingham - 6.0: A surprisingly quiet night by his lofty standards. He was tidy in possession but lacked his usual driving runs and game-changing influence. What stood out to us was his frustration; he conceded a penalty and just couldn't seem to get into the game. A rare off-night for the English superstar.

Aurélien Tchouaméni - 5.0: A very poor performance. He gave away a clumsy penalty right before halftime, a moment that completely shifted the momentum of the game. He was booked early and looked off the pace throughout. It was no surprise to see him hooked after just 55 minutes. A night to forget.

Arda Güler - 8.0: Madrid's best player alongside Mbappé. The Turkish youngster was a beacon of creativity, creating an incredible six chances and grabbing an assist. He was constantly trying to make things happen, demanding the ball and looking for killer passes. His vision and technical quality were on full display. A fantastic individual performance in a losing effort.

Forwards

Vinicius Junior - 6.5: He drew several fouls and was always a threat with his pace, but his final product was lacking. He missed a big chance and often made the wrong decision in the final third. We noticed he got into good positions but couldn't provide the spark Madrid needed beyond Mbappé. A frustrating night for him.

Kylian Mbappé - 9.0: What more can this man do? He scored two brilliant goals to drag his team back into the contest almost single-handedly. He was a constant menace, taking four shots and creating three chances for his teammates. He looked a class above everyone else in a Madrid shirt. It’s a shame his heroic effort was for nothing.

Franco Mastantuono - 5.5: A really tough 55 minutes for the youngster. He struggled to get involved in the game, losing the ball frequently and offering very little threat. His stats tell the story: 11 possessions lost from only 29 touches. It was a difficult environment to be thrown into, and he looked out of his depth.

Substitutes

Eduardo Camavinga - 6.0: Came on for Tchouaméni and brought more energy, but was a bit reckless, committing three fouls in his time on the pitch.

David Alaba - N/A: Replaced Huijsen for the final 12 minutes.

Jorge Cestero - N/A: Came on for Carreras for the final stages.

Brahim Díaz - 6.5: Looked lively after coming on, immediately setting up a chance for Mbappé. Added a bit of urgency to Madrid's attack.

Manager

Á. Arbeloa Coca - 5.5: His team looked brilliant going forward at times, but defensively, they were a total mess. The high line was repeatedly exposed by Benfica's simple but effective counter-attacks. He failed to get a grip on the game as Benfica took control, and his substitutions didn't change the outcome. A lot to reflect on from this chaotic performance.

Man of the Match

Vangelis Pavlidis was Sportsdunia's man of the match.

Worst Performer

Aurélien Tchouaméni was the worst performer in the Benfica vs Real Madrid UCL clash.