He is a master tactician. Jose Mourinho (63)'s choice was bold, and the reason was clear. Even with a 3-2 lead, it was offense, not defense.
SL Benfica beat Real Madrid 4-2 in the final match of the 2025-2026 UEFA Champions League league phase at Estádio da Luz in Lisbon, Portugal, on the 29th (Korea time).
The late header by goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin (25) was not a mere insurance goal. It was the decisive strike that prevented Benfica's elimination and pushed the team into the playoffs.
The flow of the match favored Benfica. From the start they pressed strongly and transitioned quickly to overwhelm Real, scoring two goals in the first half to seize control. Real closed the gap through Kylian Mbappé's individual ability, but they were outmatched by Benfica in organization and concentration. Benfica did not relent in the second half either, and they entered the closing stages holding a 3-2 lead.
At that point Benfica's standing was still precarious. After the final round of the league phase, the table made the situation clear. 23rd Bodø/Glimt, 24th Benfica, 25th Marseille, 26th Pafos, and 27th Union Saint-Gilloise—no fewer than five teams were tied on nine points. Elimination and survival hinged not on points alone but on goal difference and 'one goal.' A 3-2 win was not enough.
So José Mourinho made a decisive call. In stoppage time he sent goalkeeper Trubin into the opposing penalty area for a free kick. Mourinho said in a postgame interview, "We were winning but it wasn't enough. At that moment we had to take a risk," adding, "If it became 3-3 we could still have been eliminated. This game couldn't end with just a win."
He added, "So I brought on Nico (Otamendi), and when there were no substitution cards left I sent Trubin up. A win is always important."
The result was dramatic. Trubin met a precise cross with his head to score the first goal of his career. The score became 4-2, and Benfica improved its standing to reach the playoffs.
The protagonist Trubin also recounted the moment vividly. He said, "Honestly, I didn't know if 3-2 was enough. People around me shouted 'one more, one more goal,' and the manager personally signaled me to come up," adding, "I went into the box, and after that I don't know what to say. It was a crazy moment. It's my first goal at 24 years old," he said with a laugh.
Mourinho's judgment was a calculated choice. Instead of closing the game defensively, he read the league phase structure and the table precisely and chose one more goal. That single foray into attack did not end Benfica's European season. Instead, it extended it. reccos23@osen.co.kr
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