SOCCER: Real Madrid and PSG miss automatic qualification on frenetic group-stage finale

LONDON – Real Madrid failed to secure automatic qualification for the Champions League knockout rounds after a stunning 4-2 defeat at Benfica on Wednesday, capping a frenetic final night of group-stage action across Europe.

Kylian Mbappe had given the 15-time champions hope with an early goal, putting them on course for the win needed to finish in the top eight. But Benfica, under Jose Mourinho, staged a remarkable comeback. Despite already facing elimination, goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin scored a dramatic 98th-minute header, giving the Portuguese side a 4-2 victory and allowing them to sneak into the playoffs on goal difference, finishing 24th.

Real Madrid, who started the night in third place but ended ninth, could now face Norwegian upstarts Bodo/Glimt in the playoffs. The night also saw Raul Asencio and Rodrygo sent off in stoppage time.

Paris Saint-Germain, the defending champions, also slipped out of the top eight after a 1-1 home draw with Newcastle United, leaving both clubs facing playoff matches despite beginning the evening in automatic qualifying spots.

English clubs fared better overall. Liverpool ended their group campaign with a 6-0 thrashing of Qarabag, finishing third, with Alexis Mac Allister scoring twice and Mohamed Salah also on the scoresheet. Barcelona avoided a playoff tie by coming from behind to beat Copenhagen 4-1, with goals from Robert Lewandowski, Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, and Marcus Rashford, finishing fifth, just behind surprise package Tottenham Hotspur, who defeated Eintracht Frankfurt 2-0.

Chelsea secured sixth place after Joao Pedro’s brace helped them overturn a 2-1 deficit to beat Napoli 3-2, leaving the Italian side down in 30th. This meant five of six English clubs reached the last 16, with Newcastle still in contention.

Late Drama Across Europe

Sporting Lisbon snatched a last-gasp 3-2 victory at Athletic Bilbao thanks to Alisson Santos, earning a top-eight spot and effectively relegating Real Madrid to the playoffs. Manchester City beat Galatasaray 2-0 at home to move from 11th to eighth, avoiding a repeat of last season’s playoff heartbreak against Real Madrid.

Arsenal and Bayern Munich had already secured top-eight finishes. Arsenal became the first team in the new 36-club group format to finish with a perfect record, beating Kairat Almaty 3-2. Bayern Munich ended with a 2-1 win at PSV Eindhoven, eliminating the Dutch side.

The expanded UEFA Champions League group stage has delivered high drama until the final seconds. Only four of the 36 clubs were eliminated before the last round, and only Arsenal and Bayern were guaranteed a place in the last 16. Clubs like Barcelona, Manchester City, and Sporting seized the opportunity to climb into the top eight.

Inter Milan beat Borussia Dortmund 2-0 away to reach the playoffs, while Juventus could only draw 0-0 at Monaco. Dortmund missed out on being seeded for the playoffs, finishing 17th.

At Atletico Madrid’s Metropolitano Stadium, hosts Atletico led through Alexander Sorloth but were stunned 2-1 by Norway’s Bodo/Glimt, who hit back with goals from Fredrik Sjovold and Kasper Hogh, earning a playoff spot. Atletico finished 14th and will enter the playoffs as a seeded team.

Other notable clubs to miss out included Marseille, who lost 3-0 to Club Brugge, finishing 25th and losing a playoff place.

The draw for the playoffs, which will see teams ranked ninth to 24th compete for a place in the last 16, is scheduled for Friday. -Reporting by Martyn HermanEditing by Toby Davis/Reuters