Real Madrid, PSG drop into UCL playoffs on chaotic final day

Anatoliy Trubin celebrates with Benfica teammates after his dramatic winner against Real Madrid. 

Real Madrid were shockingly relegated to the Champions League qualifying playoffs by their former coach Jose Mourinho, whose Benfica side advanced thanks to a last-minute goal by its goalkeeper, on Wednesday. Joining them in the playoffs are the reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain.

Madrid began the day in third place in the 36-team standings, but despite two goals from Kylian Mbappé, they lost 4-2 at Benfica and dropped to ninth, just missing the direct advancement to the round of 16.

In a surprising turn, Benfica moved to the knockout stage in 24th place, only on goal difference, after Ukrainian goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin scored a dramatic header in the eighth minute of stoppage time when Madrid were reduced to nine men. Red cards had been issued earlier to Raúl Asencio and Rodrygo.

"This victory is historic and important," Mourinho stated, praising his goalkeeper: "We knew he could do it. You have to place the ball there, but it's an amazing goal for the guy."

Trubin described it as a "crazy moment. I'm not used to scoring. I'm 24 years old and it's the first time."

Madrid fell out of the top eight when Sporting CP scored a stoppage-time goal in a 3-2 victory at Athletic Club.

Sporting surprisingly joined Liverpool, who defeated FK Qarabag 6-0, along with Tottenham, Barcelona, Chelsea, and Manchester City in securing top-eight finishes. League leaders Arsenal, who completed a perfect eight-win run by defeating Kairat Almaty 3-2, and second-place Bayern Munich had already advanced to the round of 16 starting in March.

PSG and Newcastle began in the top eight but ended up drawing 1-1 in Paris, which dropped them to 11th and 12th in the standings.

Madrid, PSG, Newcastle, and last year's runners-up Inter Milan will be in the qualifying playoffs draw on Friday for teams that finished between ninth and 24th.

Nonetheless, PSG navigated the playoffs round last year, taking the longest route possible with two extra games in February, on their way to their first European title.

"We could have played better, yes, granted. We could have achieved better results, yes. But after analyzing the types of matches we've played, we're still in it, and we're ready for the next matches," PSG coach Luis Enrique remarked.

Norwegian newcomers Bodo/Glimt will be a popular addition to the knockout stage, securing 23rd place by winning 2-1 at Atlético Madrid. This highlighted the importance of their victory over Man City last week at their Arctic Circle home.

Benfica's late heroics eliminated Marseille, who lost 3-0 at Club Brugge and fell below the cutoff to 25th place with nine points.

Italian champions Napoli were knocked out in 30th

place after losing 3-2 at home to Chelsea.

A brace from Brazilian striker João Pedro led the

Premier League side to a comeback win.

"The two goals are fantastic, but the way he held the ball up for the team, the way he sprinted and initiated that press, the harder you work, the better you are as a player, and I'm very happy to have João in our team," Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior said.

Also in the playoffs are Qarabag, Brugge, Galatasaray, and Olympiakos, along with Juventus and Atalanta from Italy.