MANCHESTER, England, Jan 29 (Reuters) — A stoppage-time header from Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin proved the decisive moment on a dramatic final night of the Champions League league phase, settling the make-up of the knockout rounds and underlining the appeal of UEFA’s revamped format.
Trubin struck in the 98th minute in Lisbon to complete Benfica’s 4-2 win over Real Madrid, a goal that propelled the Portuguese side into the playoff round and dashed Madrid’s hopes of a late equaliser that would have sent them directly into the last 16.
At the Etihad Stadium, Manchester City supporters watched events unfold nervously on their phones, aware that a late Madrid goal would have pushed City out of the top eight and into the playoff places despite their own 2-0 win over Galatasaray.
Benfica, meanwhile, were heading out of the competition entirely until Trubin’s extraordinary intervention kept them alive and eliminated Olympique de Marseille in the process.
UEFA’s decision to replace the traditional group stage with a single 36-team league phase from the 2024-25 season had been met with scepticism, with critics questioning whether Europe’s elite club competition might lose its identity.
Instead, as the eighth and final round of fixtures concluded on Wednesday, the new system delivered sustained jeopardy and late drama.
All 18 matches kicked off simultaneously, producing 61 goals and a constantly shifting table that resembled a stock market in flux, with qualification scenarios changing until the final seconds.
The format ensured meaningful stakes for a greater number of teams, punishing complacency and maintaining intensity deep into the competition.
Real Madrid, who began the day third, slipped out of the top eight after Sporting scored a stoppage-time goal in a 3-2 win at Athletic Bilbao, while Benfica’s late surge encapsulated the night’s chaos.
It contrasted sharply with the old group-stage model, where the final rounds often featured dead rubbers and limited tension for the leading clubs.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said he welcomed the drama, even if it came with uncertainty.
“We were all there in the dressing room and didn’t know Benfica needed a goal to qualify,” Guardiola said. “When their goalkeeper went up, we said, ‘Why you go?’ But it was a good strategy.
“I like the new format,” he added. “I don’t like that there are more games, but I like it. Every game is like a final.”
UEFA Deputy Secretary General Giorgio Marchetti said the revised structure brought greater equity and inclusion, allowing clubs from smaller nations to play a more prominent role in a competition he described as more dynamic and diverse.
