Real Madrid endured a night to forget in Lisbon on Wednesday as they suffered a 4-2 defeat against Benfica at the Estádio da Luz. The loss sees the Spanish giants fall outside the top eight in their UEFA Champions League group, meaning Álvaro Arbeloa’s side will be forced into the play-offs for the second consecutive season.
The match ended in further disappointment for Madrid after two late red cards left them with only nine men on the field. In the 92nd minute, Raúl Asensio received a second yellow card, reducing the visitors to ten. During stoppage time, Brazilian forward Rodrigo was shown a straight red card for protesting a referee decision, compounding Real’s woes in the final moments.
Following the game, Rodrigo took to social media platform X to apologise to the fans for his conduct. He stated:
“I lost my composure while protesting over time-wasting. This is not my character. I have never received a red card playing for Real Madrid before. I sincerely apologise to the supporters, my teammates, the coaching staff, and the club.”
Rodrigo also emphasised the team’s focus moving forward: “We will remain united and continue fighting for this Champions League campaign.”
Despite the incident, Real Madrid’s camp has downplayed the severity of the red card. Rodrigo has been one of the squad’s standout performers in recent weeks, and his form suggests he is likely to start in the upcoming La Liga fixture against Rayo Vallecano this weekend.
For clarity, the key incidents in Lisbon are summarised below:
| Minute | Player | Action | Consequence |
|---|---|---|---|
| 92 | Raúl Asensio | Second yellow card | Sent off, team reduced to 10 |
| 90+4 | Rodrigo | Straight red card | Sent off, team reduced to 9 |
| Full Time | – | Benfica 4–2 Real Madrid | Real Madrid fall outside top 8 |
This setback underscores Real Madrid’s precarious position in Europe this season. Having dominated the Spanish league in past years, the club now faces the pressure of navigating a play-off round to secure a place in the knockout stages of Europe’s premier competition. The focus will now shift to regrouping and preparing for domestic action, with key players like Rodrigo expected to play a pivotal role in restoring confidence.