Real Madrid's rocky season continued as they finished the league phase of the 2025/26 Champions League in dramatic fashion.
Los Blancos sacked head coach Xabi Alonso a few weeks back and replaced him with reserve-team boss Alvaro Arbeloa, but their fortunes have not exactly improved.
Arbeloa's debut was an ugly defeat to lower-league side Albacete in mid-January to usher Madrid out of the Copa del Rey earlier than anticipated, and while they have turned things around since, they were brought back to Earth again in European play.
Madrid had a clear task as they entered their eighth and final league-phase match on the road at Benfica. What transpired was drama that few could have anticipated.
MORE: All teams to qualify for the Champions League knockout stage as league phase concludes
Have Real Madrid qualified for the Champions League knockout stage?
Real Madrid have qualified for the Champions League knockout stage, but they do not have an automatic place in the Round of 16.
Instead, they must navigate the playoff round after finishing ninth in the final standings.
The teams in the top eight earn a direct bye to the Round of 16, while positions nine through 24 are sent into the two-legged knockout playoffs.
They entered the final day of league-phase play in third, but they found themselves passed by Tottenham, Barcelona, Chelsea, Sporting CP, and Manchester City by the end of the round.
Champions League league phase final standings (top 12 places)
| Pos. | Club | Pts | W-D-L | GD | GF-GA |
| 1. | Arsenal | 24 | 8-0-0 | +19 | 23-4 |
| 2. | Bayern Munich | 21 | 7-0-1 | +14 | 22-8 |
| 3. | Liverpool | 18 | 6-0-2 | +12 | 20-8 |
| 4. | Tottenham | 17 | 5-2-1 | +10 | 17-7 |
| 5. | Barcelona | 16 | 5-1-2 | +8 | 22-14 |
| 6. | Chelsea | 16 | 5-1-2 | +7 | 17-10 |
| 7. | Sporting CP | 16 | 5-1-2 | +6 | 17-11 |
| 8. | Man City | 16 | 5-1-2 | +6 | 15-9 |
| 9. | Real Madrid | 15 | 5-0-3 | +9 | 21-12 |
| 10. | Inter Milan | 15 | 5-0-3 | +8 | 15-7 |
| 11. | PSG | 14 | 4-2-2 | +10 | 21-11 |
| 12. | Newcastle | 14 | 4-2-2 | +10 | 17-7 |
Real Madrid miss out on Round of 16 bye on defeat to Benfica
Madrid came into the final day of league-phase play solidly in the top eight.
A win would have secured an automatic place in the Round of 16, while even a draw would have put them in a strong position to go through.
Against Jose Mourinho's Benfica, however, there would not be the desired outcome for Los Blancos.
Kylian Mbappe's brace bracketing halftime would not be enough. Andreas Schjelderup also scored twice for the Portuguese giants, adding to Vangelis Pavlidis's penalty on the stroke of halftime.
Then with Benfica 3-2 up late, Madrid defender Raul Asencio was sent off early in stoppage time, and substitute Rodrygo was also dismissed.
Benfica still needed one more goal to go qualify for the knockouts themselves via the tiebreaker, and they would secure a place in dramatic fashion as goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin headed in a set-piece with the final touch of the game, sending Benfica into the playoff round as the final qualifier and heartbreakingly eliminating Marseille.