Champions League: Kylian Mbappé Explains Why Real Madrid Lost to José Mourinho’s Benfica
- Kylian Mbappé has explained why Real Madrid slipped to a surprising defeat against Benfica on Wednesday in the Champions League
- The record holders fell to a 4-2 loss against José Mourinho’s side in their final league-phase match in Europe’s elite club competition
- The result ultimately pushed Madrid out of the top eight, costing them an automatic place in the round of 16
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Kylian Mbappé faced the cameras with clear honesty after Real Madrid’s difficult UEFA Champions League loss to José Mourinho’s Benfica on January 28, 2026.
The French forward admitted his side fell short in key areas, highlighting the moments that tilted the contest away from the Spanish giants.
His words painted a picture of a team second-best when urgency mattered most.
Source: Getty Images
Mbappé reveals why Madrid lost to Benfica
Speaking after the final whistle, Mbappé did not point to formations or individual brilliance as the difference. Instead, he stressed desire and sharpness in decisive spells.
“Today wasn’t a matter of tactics or quality,” Mbappé began in his post-match interview as quoted by Centre Goals on X.
He explained that concentration dropped during transitions, allowing the Portuguese club to seize momentum and control rhythm.
The attacker praised Benfica’s organisation, noting their compact shape and ruthless response to turnovers. Madrid, by contrast, failed to impose itself when pressure rose.
“It was a matter of having more fighting spirit than the opponent. I saw Benfica play for their lives, and I didn’t see that from us.”
Numbers backed his view. The Lisbon outfit fired 22 attempts with 12 on target, while Los Blancos produced 16 efforts and eight on goal.
Mourinho’s men also created eight big chances, dwarfing Madrid’s three. Even in expected goals (xG), Benfica held a commanding edge with 3.14, underlining their threat throughout.
Watch Mourinho's celebration after Trubin's late goal:
For Mourinho, the triumph carried emotional weight. "To win against Real Madrid carries importance and is significant," the Special One said, as cited by the BBC.
"In that moment, we had to give it everything,” Mourinho said. He continued:
“I think especially of the younger Benfica fans. It was an incredible night, and the players played an extraordinary match,” he said.
The dramatic finish stunned even the Portuguese manager.
“I’ve won and lost many matches, but I had never won one with my goalkeeper scoring in the last minute,” he noted.
Source: Getty Images
Attention now turns to what lies ahead. There remains a real possibility these teams could meet again soon.
According to Fox Sports, the play-off bracket places ninth-ranked Madrid against either the side that finished 23rd or 24th, meaning Bodo/Glimt or Benfica.
Should fate pair them once more, Mbappé and company will carry motivation for redemption into a high-stakes two-leg showdown.
Mbappé overtakes Ronaldo's UCL record
In another Champions League report, YEN.com.gh noted that Kylian Mbappé broke a record previously held by Cristiano Ronaldo after scoring twice against Benfica.
Ronaldo set the milestone during his successful Real Madrid spell in the 2015/16 season, but Mbappé now owns it outright.
Source: YEN.com.gh
