Benfica vs Real Madrid Live Timeline (2-1): Pavlidis’ VAR-checked penalty gives Benfica a halftime edge as second half kicks off in Lisbon
A ferocious, end-to-end first half has Benfica vs Real Madrid Live Timeline poised perfectly: Mbappé’s header put Madrid in front, Schjelderup levelled, and Pavlidis buried a stoppage-time penalty after a lengthy review. Status: Live — early second half on Wednesday, January 28, 2026. The atmosphere at Estádio da Luz is thunderous, and the visitors came out pressing from the restart.
Score & Status — Benfica vs Real Madrid Live Timeline
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Status: Live (48’)
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Score: Benfica 2–1 Real Madrid
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Scorers: Mbappé 30’ (RMA); Schjelderup 36’ (SLB); Pavlidis 45+5’ (pen, SLB)
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Venue: Estádio da Luz, Lisbon
Kickoff (Time Zones)
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USA (ET) — Wednesday, Jan 28, 3:00 PM
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USA (PT) — Wednesday, Jan 28, 12:00 PM
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Canada (Toronto) — Wednesday, Jan 28, 3:00 PM
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UK (London) — Wednesday, Jan 28, 8:00 PM
Live Timeline (Key Moments)
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2’: Early booking for Tchouaméni as the midfield duel sparks immediately.
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6’: Double Benfica look — Schjelderup’s shot blocked; Pavlidis’ header also repelled.
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21’–22’: Courtois twice sharp to deny Prestianni and then Aursnes from close range.
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25’–26’: Sudakov rattles the right post; moments later he feeds Prestianni for another blocked effort.
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30’: GOAL Real Madrid — Mbappé ghosts between the centre-backs and heads low into the corner for 0–1.
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34’–35’: Trubin saves from Asencio’s header; Benfica spring forward and win territory.
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36’: GOAL Benfica — Schjelderup arrives between full-back and centre-back to nod home Pavlidis’ cross, 1–1.
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45’+3: Penalty Benfica — Otamendi fouled in a crowded box after a corner; lengthy VAR check confirms.
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45’+5: GOAL Benfica — Pavlidis lashes in from the spot for 2–1; Luz erupts.
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45’: Second half begins with Madrid on the front foot.
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47’: Madrid corner forces Benfica to reset their block; the hosts clear first contact.
(We’ll keep adding decisive incidents as this Benfica vs Real Madrid Live Timeline continues.)
Standout Performers & Turning Points
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Vangelis Pavlidis (Benfica): Drew blood on the break, then showed steel from 12 yards at 45+5’. His near-post runs and hold-up play keep Madrid’s back line honest.
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Andreas Schjelderup (Benfica): Constant back-post threat; the equaliser capped a spell where his movement disorganised Madrid’s right side.
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Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid): Deadly timing on the opener and still the visitors’ cleanest route to goal via early diagonals and quick crosses.
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Goalkeeper duel: Courtois’ first-half saves kept Madrid afloat before the spot-kick; Trubin’s handling on high deliveries steadied Benfica after 0–1.
Lineups & Shape (confirmed)
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Benfica (4-2-3-1): Trubin; Dedić, Otamendi, Tomás Araújo, Dahl; Aursnes, Barreiro; Prestianni, Sudakov, Schjelderup; Pavlidis.
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Real Madrid (4-3-3): Courtois; Valverde, Raúl Asencio, Huijsen, Álvvaro Carreras; Tchouaméni, Güler, Bellingham; Mastantuono, Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior.
Tactical snapshot: Benfica compress centrally to spring wide counters, with Sudakov linking transitions; Madrid alternate between controlled circulation and rapid left-side switches to Vinícius, while Mbappé pins the centre-backs.
Match Stats (halftime snapshot)
| Metric | Benfica | Real Madrid |
|---|---|---|
| Possession % | 36.6 | 63.4 |
| Shots (On Target) | 14 (6) | 7 (2) |
| Corners | 5 | 1 |
| Saves | 1 | 3 |
What It Means — Benfica vs Real Madrid Live Timeline
On a wild final night of the league phase, maintaining this lead keeps Benfica’s top-24 hopes alive and lets José Mourinho lean harder into counters and set-pieces as legs tire. For Madrid, already flirting with a top-eight seeding, the mission is to reassert control through Tchouaméni and Bellingham, feed Mbappé/Vinícius earlier, and avoid the anxiety of a late scramble. If the visitors’ left-side switches start landing and Benfica’s block sinks too deep, momentum could flip quickly — but for now the initiative belongs to the hosts in this Benfica vs Real Madrid Live Timeline.