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

• Status: Live (48’)

• Score: Benfica 2–1 Real Madrid

• Scorers: Mbappé 30’ (RMA); Schjelderup 36’ (SLB); Pavlidis 45+5’ (pen, SLB)

• Venue: Estádio da Luz, Lisbon

Kickoff (Time Zones)

• USA (ET) — Wednesday, Jan 28, 3:00 PM

• USA (PT) — Wednesday, Jan 28, 12:00 PM

• Canada (Toronto) — Wednesday, Jan 28, 3:00 PM

• UK (London) — Wednesday, Jan 28, 8:00 PM

Live Timeline (Key Moments)

• 2’: Early booking for Tchouaméni as the midfield duel sparks immediately.

• 6’: Double Benfica look — Schjelderup’s shot blocked; Pavlidis’ header also repelled.

• 21’–22’: Courtois twice sharp to deny Prestianni and then Aursnes from close range.

• 25’–26’: Sudakov rattles the right post; moments later he feeds Prestianni for another blocked effort.

• 30’: GOAL Real Madrid — Mbappé ghosts between the centre-backs and heads low into the corner for 0–1.

• 34’–35’: Trubin saves from Asencio’s header; Benfica spring forward and win territory.

• 36’: GOAL Benfica — Schjelderup arrives between full-back and centre-back to nod home Pavlidis’ cross, 1–1.

• 45’+3: Penalty Benfica — Otamendi fouled in a crowded box after a corner; lengthy VAR check confirms.

• 45’+5: GOAL Benfica — Pavlidis lashes in from the spot for 2–1; Luz erupts.

• 45’: Second half begins with Madrid on the front foot.

• 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

• 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.

• Andreas Schjelderup (Benfica): Constant back-post threat; the equaliser capped a spell where his movement disorganised Madrid’s right side.

• Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid): Deadly timing on the opener and still the visitors’ cleanest route to goal via early diagonals and quick crosses.

• 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)

• Benfica (4-2-3-1): Trubin; Dedić, Otamendi, Tomás Araújo, Dahl; Aursnes, Barreiro; Prestianni, Sudakov, Schjelderup; Pavlidis.

• 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)

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.