A stunning 4–2 defeat to Benfica saw Real Madrid drop to ninth in the Champions League league phase standings, forcing Álvaro Arbeloa’s men to compete in the knockout phase playoffs.
Los Blancos were off the pace of the game from the opening whistle, looking very much like the floundering, disorganized team they were under Xabi Alonso. Kylian Mbappé continued his blistering form, bagging a brace to try and will his team to a positive result, but it was no use.
