Benfica 4–2 Real Madrid: We Deserved to Lose – Mbappé

Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé has admitted his side fully deserved their 4–2 defeat to Portuguese outfit Benfica in the UEFA Champions League.

Speaking after the loss, which denied Real Madrid automatic qualification to the Round of 16 after finishing ninth in the league standings, Mbappé acknowledged his team fell short despite his two-goal performance on the night.

The result means Real Madrid will now have to navigate the playoff stage to secure a place in the Round of 16, with the draw scheduled for Friday, January 30.

The match proved difficult for the Spanish giants, who were reduced in numbers following red cards shown to Raúl Asencio and Rodrygo. Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin also made headlines by scoring with a header, compounding Madrid’s woes.

Reflecting on the defeat, Mbappé was blunt in his assessment of the team’s performance.

“In football, games start at zero minutes and not 45 minutes, so in the end the defeat is deserved,” Mbappé told the club’s media. “I can’t say it’s not deserved because we didn’t play well enough to win this game. We didn’t play well and they did.”

He further pointed to a lack of intensity as a key factor in the loss.

“The first balls and the duels they win are not a matter of quality or tactics, but of having more desire than the opponent,” Mbappé added.

Real Madrid will now shift focus to the playoffs as they seek to keep their Champions League campaign alive.