Jose Mourinho makes Champions League prediction after Benfica beat Real Madrid 4-2

Jose Mourinho guided Benfica to a thrilling 4-2 victory over Real Madrid to secure the 24th and final play-off spot in the Champions League last night. 

Madrid have missed out on automatic qualification for the last 16, but Mourinho still believes they are one of the favourites to win the European competition this season. 

Mourinho said: “I like to go to Madrid and I like to go to Milan. Seeing friends is always a pleasure.

“Madrid and Inter Milan are teams which can win the Champions League. We, at most, can do something incredible like today.”

Kylian Mbappe put Madrid ahead in the 30th minute, but the hosts struck back through goals from Andreas Schjelderup and Vangelis Pavlidis. 

Things got better for the Portuguese outfit after the break as Schjelderup fired past Thibaut Courtois to complete his double. 

Mbappe pulled one back just before the hour mark, leaving Benfica still needing a goal to keep their play-off hopes alive. 

Goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin emerged as an unlikely hero for the Eagles, scoring in stoppage time to send his team into the knockout stage. 

Benfica were not expected to progress after losing their opening four league phase matches. 

The Primeira Liga side bounced back with consecutive victories against Ajax and Napoli, but defeat at Juventus left them needing to beat Madrid.

They achieved that with a stunning winner to send shockwaves across Europe.