On October 2, both Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid faced disappointing results in the UEFA Champions League, continuing their struggles from La Liga. Real Madrid traveled to Lille, France, while Atletico Madrid visited Benfica in Portugal.
Lille Edges Out Champions
In a tightly contested match, Real Madrid encountered a challenging Lille team. The turning point came when the referee awarded Lille a penalty just before halftime, which Jonathan David converted successfully. Despite a spirited effort from Los Blancos, who had five players booked in the second half, Lille’s defense held firm. Kylian Mbappe made a return from injury as a substitute, but Madrid could not capitalize on their offensive opportunities, ultimately losing 1-0.
Benfica Thrashes Atletico
Atletico Madrid suffered an even harsher fate against Benfica, with the Portuguese side scoring four goals and dominating the match. Akturkoglu opened the scoring in the 13th minute, followed by Di Maria, who netted the second from the penalty spot in the 53rd minute. Bah added a third goal in the 75th minute, and Kokcu capped off Benfica’s victory with a fourth. Atletico failed to register a single shot on target while Benfica fired 10 shots and maintained superior possession throughout the game.
Domestic Hopes Ahead
Following their defeats, Real Madrid currently sits in 17th place in the league phase of the Champions League, while Atletico languishes in 23rd. Both teams will return to Spain to focus on their domestic campaigns, with Real Madrid set to face Villarreal and Atletico Madrid visiting Real Sociedad.
