José Mourinho’s suspension produced a rather unusual scene on Wednesday night. Banned from the bench for the second leg of the 2025-2026 Champions League playoff between Real Madrid and Benfica (2-1), the Portuguese manager did not take his place in the stands.
José Mourinho could do nothing. He could not even enter the stadium. According to El Chiringuito TV, the “Special One” followed the match… from Benfica’s bus. Parked inside the Santiago Bernabéu’s underground parking area, the Lisbon team’s vehicle turned into an improvised observation post, far from the cameras and the stadium’s buzz, amid a reportedly tense atmosphere around the Madrid arena.
Mourinho Forced to Witness Elimination from Afar
A striking image for the former Real Madrid coach, reduced to watching his team’s elimination from a distance. On the pitch, Mourinho’s assistant failed to find the solution against sharper Merengues, with Vinicius Junior proving decisive late in the match.
🚨 EXCLUSIVA @elchiringuitotv 🚨
🚌 "MOURINHO ha visto el partido en el BUS del BENFICA".
👉 "Dentro del PARKING del Bernabéu". pic.twitter.com/0pbJFeVtHC
— El Chiringuito TV (@elchiringuitotv) February 25, 2026
Already without Gianluca Prestianni before kickoff, the Lisbon side bowed out of the competition. A bitter end to their European journey… experienced from a bus.
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