S.L. Benfica in international football
1962 ) |
Sport Lisboa e Benfica is a Portuguese professional football club based in Lisbon whose involvement in European competition dates back to the 1950s. As champions of Portugal, Benfica were supposed to participate in the inaugural edition of the European Cup in 1955, but they were not invited by the organizers. Two years later, Benfica made their European debut against Sevilla in the European Cup, on 19 September 1957.
Benfica won their first European title in
With two consecutive European Cup titles, a Portuguese feat, Benfica are the second most decorated Portuguese team in overall UEFA competitions and hold the Portuguese record for most appearances in finals of UEFA competitions, with ten appearances. Additionally, their 42 participations in the Champions League (formerly the European Cup) are only surpassed by Real Madrid, and as of December 2023, Benfica occupy the eighth place at the competition's all-time ranking.
Benfica's biggest European win is 10–0, which came against Stade Dudelange of Luxembourg for the 1965–66 European Cup, and their 18–0 aggregate win (8–0 in the first leg) constitutes a European Cup record. Brazilian defender Luisão holds the club record for most appearances in Europe, with 124 matches, while Portuguese striker Eusébio is the club's leading European goalscorer, with 56 goals.
Background
The first continental competition organised by UEFA was the European Cup in 1955. Conceived by Gabriel Hanot, the editor of L'Équipe, as a competition for winners of the European national football leagues, it is considered the most prestigious European football competition.[1] That year, Benfica had won the Primeira Divisão, but the European Cup organizers selected Sporting CP to take part in the first edition.[2] Another club competition, the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, was established in 1955 and contested in parallel with the European Cup. It eventually came under the auspices of UEFA in 1971, who rebranded it as UEFA Cup. Since the 2009–10 season, the competition has been known as the UEFA Europa League.[3]
In 1957, Benfica won the league title and assured their European debut in the 1957–58 European Cup. The following years, UEFA created additional club competitions. The first, the Cup Winners' Cup, was inaugurated in 1960 for the winners of domestic cup competitions. Established in 1973, the UEFA Super Cup was originally a match played between the winners of the European Cup and the Cup Winners' Cup. Since 2000, it has been contested by the winners of the Champions League (formerly the European Cup) and the Europa League (formerly the UEFA Cup).[4]
The Intercontinental Cup was a competition for the winners of the European Cup (the later UEFA Champions League) and its South American equivalent, the Copa Libertadores. Established in 1960, the Intercontinental Cup was jointly organised by UEFA and the Confederación Sudamericana de Fútbol (CONMEBOL). It ran until 2004, when it was replaced by the FIFA Club World Cup, which includes the winners of all six continental confederations' premier club competitions.[5]
1950–79
Benfica's first European silverware came in 1950 when, managed by Ted Smith, they beat French side Bordeaux at the Estádio Nacional in Oeiras, Portugal, to win the Latin Cup.[6] Seven years later, the team reached their second and last Latin Cup final, but lost to Alfredo Di Stéfano's Real Madrid.[7] After an unsuccessful UEFA competition debut in the 1957–58 European Cup, where they lost to Sevilla in the initial round,[8] Benfica hired Hungarian manager Béla Guttmann, who led the team to their first ever European Cup final on 31 May 1961.[9] Having overcome Hearts, Újpest Dózsa, AGF Aarhus and Rapid Wien, Benfica faced Barcelona in the final, where goals from José Águas, Mário Coluna and an own goal from Antoni Ramallets helped the club lift its first European Cup.[10] The following year, Guttmann guided the team to back-to-back European Cup successes. After defeating Austria Wien, 1. FC Nürnberg and Tottenham Hotspur,[11][12] Benfica met Real Madrid in the final on 2 May 1962. A hat-trick from Ferenc Puskás put the Spanish champions ahead before half-time, but a double from Coluna and rising star Eusébio overturned the score to 5–3.[13][14]
After consecutive European Cup wins, Guttmann reportedly approached the club's board of directors asking for a pay rise. As his demand was turned down, he left the club and reportedly professed
The following season, Benfica defeated
After a mildly successful period in the 1960s, where they stood among the top contenders, Benfica lost influence in the European stage in the following decade, as Dutch, German and English teams appeared stronger over the Southern European ones. In the 1971–72 European Cup, Benfica lost in the semi-finals to a Johan Cruyff-led Ajax on their way to a second consecutive win.[29][30] They reached the quarter-finals of the 1974–75 European Cup Winners' Cup before being eliminated by another Dutch team, PSV Eindhoven.[31] As historic players like Eusébio and Simões left the club, Benfica only secured two European Cup quarter-final presences in the late 1970s: in 1975–76 they lost 5–1 to the holders Bayern Munich;[32] and in 1977–78 they were knocked out by the defending champions Liverpool with a 6–2 aggregate score.[33]
Competitive record
Season | Competition | Round | Opponent | Home | Away | Agg. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1955–56 | European Cup | Denied entry[2] | ||||
1957–58 | PR | Sevilla | 0–0 | 1–3 | 1–3 | |
1960–61 | PR | Heart of Midlothian | 3–0 | 2–1 | 5–1 | |
R1 | Újpest Dózsa | 6–2 | 1–2 | 7–4 | ||
QF | AGF | 4–1 | 3–1 | 7–2 | ||
SF | Rapid Wien | 3–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | ||
F
|
Barcelona | — | — | 3–2 | ||
1961 | Intercontinental Cup | — | Peñarol | 1–0 | 0–5 | 2pts–2pts (1–2 rep) |
1961–62 | European Cup | PR | Bye | |||
R1 | Austria Wien | 5–1 | 1–1 | 6–2 | ||
QF | 1. FC Nürnberg | 6–0 | 1–3 | 7–3 | ||
SF | Tottenham Hotspur | 3–1 | 1–2[12] | 4–3 | ||
F
|
Real Madrid
|
— | — | 5–3[13] | ||
1962 | Intercontinental Cup | — | Santos | 2–5 | 2–3 | 0pts–4pts |
1962–63 | European Cup | PR | Bye | |||
R1 | IFK Norrköping | 5–1 | 1–1 | 6–2 | ||
QF | Dukla Prague | 2–1 | 0–0 | 2–1 | ||
SF | Feyenoord | 3–1 | 0–0 | 3–1 | ||
F
|
Milan
|
— | — | 1–2[17] | ||
1963–64 | PR | Lisburn Distillery | 5–0 | 3–3 | 8–3 | |
R1 | Borussia Dortmund | 2–1 | 0–5 | 2–6 | ||
1964–65 | PR | Aris Bonnevoie | 5–1 | 5–1 | 10–2 | |
R1 | La Chaux-de-Fonds | 5–0 | 1–1 | 6–1 | ||
QF | Real Madrid
|
5–1 | 1–2 | 6–3 | ||
SF | Győri Vasas ETO | 4–0 | 1–0 | 5–0 | ||
F
|
Inter Milan | — | — | 0–1 | ||
1965–66 | PR | Stade Dudelange | 10–0 | 8–0 | 18–0 | |
R1 | Levski Sofia | 3–2 | 2–2 | 5–4 | ||
QF | Manchester United | 1–5 | 2–3 | 3–8 | ||
1966–67 | Inter-Cities Fairs Cup | R1 | Bye | |||
R2 | Spartak Plovdiv
|
3–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | ||
R3 | Lokomotive Leipzig | 2–1 | 1–3 | 3–4 | ||
1967–68 | European Cup | R1 | Glentoran | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 (a) |
R2 | Saint-Étienne | 2–0 | 0–1 | 2–1 | ||
QF | Vasas | 3–0 | 0–0 | 3–0 | ||
SF | Juventus
|
2–0 | 1–0 | 3–0 | ||
F
|
Manchester United | — | — | 1–4 ( a.e.t. )
| ||
1968–69 | R1 | Valur
|
8–1 | 0–0 | 8–1 | |
R2 | Bye | |||||
QF | Ajax | 1–3 | 3–1 | 4–4 (0–3 rep) | ||
1969–70 | R1 | KB | 2–0 | 3–2 | 5–2 | |
R2 | Celtic | 3–0 | 0–3 | 3–3 (c) | ||
1970–71 | Cup Winners' Cup | R1 | Olimpija Ljubljana
|
8–1 | 1–1 | 9–1 |
R2 | Vorwärts Berlin | 2–0 | 0–2 ( a.e.t. )
|
2–2 (3–5 p) | ||
1971–72 | European Cup | R1 | Wacker Innsbruck | 4–0 | 3–1 | 7–1 |
R2 | CSKA September Flag | 2–1 | 0–0 | 2–1 | ||
QF | Feyenoord | 5–1 | 0–1 | 5–2 | ||
SF | Ajax | 0–0 | 0–1 | 0–1 | ||
1972–73 | R1 | Malmö FF | 4–1 | 0–1 | 4–2 | |
R2 | Derby County | 0–0 | 0–3 | 0–3 | ||
1973–74 | R1 | Olympiacos | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | |
R2 | Újpest Dózsa | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | ||
1974–75 | Cup Winners' Cup | R1 | Vanløse | 4–0 | 4–1 | 8–1 |
R2 | Carl Zeiss Jena | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 (a) | ||
QF | PSV Eindhoven | 1–2 | 0–0 | 1–2 | ||
1975–76 | European Cup | R1 | Fenerbahçe | 7–0 | 0–1 | 7–1 |
R2 | Újpest Dózsa | 5–2 | 1–3 | 6–5 | ||
QF | Bayern Munich | 0–0 | 1–5 | 1–5 | ||
1976–77 | R1 | Dynamo Dresden | 0–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | |
1977–78 | R1 | Torpedo Moscow | 0–0 | 0–0 ( a.e.t. )
|
0–0 (4–1 p) | |
R2 | B 1903 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | ||
QF | Liverpool | 1–2 | 1–4 | 2–6 | ||
1978–79 | UEFA Cup | R1 | Nantes | 0–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 |
R2 | Borussia Mönchengladbach | 0–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | ||
1979–80 | R1 | Aris | 2–1 | 1–3 | 3–4 |
Note: Benfica score is always listed first.
1980–2000
In the beginning of the 1980s, Benfica's domestic dominance had dwindled, leaving the team to play in second-level competitions, namely the Cup Winners' Cup and the UEFA Cup. In
After four seasons, Benfica proved ready to challenge for the European Cup in
In the early 1990s, Benfica took part in the
In the late 1990s, the club's European performances did not match Benfica's historic record, with only a quarter-final presence in the
Competitive record
Season | Competition | Round | Opponent | Home | Away | Agg. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1980–81 | UEFA Cup Winners' Cup | PR | Altay | 4–0 | 0–0 | 4–0 |
R1 | Dinamo Zagreb | 2–0 | 0–0 | 2–0 | ||
R2 | Malmö FF | 2–0 | 0–1 | 2–1 | ||
QF | Fortuna Düsseldorf | 1–0 | 2–2 | 3–2 | ||
SF | Carl Zeiss Jena | 1–0 | 0–2 | 1–2 | ||
1981–82 | European Cup
|
R1 | Omonia | 3–0 | 1–0 | 4–0 |
R2 | Bayern Munich | 0–0 | 1–4 | 1–4 | ||
1982–83 | UEFA Cup
|
R1 | Real Betis | 2–1 | 2–1 | 4–2 |
R2 | Lokeren | 2–0 | 2–1 | 4–1 | ||
R3 | Zürich | 4–0 | 1–1 | 5–1 | ||
QF | Roma
|
1–1 | 2–1 | 3–2 | ||
SF | Universitatea Craiova | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 (a) | ||
F
|
Anderlecht | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–2 | ||
1983–84 | European Cup | R1 | Linfield | 3–0 | 3–2 | 6–2 |
R2 | Olympiacos | 3–0 | 0–1 | 3–1 | ||
QF | Liverpool | 1–4 | 0–1 | 1–5 | ||
1984–85 | R1 | Red Star Belgrade | 2–0 | 2–3 | 4–3 | |
R2 | Liverpool | 1–0 | 1–3 | 2–3 | ||
1985–86 | Cup Winners' Cup | R1 | Manchester United | Bye[a] | ||
R2 | Sampdoria
|
2–0 | 0–1 | 2–1 | ||
QF | Dukla Prague | 2–1 | 0–1 | 2–2 (a) | ||
1986–87 | R1 | Lillestrøm | 2–0 | 2–1 | 4–1 | |
R2 | Bordeaux | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–2 | ||
1987–88 | European Cup | R1 | Partizani Tirana | 4–0 | Bye[b] | 4–0 |
R2 | AGF Aarhus | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 | ||
QF | Anderlecht | 2–0 | 0–1 | 2–1 | ||
SF | Steaua București
|
2–0 | 0–0 | 2–0 | ||
F
|
PSV Eindhoven | — | — | 0–0 ( a.e.t.) (5–6 p )
| ||
1988–89 | UEFA Cup | R1 | Montpellier | 3–0 | 3–1 | 6–1 |
R2 | Liège | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–3 | ||
1989–90 | European Cup | R1 | Derry City | 4–0 | 2–1 | 6–1 |
R2 | Budapest Honvéd | 7–0 | 2–0 | 9–0 | ||
QF | Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk
|
1–0 | 3–0 | 4–0 | ||
SF | Marseille | 1–0 | 1–2 | 2–2 (a) | ||
F
|
Milan
|
— | — | 0–1 | ||
1990–91 | UEFA Cup | R1 | Roma
|
0–1 | 0–1 | 0–2 |
1991–92 | European Cup | R1 | Ħamrun Spartans | 4–0 | 6–0 | 10–0 |
R2 | Arsenal | 1–1 | 3–1 ( a.e.t. )
|
4–2 | ||
GS | Dynamo Kyiv | 5–0 | 0–1 | 3rd | ||
Barcelona | 0–0 | 1–2 | ||||
Sparta Prague | 1–1 | 1–1 | ||||
1992–93 | UEFA Cup | R1 | Izola | 3–0 | 5–0 | 7–0 |
R2 | Váci Izzó
|
5–1 | 1–0 | 6–1 | ||
R3 | Dynamo Moscow | 2–0 | 2–2 | 4–2 | ||
QF | Juventus
|
2–1 | 0–3 | 2–4 | ||
1993–94 | Cup Winners' Cup | R1 | GKS Katowice | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 |
R2 | CSKA Sofia | 3–1 | 3–1 | 6–2 | ||
QF | Bayer Leverkusen | 1–1 | 4–4 | 5–5 (a) | ||
SF | Parma | 2–1 | 0–1 | 2–2 (a) | ||
1994–95 | UEFA Champions League | GS | Hajduk Split | 2–1 | 0–0 | 1st |
Anderlecht | 3–1 | 1–1 | ||||
Steaua București
|
2–1 | 1–1 | ||||
QF | Milan
|
0–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | ||
1995–96 | UEFA Cup
|
R1 | Lierse | 2–1 | 3–1 | 5–2 |
R2 | Roda JC | 1–0 | 2–2 | 3–2 | ||
R3 | Bayern Munich | 1–3 | 1–4 | 2–7 | ||
1996–97 | UEFA Cup Winners' Cup | R1 | Ruch Chorzów | 5–1 | 0–0 | 5–1 |
R2 | Lokomotiv Moscow | 1–0 | 3–2 | 4–2 | ||
QF | Fiorentina | 0–2 | 1–0 | 1–2 | ||
1997–98 | UEFA Cup | R1 | Bastia | 0–0 | 0–1 | 0–1 |
1998–99 | UEFA Champions League | QR2 | Beitar Jerusalem | 6–0 | 2–4 | 8–4 |
GS | 1. FC Kaiserslautern | 2–1 | 0–1 | 2nd | ||
PSV Eindhoven | 2–1 | 2–2 | ||||
HJK Helsinki | 2–2 | 0–2 | ||||
1999–2000 | UEFA Cup | R1 | Dinamo București | 0–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 |
R2 | PAOK | 1–2 ( a.e.t. )
|
2–1 | 3–3 (4–1 p) | ||
R3 | Celta Vigo
|
1–1 | 0–7 | 1–8 | ||
2000–01 | UEFA Cup | R1 | Halmstad | 2–2 | 1–2 | 3–4 |
Note: Benfica score is always listed first.
2003–present
After missing two seasons of European football for the first time since 1960,
In 2009–10, Benfica had a noteworthy run in the newly created UEFA Europa League, progressing all the way from the play-off round to the quarter-finals. Their campaign featured a 5–0 thrashing of English side Everton in the group stage and an aggregate 3–2 defeat of Marseille in the round of 16[55] The following season, Benfica returned to the Champions League, but as in 2006–07 and 2007–08, they were demoted to the Europa League. This time, however, the team overcame the quarter-final stage to reach their first European semi-final in 17 years. In the first ever European match between Portuguese teams, Benfica were surprised by Braga and missed the chance to qualify to the final.[56] Benfica improved their European performance in the 2011–12 Champions League, progressing all the way to the quarter-finals.[57] In the group stage, Benfica topped their group – knocking Manchester United out of European competitions once again – and defeated Zenit Saint Petersbourg in the last 16 before losing 3–1 on aggregate to Chelsea.[58]
In the
In the mid 2010s, Benfica reached the Champions League knockout stage twice in a row for the first time. They qualified to the quarter-finals for a 18th time in 2015–16, where they lost 3–2 on aggregate to Bayern Munich,[63][64] and were eliminated by Borussia Dortmund in the round of 16 in 2016–17.[65] The following season, Benfica did not advance to the later stages of UEFA's prime tournament, setting the worst ever performance by a Portuguese team in the competition's group stage, with 6 losses and a negative goal difference of 13.[66][67] Moreoever, by losing 5–0 to Basel, they equalled their previous biggest loss in the competition, against Borussia Dortmund in 1963–64.[68]
Competitive record
Season | Competition | Round | Opponent | Home | Away | Agg. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2003–04 | UEFA Champions League | QR3 | Lazio | 0–1[c] | 1–3 | 1–4 |
2003–04 | UEFA Cup | R1 | La Louvière | 1–0[c] | 1–1 | 2–1 |
R2 | Molde | 3–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | ||
R3 | Rosenborg | 1–0 | 1–2 | 2–2 (a) | ||
R4 | Inter Milan | 0–0 | 3–4 | 3–4 | ||
2004–05 | UEFA Champions League | QR3 | Anderlecht | 1–0 | 0–3 | 1–3 |
2004–05 | UEFA Cup | R1 | Dukla Banská Bystrica | 2–0 | 3–0 | 5–0 |
GS | Heerenveen | 4–2 | — | 2nd | ||
VfB Stuttgart | — | 0–3 | ||||
Dinamo Zagreb | 2–0 | — | ||||
Beveren | — | 3–0 | ||||
R32 | CSKA Moscow | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | ||
2005–06 | UEFA Champions League | GS | Lille | 1–0 | 0–0 | 2nd |
Manchester United | 2–1 | 1–2 | ||||
Villarreal | 0–1 | 1–1 | ||||
R16 | Liverpool | 1–0 | 2–0 | 3–0 | ||
QF | Barcelona | 0–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | ||
2006–07 | QR3 | Austria Wien | 3–1 | 0–0 | 4–1 | |
GS | Copenhagen | 3–1 | 0–0 | 3rd | ||
Manchester United | 0–1 | 1–3 | ||||
Celtic | 3–0 | 0–3 | ||||
2006–07 | UEFA Cup | R32 | Dinamo București | 1–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 |
R16 | Paris Saint-Germain | 3–1 | 1–2 | 4–3 | ||
QF | Espanyol | 0–0 | 2–3 | 2–3 | ||
2007–08 | UEFA Champions League | QR3 | Copenhagen | 2–1 | 1–0 | 3–1 |
GS | Milan | 1–1 | 1–2 | 3rd | ||
Shakhtar Donetsk | 0–1 | 2–1 | ||||
Celtic | 1–0 | 0–1 | ||||
2007–08 | UEFA Cup | R32 | 1. FC Nürnberg | 1–0 | 2–2 | 3–2 |
R16 | Getafe | 1–2 | 0–1 | 1–3 | ||
2008–09 | R1 | Napoli | 2–0 | 2–3 | 4–3 | |
GS | Hertha BSC | — | 1–1 | 5th | ||
Galatasaray | 0–2 | — | ||||
Olympiacos | — | 1–5 | ||||
Metalist Kharkiv | 0–1 | — | ||||
2009–10 | UEFA Europa League | PO | Vorskla Poltava | 4–0 | 1–2 | 5–2 |
GS | BATE Borisov | 2–0 | 2–1 | 1st | ||
AEK Athens | 2–1 | 0–1 | ||||
Everton | 5–0 | 2–0 | ||||
R32 | Hertha BSC | 4–0 | 1–1 | 5–1 | ||
R16 | Marseille | 1–1 | 2–1 | 3–2 | ||
QF | Liverpool | 2–1 | 1–4 | 3–5 | ||
2010–11 | UEFA Champions League | GS | Hapoel Tel Aviv | 2–0 | 0–3 | 3rd |
Schalke 04 | 1–2 | 0–2 | ||||
Lyon | 4–3 | 0–2 | ||||
2010–11 | UEFA Europa League | R32 | VfB Stuttgart | 2–1 | 2–0 | 4–1 |
R16 | Paris Saint-Germain | 2–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | ||
QF | PSV Eindhoven | 4–1 | 2–2 | 6–3 | ||
SF | Braga | 2–1 | 0–1 | 2–2 (a) | ||
2011–12 | UEFA Champions League | QR3 | Trabzonspor | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 |
PO | Twente | 3–1 | 2–2 | 5–3 | ||
GS | Manchester United | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1st | ||
Oțelul Galați
|
1–0 | 1–0 | ||||
Basel | 1–1 | 2–0 | ||||
R16 | Zenit Saint Petersburg | 2–0 | 2–3 | 4–3 | ||
QF | Chelsea | 0–1 | 1–2 | 1–3 | ||
2012–13 | GS | Celtic | 2–1 | 0–0 | 3rd | |
Barcelona | 0–2 | 0–0 | ||||
Spartak Moscow | 2–0 | 1–2 | ||||
2012–13 | UEFA Europa League | R32 | Bayer Leverkusen | 2–1 | 1–0 | 3–1 |
R16 | Bordeaux | 1–0 | 3–2 | 4–2 | ||
QF | Newcastle United | 3–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | ||
SF | Fenerbahçe | 3–1 | 0–1 | 3–2 | ||
F
|
Chelsea | — | — | 1–2 | ||
2013–14 | UEFA Champions League | GS | Anderlecht | 2–0 | 3–2 | 3rd |
Paris Saint-Germain | 2–1 | 0–3 | ||||
Olympiacos | 1–1 | 0–1 | ||||
2013–14 | UEFA Europa League | R32 | PAOK | 3–0 | 1–0 | 4–0 |
R16 | Tottenham Hotspur | 2–2 | 3–1 | 5–3 | ||
QF | AZ | 2–0 | 1–0 | 3–0 | ||
SF | Juventus | 2–1 | 0–0 | 2–1 | ||
F
|
Sevilla | — | — | 0–0 ( a.e.t.) (2–4 p )
| ||
2014–15 | UEFA Champions League | GS | Zenit Saint Petersburg | 0–2 | 0–1 | 4th |
Bayer Leverkusen | 0–0 | 1–3 | ||||
Monaco | 1–0 | 0–0 | ||||
2015–16 | GS | Astana | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2nd | |
Atlético Madrid | 1–2 | 2–1 | ||||
Galatasaray | 2–1 | 1–2 | ||||
R16 | Zenit Saint Petersburg | 1–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 | ||
QF | Bayern Munich | 2–2 | 0–1 | 2–3 | ||
2016–17 | GS | Beşiktaş | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2nd | |
Napoli | 1–2 | 2–4 | ||||
Dynamo Kyiv | 1–0 | 2–0 | ||||
R16 | Borussia Dortmund | 1–0 | 0–4 | 1–4 | ||
2017–18 | GS | CSKA Moscow | 1–2 | 0–2 | 4th | |
Basel | 0–2 | 0–5 | ||||
Manchester United | 0–1 | 0–2 | ||||
2018–19 | QR3 | Fenerbahçe | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | |
PO | PAOK | 1–1 | 4–1 | 5–2 | ||
GS | Bayern Munich | 0–2 | 1–5 | 3rd | ||
AEK Athens | 1–0 | 3–2 | ||||
Ajax | 1–1 | 0–1 | ||||
2018–19 | UEFA Europa League | R32 | Galatasaray | 0–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 |
R16 | Dinamo Zagreb | 3–0 ( a.e.t. )
|
0–1 | 3–1 | ||
QF | Eintracht Frankfurt | 4–2 | 0–2 | 4–4 (a) | ||
2019–20 | UEFA Champions League | GS | RB Leipzig | 1–2 | 2–2 | 3rd |
Zenit Saint Petersburg | 3–0 | 1–3 | ||||
Lyon | 2–1 | 1–3 | ||||
2019–20 | UEFA Europa League | R32 | Shakhtar Donetsk | 3–3 | 1–2 | 4–5 |
2020–21 | UEFA Champions League | QR3 | PAOK | — | 1–2[d] | — |
2020–21 | UEFA Europa League | GS | Standard Liège | 3–0 | 2–2 | 2nd |
Rangers | 3–3 | 2–2 | ||||
Lech Poznań | 4–0 | 4–2 | ||||
R32 | Arsenal | 1–1[e] | 2–3[f] | 3–4 | ||
2021–22 | UEFA Champions League | QR3 | Spartak Moscow | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 |
PO | PSV Eindhoven | 2–1 | 0–0 | 2–1 | ||
GS | Dynamo Kyiv | 2–0 | 0–0 | 2nd | ||
Barcelona | 3–0 | 0–0 | ||||
Bayern Munich | 0–4 | 2–5 | ||||
R16 | Ajax | 2–2 | 1–0 | 3–2 | ||
QF | Liverpool | 1–3 | 3–3 | 4–6 | ||
2022–23 | QR3 | Midtjylland | 4–1 | 3–1 | 7−2 | |
PO | Dynamo Kyiv | 3–0 | 2–0 | 5−0 | ||
GS | Maccabi Haifa | 2–0 | 6–1 | 1st | ||
Juventus | 4–3 | 2–1 | ||||
Paris Saint-Germain | 1–1 | 1–1 | ||||
R16 | Club Brugge | 5–1 | 2–0 | 7–1 | ||
QF | Inter Milan | 0–2 | 3–3 | 3–5 | ||
2023–24 | GS | Red Bull Salzburg | 0–2 | 3–1 | 3rd | |
Inter Milan | 3–3 | 0–1 | ||||
Real Sociedad | 0–1 | 1–3 | ||||
2023–24 | UEFA Europa League | KPO | Toulouse | 2–1 | 0–0 | 2–1 |
R16 | Rangers | 2–2 | 1–0 | 3–2 | ||
QF | Marseille | 2–1 | 0–1 ( a.e.t. )
|
2–2 (2–4 p) |
Last updated: 18 April 2024
Note: Benfica score is always listed first.
Records
- As of 18 April 2024
Benfica were the first Portuguese side to reach the final of the European Cup, the first to win it and the only one to this day to win the trophy in consecutive years.[72] In the 1960s, they reached the final five times, more than any other team, surpassing Real Madrid and Milan, who reached three finals each.[73] Their ten European finals are also a domestic record,[74] and with 42 participations in the Champions League (formerly the European Cup), only Real Madrid has played more seasons in the competition.[75]
- Most appearances in European competition: Luisão, 127[49]
- Most goals in European competition: Eusébio, 56[49]
- First European match: Sevilla 3–1 Benfica in the European Cup, on 19 September 1957[76]
- Biggest win: Benfica 10–0 Stade Dudelange in the European Cup, on 5 October 1965[49]
- First goal in European competition: Francisco Palmeiro, in the 40th minute against Sevilla, on 19 September 1957[77]
- Biggest defeat: Celta Vigo 7–0 Benfica in the UEFA Cup, on 25 November 1999[49]
- Highest European home attendance: 110,000, against Marseille in the European Cup, on 18 April 1990[78]
By competition
Competition | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win%[g] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
UEFA Champions League / European Cup | 293 | 131 | 68 | 94 | 482 | 345 | +137 | 44.71 |
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup | 42 | 21 | 12 | 9 | 67 | 34 | +33 | 50.00 |
UEFA Europa League / UEFA Cup | 141 | 70 | 34 | 37 | 230 | 159 | +71 | 49.65 |
Inter-Cities Fairs Cup | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 5 | +2 | 50.00 |
Intercontinental Cup | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 15 | −9 | 20.00 |
Total | 485 | 225 | 115 | 145 | 792 | 558 | +234 | 46.39 |
By country
Country | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win%[h] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Albania | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | +7 | 100.00 |
Austria | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 24 | 8 | +16 | 60.00 |
Belarus | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | +3 | 100.00 |
Belgium | 23 | 14 | 5 | 4 | 41 | 20 | +21 | 60.87 |
Brazil | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 8 | −4 | 0.00 |
Bulgaria | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 13 | 8 | +5 | 66.67 |
Croatia | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 2 | +7 | 57.14 |
Cyprus | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | +4 | 100.00 |
Czech Republic | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 5 | +1 | 33.33 |
Denmark | 16 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 36 | 9 | +27 | 87.50 |
England | 40 | 11 | 8 | 21 | 55 | 72 | −17 | 27.50 |
Finland | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | −2 | 0.00 |
France | 36 | 17 | 10 | 9 | 44 | 34 | +10 | 47.22 |
Germany | 51 | 14 | 14 | 23 | 56 | 88 | −32 | 27.45 |
Greece | 20 | 11 | 2 | 7 | 29 | 23 | +6 | 55.00 |
Hungary | 14 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 37 | 13 | +24 | 64.29 |
Iceland | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 1 | +7 | 50.00 |
Israel | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 17 | 7 | +10 | 66.67 |
Italy | 37 | 11 | 7 | 19 | 41 | 53 | −12 | 29.73 |
Kazakhstan | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | +2 | 50.00 |
Luxembourg | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 2 | +26 | 100.00 |
Malta | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | +10 | 100.00 |
Netherlands | 29 | 12 | 11 | 6 | 44 | 31 | +13 | 41.38 |
Northern Ireland | 8 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 21 | 7 | +14 | 62.50 |
Norway | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 4 | +7 | 83.33 |
Poland | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 15 | 4 | +11 | 66.67 |
Portugal | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | +0 | 50.00 |
Republic of Ireland | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | +5 | 100.00 |
Romania | 12 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 13 | 5 | +8 | 58.33 |
Russia | 21 | 9 | 4 | 8 | 25 | 23 | +2 | 42.86 |
Scotland | 14 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 22 | 16 | +6 | 50.00 |
Serbia | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | +1 | 50.00 |
Slovakia | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | +5 | 100.00 |
Slovenia | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 17 | 2 | +15 | 75.00 |
Spain | 29 | 7 | 9 | 13 | 32 | 42 | −10 | 24.14 |
Sweden | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 15 | 9 | +6 | 37.50 |
Switzerland | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 14 | 8 | +6 | 42.86 |
Turkey | 17 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 28 | 15 | +13 | 41.18 |
Ukraine | 16 | 10 | 2 | 4 | 29 | 9 | +20 | 62.50 |
Uruguay | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 7 | −5 | 33.33 |
Finals
UEFA competitions
Year | Competition | Opposing team | Score | Venue |
---|---|---|---|---|
1961 | European Cup | Barcelona | 3–2 | Wankdorf Stadium, Bern |
1961 | Intercontinental Cup | Peñarol | 1–0 | Estádio da Luz, Lisbon |
0–5 | Estadio Centenario, Montevideo | |||
1–2[i] | ||||
1962 | European Cup | Real Madrid | 5–3[13] | Olympic Stadium, Amsterdam |
1962 | Intercontinental Cup | Santos | 2–3 | Maracanã Stadium, Rio de Janeiro |
2–5 | Estádio da Luz, Lisbon | |||
1963 | European Cup | Milan | 1–2[17] | Wembley Stadium, London |
1965 | Inter Milan | 0–1 | San Siro, Milan | |
1968 | Manchester United | 1–4 ( a.e.t. )
|
Wembley Stadium, London | |
1983 | UEFA Cup
|
Anderlecht | 0–1 | Heysel Stadium, Brussels
|
1–1 | Estádio da Luz, Lisbon | |||
1988 | European Cup | PSV Eindhoven | 0–0 ( a.e.t.) (5–6 p )
|
Neckarstadion, Stuttgart
|
1990 | Milan | 0–1 | Praterstadion, Vienna | |
2013 | UEFA Europa League | Chelsea | 1–2 | Amsterdam Arena, Amsterdam
|
2014 | Sevilla | 0–0 ( a.e.t.) (2–4 p )
|
Juventus Stadium, Turin |
Other international competitions
Year | Competition | Opposing team | Score | Venue |
---|---|---|---|---|
1950 | Latin Cup | Bordeaux | 3–3 ( a.e.t. )
|
Estádio Nacional do Jamor, Oeiras |
2–1 ( a.e.t.)[j]
| ||||
1957 | Real Madrid | 0–1 | Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid |
Semi-finals
UEFA competitions
Year | Competition | Opposing team | Agg. | Other semi-finalists |
---|---|---|---|---|
1961 | European Cup | Rapid Wien | 4–1 | Barcelona Hamburg |
1962 | Tottenham Hotspur | 4–3[12] | Real Madrid Standard Liège | |
1963 | Feyenoord | 3–1 | ||
1965 | Győri Vasas ETO | 5–0 | Inter Milan Liverpool | |
1968 | Juventus | 3–0 | Manchester United Real Madrid | |
1972 | Ajax | 0–1 | Inter Milan Celtic | |
1981 | UEFA Cup Winners' Cup | Carl Zeiss Jena | 1–2 | Dinamo Tbilisi Feyenoord |
1983 | UEFA cup
|
Universitatea Craiova | 1–1 (a) | Anderlecht Bohemians ČKD Prague |
1988 | European Cup | Steaua București
|
2–0 | PSV Eindhoven Real Madrid |
1990 | Marseille | 2–2 (a) | Milan Bayern Munich | |
1994 | UEFA Cup Winners' Cup | Parma
|
2–2 (a) | Arsenal Paris Saint-Germain |
2011 | UEFA Europa League | Braga | 2–2 (a) | Porto Villarreal |
2013 | Fenerbahçe | 3–2 | Chelsea Basel | |
2014 | Juventus | 2–1 | Valencia Sevilla |
Other international competitions
Year | Competition | Opposing team | Score | Other semi-finalists |
---|---|---|---|---|
1950 | Latin Cup | Lazio | 3–0 | Bordeaux Atlético Madrid |
1956 | Milan | 2–4 | Athletic Bilbao Nice | |
1957 | Saint-Étienne | 1–0 | Real Madrid Milan |
See also
Notes
- Heysel Stadium Disaster.
- ^ Partizani were disqualified due to the behaviour of their players and officials, having four players sent off in their first leg match. Benfica qualified on a walkover.
- ^ a b Due to UEFA not approving the Estádio Nacional (Benfica's temporary home) for European competitions, the match was played at the Estádio do Bessa.[69][70]
- ^ The match was played as a one-legged tie in Thessaloniki due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- COVID-19 variant B.1.1.7.[71]
- restrictions imposed by the United Kingdom on travelers from Portugal.[71]
- ^ Win% is rounded to two decimal places.
- ^ Win% is rounded to two decimal places.
- ^ Play-off
- ^ Replay match
References
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- ^ Tovar 2012, p. 220.
- ^ Tovar 2012, p. 261.
- ^ "1957/58: Di Stéfano shines for Madrid". UEFA. Archived from the original on 23 May 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
- ^ Tovar 2012, p. 287.
- ^ "1960/61: Eagles soar to end Madrid monopoly". UEFA. 31 March 1961. Archived from the original on 13 June 2018. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
- ^ Tovar 2012, p. 294.
- ^ a b c Spurs V Benfica (1962). British Pathé. 13 April 2014. Retrieved 15 April 2019 – via YouTube.
- ^ a b c Real Madrid V Benfica - European Cup Final In Amsterdam (1962). British Pathé. 13 April 2014. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 15 April 2019 – via YouTube.
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- ^ "1962/63: Altafini strikes for Milan". UEFA. 22 May 1963. Archived from the original on 6 September 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
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- ^ Tovar 2012, p. 323.
- ^ Tovar 2012, p. 334.
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- ^ Tovar 2012, p. 343.
- ^ "1968/69: Prati rises to the occasion". UEFA. Archived from the original on 22 May 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
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- ^ Tovar 2012, p. 365.
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- ^ Tovar 2012, p. 384.
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- ^ Tovar 2012, p. 425.
- ^ Tovar 2012, p. 440.
- ^ "1982/83: Anderlecht shine in Stadium of Light". UEFA. 1 June 1983. Archived from the original on 3 October 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
- ^ "1983/84: Kennedy spot on for Liverpool". UEFA. 30 May 1984. Archived from the original on 10 July 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
- ^ Tovar 2012, p. 476.
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- ^ Tovar 2012, p. 492.
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- ^ Tovar 2012, p. 524.
- ^ "1994/95: Kluivert strikes late for Ajax". UEFA. 24 May 1995. Archived from the original on 27 April 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
- ^ Tovar 2012, p. 548.
- ^ a b c d e "S.L. Benfica". UEFA. Archived from the original on 31 July 2015. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
- ^ Tovar 2012, pp. 581, 588.
- ^ "2003/04: Defence is key for Valencia". UEFA. 1 June 2004. Archived from the original on 1 July 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
- ^ Tovar 2012, p. 619.
- ^ "2005/06: Ronaldinho delivers for Barça". UEFA. 17 May 2006. Archived from the original on 25 January 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
- ^ Tovar 2012, pp. 627, 635.
- ^ Tovar 2012, p. 651.
- ^ "Custódio heads Braga into maiden European final". UEFA. 5 May 2011. Archived from the original on 20 March 2018. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
- ^ Tovar 2012, p. 669.
- ^ "2011/12: Drogba ends Chelsea's long wait". UEFA. 21 May 2012. Archived from the original on 30 April 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
- ^ "2012/13: Ivanović heads Chelsea to glory". UEFA. 17 May 2013. Archived from the original on 26 May 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
- ^ "2013/14: Sevilla leave Benfica dreams in tatters". UEFA. 26 May 2014. Archived from the original on 24 May 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
- ^ Hookham, Richard (15 May 2014). "Benfica fail again in Europe – Is club still jinxed by the Bela Guttman curse?". Metro. Archived from the original on 29 May 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
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- ^ "Benfica garantiu 18ª presença nos quartos de final" [Benfica assured their 18th presence in the quarter-finals]. Maisfutebol (in Portuguese). 9 March 2016. Archived from the original on 12 August 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
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- ^ "Dos 7-0 de Vigo para Basileia. Como reagir à humilhação?". Archived from the original on 2020-06-27. Retrieved 2020-06-27.
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Bibliography
- Tovar, Rui Miguel (2012). Almanaque do Benfica [Benfica Almanac] (in Portuguese). Revised by Luís Milheiro (1st ed.). Alfragide, Portugal: Lua de Papel. ISBN 978-989-23-2087-8.
- Pereira, Luís Miguel (December 2011). O Livro de Recordes do Benfica [Benfica records book] (in Portuguese) (1st ed.). Portugal: Prime Books. ISBN 978-989-655-109-4.