José Mourinho has guided Benfica to a remarkable unbeaten Primeira Liga campaign, but the Portuguese giants still finished third in the league standings.
Benfica completed the season without suffering a single defeat, recording 23 wins and 11 draws to finish with 80 points. Despite the impressive record, the Eagles ended the campaign eight points behind champions FC Porto and two points behind second placed Sporting CP.
The club rounded off the season with a convincing 3 1 victory over G.D. Estoril Praia. Goals from Richard Ríos, Alexander Bah and Rafa Silva secured the final win of the campaign.
Mourinho successfully restored defensive ility and consistency to the Benfica squad throughout the season. However, the large number of drawn matches proved costly in the title race as both Porto and Sporting recorded more victories across the campaign.
The disappointing third place finish means Benfica will compete in the UEFA Europa League next season instead of qualifying for the UEFA Champions League.
Despite missing out on the title, Mourinho’s unbeaten league run has earned a unique place in Benfica’s history and remains one of the rarest achievements in European football.
Meanwhile, speculation continues to grow over Mourinho’s future, with reports linking the experienced manager to a sensational return to Real Madrid.
At 63 years old, Mourinho remains one of football’s most decorated and talked about managers, and his next move is expected to attract major attention across Europe.
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