Therefore, says José Mourinho, Benfica won 3-2. However, as the result was a 2-2 draw, the Reds lost two points. And they lost them again when they were ahead on the scoreboard. It is the fourth time this has happened this season (Santa Clara: 1-0 to 1-1; Rio Ave: 1-0 to 1-1; Casa Pia: 2-0 to 2-2; SC Braga: 1-0 to 2-2), third under the command of the current coach. Total: eight points lost while being ahead on the scoreboard. Makes you think. Sporting lost four in the same circumstances (SC Braga, 1-0 to 1-1; Benfica, 1-0 to 1-1) and FC Porto have not lost any yet, because the only points they let slip were in a 0-0 draw, at Dragão, with Benfica. This difference between the big three is something to think about, whatever its origin: arbitration, mental, physical or mere carelessness, for example.
Another interesting fact is Benfica’s inability, in League games in the 2025/2026 season, to beat their main opponents: FC Porto-Benfica, 0-0; Benfica-Sporting, 1-1; SC Braga-Benfica, 2-2. The nonsense applied to Rui Borges’ Sporting (1-2 with FC Porto; 1-1 with SC Braga; 1-1 with Benfica) can now begin to be applied to José Mourinho’s Benfica: why can’t they beat the strongest in the League? Carlos Vicens’ SC Braga follows the same path: 1-1 with Sporting; 1-2 with FC Porto; 2-2 with Benfica. Only Francesco Farioli’s FC Porto has broken this nonsense: 2-1 to Sporting, 0-0 to Benfica and 2-1 to SC Braga. And that’s why it’s at the front and clearly highlighted…
Benfica is now five points behind Sporting and, if FC Porto beat Aves SAD this Monday, as seems likely, they will be ten points behind the lead. Very difficult life, therefore, for José Mourinho. Having reached the 16th round, the Reds’ current 36 points constitute their third worst score since 2009/2010. Only the 35 from 2018/2019 (with Bruno Lage) and the 33 from 2020/2021 (Jorge Jesus) are worse. The focus of Mourinho and his players should really be on 2018/2019: 35 points on the 16th round and seven behind for FC Porto, but, in the end, in May 2019, two ahead for the Dragons and title in their pocket.
Who knew, huh? To be completely successful in this Benfica, winning the League, José Mourinho has to repeat what Bruno Lage did seven years ago: recovering a huge disadvantage for FC Porto. The Red squad was created and designed for Lage, but it is Mourinho who deals with it. There is already Sidny Cabral and, probably, there will be André Luiz. Two wingers, fast and impetuous. But more will be needed. Not losing disadvantages on the scoreboard and, above all, not having so many individual mistakes, like those of Dahl and Richard Ríos, for example. With mistakes like that, dear Benfica fans, forget 2018/2019 and Bruno Lage…
