1974–75 S.L. Benfica season

Benfica
1974–75 season
President Borges Coutinho
Head coach Milorad Pavić
Stadium Estádio da Luz
Primeira Divisão 1st
Taça de Portugal Runners–up
European Cup Winners' Cup Quarter-final
Top goalscorer League: Mário Moinhos (13)
All: Mário Moinhos (18)
Home colours

The 1974–75 season was Sport Lisboa e Benfica's 71st season in existence and the club's 41st consecutive season in the top flight of Portuguese football, covering the period from 1 July 1974 to 30 June 1975. Benfica competed domestically in the Primeira Divisão and the Taça de Portugal, and participated in the European Cup Winners' Cup after being runners-up in the 1974 Taça de Portugal Final.[upper-alpha 1]

After failing to retain the title in the past season, manager Fernando Cabrita was replaced by Milorad Pavić. With almost no signings in the transfer market, Benfica biggest departures were Rui Rodrigues and Zeca. After a lengthy pre-season, Benfica started their campaign with two victories against Belenenses and Farense. They dropped points in the third week, before winning the following two matches, reaching first place. In October, they drew with Boavista and lost at home to Porto, falling to third place. Four consecutive wins followed, until three draws in December cost them first place. Benfica lapped the first part of the season with a three-point deficit to Porto, but managed recover that in January. A draw in early February, with Académica de Coimbra stopped them, but the team reacted with five consecutive wins, opening a five-point lead by mid March. Benfica was then knocked out of the Cup Winners' Cup by PSV Eindhoven and lost for the league with Vitória de Setúbal, cutting their advantage to three-points. Nonetheless, in early May, Benfica confirmed their 21st league title, their 12th since 1960.

Season summary

Benfica started the new season trying to recover the title lost to Sporting in the past season.[1] Fernando Cabrita was replaced by Milorad Pavić, who was the second choice to Miljan Miljanić.[2] Miljanić initially agreed with the club, but in March 1973, he back-tracked on his word, so he could sign with Real Madrid.[2] Pavić, the former teacher of Miljanić, signed a 2-year deal on 22 April.[3] Three days later, the Carnation Revolution changed the course of the country.[4] In the transfer market, Benfica made almost no new signings but also only had three departures, Rui Rodrigues and Zeca, being the more noteworthy.[5][6] The pre-season began on 19 July, with Pavić arriving to Portugal later in the same day.[7] The first training sessions were in Serra da Estrela,[8] before the club embarked on a tour in Mexico and United States in early August.[9] Afterwards, they competed in the Trofeo Ciudad de Sevilla and the Independence Cup in Brazil.[10]

Benfica started their league campaign with victories against Belenenses and Farense, reaching top of the table, ex aequo with Porto.[11] On match-day 3, they dropped their first points, in a home draw with Olhanense.[12] They reacted by winning their following two league matches,[13] while also easily progressing in the Cup Winners' Cup.[14] On 13 October, Benfica visited Estádio do Bessa to play Boavista and drew 0–0.[15] That resulted in them being caught in first place by Vitória de Guimarães and Porto.[16] A week later, Benfica lost at home with Porto by 1–0 and dropped to third place, two points shy of leaders Porto and Guimarães.[13] They reacted positively to the loss and won their next four Primeira Divisão matches, retaking first place albeit shared with Porto.[13] Both had 18 points.[17] In Europe, Benfica qualified for the quarter-finals, after eliminating Carl Zeiss Jena in the second round.[12] Off the field, Benfica lost Eusébio to injury, as he underwent his six operation to his left knee.[12] On match-day 12, Benfica drew 0–0 with Oriental and dropped to second, a point from leaders Porto.[18] In the final three matches of December, Benfica won the first but drew the others. First with Sporting on the 22, for the Derby de Lisboa, and then on the 29, with União de Tomar.[12] Benfica lapped the first half of the season in second place with three points less than leaders Porto.[13]

In January, Benfica won their opening match, while Porto lost theirs, reducing the gap between them to a point.[19][20] Two weeks later, Benfica defeated Olhanense on the road and Porto lost in Alvalade, with the teams exchanging places.[20] Benfica now led by a point over Porto.[21] In the last match of the month, Benfica defeated Leixões at home, and Porto lost again, which increased Benfica's advantage to three-points, 31 to 28.[20][22] However, a draw with Académica de Coimbra on 2 February, cut that lead to two points.[23] In mid February, Benfica visited Estádio das Antas for the Clássico, defeating Porto by 3–0.[20] Benfica had now a three-point lead over Sporting, who overtook Porto for second place.[24] The team continued on their winning run, and on match-day 25, they added two more points in their difference over Sporting, which had lost in Bessa.[25][13] However, Benfica would experienced a troubled third week of March. First they were knocked-out of the European Cup Winners' Cup by PSV Eindhoven at home.[25] President Borges Coutinho attributed the defeat to a friendly of the national team, 9 days earlier in Goiânia; which negatively affected the Benfica players used.[25] He called it "completely useless".[25] On 23 March, Benfica lost with Vitória de Setúbal and saw his lead over Sporting reduced to three-points.[25][13] They reacted with two consecutive wins, before meeting Sporting in Estádio de Alvalade on 4 May.[13] Only needing a draw to win the title, they drew 1–1 and celebrated their 21st league title.[13][25] It was their 12th in the past 16 seasons, and the 21st in the 41 editions of the Primeira Divisão.[25][13] Three weeks into May, Pavić announced his departure, with Benfica signing Mário Wilson as his replacement.[26] Before the season ended, Pavić qualified Benfica for the Taça de Portugal Final, where they would play Boavista.[27] They lost 2–1 with the goal from former Benfica youth player, João Alves being decisive.[27] Captain Toni said: "We wanted to offer this Cup to Pavić. More than everyone else, he deserved it because of what he had done throughout the season...".[27]

Competitions

  Win   Draw   Loss   Postponed

Overall record

Competition First match Last match Record
G W D L GF GA GD Win % Source
Primeira Divisão 11 September 1974 11 May 1975 30 21 7 2 62 12 +50 070.00 [28]
Taça de Portugal 5 April 1975 14 June 1975 5 4 0 1 14 5 +9 080.00 [28]
European Cup Winners' Cup 18 September 1974 19 March 1975 6 2 3 1 10 4 +6 033.33 [28]
Total 41 27 10 4 86 21 +65 065.85

Primeira Divisão

League table

Pos
 Team
 Pld
 W
 D
 L
 GF
 GA
 GD
 Pts
Qualification or relegation
1 Benfica (C) 30 21 7 2 62 12+50 49 1975–76 European Cup First round
2 Porto 30 19 6 5 62 30+32 44 1975–76 UEFA Cup First round
3 Sporting CP 30 17 9 4 59 25+34 43 1975–76 UEFA Cup First round

Source: [14]
Rules for classification: 1st points, 2nd goals average, 3rd head-to-head
(C) = Champion; (R) = Relegated; (P) = Promoted; (E) = Eliminated; (O) = Play-off winner; (A) = Advances to a further round.
Only applicable when the season is not finished:
(Q) = Qualified to the phase of tournament indicated; (TQ) = Qualified to tournament, but not yet to the particular phase indicated; (RQ) = Qualified to the relegation tournament indicated; (DQ) = Disqualified from tournament.

Results by round

Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930
GroundHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAAH
ResultWWDWWDLWWWWDWDDWWWWDWWWWWLWWDW
Position211112331112222221111111111111

Source: ForaDeJogo
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches

Taça de Portugal

European Cup Winners' Cup

First round

Second round

Quarter-final

Friendlies

Player statistics

The squad for the season consisted of the players listed in the tables below, as well as staff member Milorad Pavić (manager), Fernando Cabrita (assistant manager), Fernando Neves (Director of Football).[7]

Note 1: Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Note 2: Players with squad numbers marked ‡ joined the club during the 1974-75 season via transfer, with more details in the following section.

No. Pos Nat Player TotalPrimeira DivisãoTaça de PortugalEuropean Cup Winners' Cup
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
1 GK Portugal Manuel Bento 2101503030
1 GK Portugal José Henrique 2201602040
2 DF Portugal Adolfo Calisto 1201000020
3 DF Portugal Amândio Malta da Silva 1501003020
3 DF Portugal Artur Correia 3512613060
4 DF Portugal Humberto Coelho 44103484062
4 DF Portugal Messias Timula 2902105030
4 DF Portugal António Barros 3732725051
5 DF Portugal António Bastos Lopes 60303000
5 DF Portugal Jaime Graça 70400030
6‡ MF Portugal Ibraim Silva 1621422000
6 MF Portugal Toni 3932925150
7 FW Portugal Nené 341726113353
8 MF Portugal José Pedro 20100010
8 MF Portugal Vítor Martins 3132431060
9 FW Portugal Vítor Baptista 3232334050
9 FW Portugal Eusébio 132920040
9 FW Portugal Rui Jordão 1411864124
9 FW Portugal Mário Moinhos 371827135550
9 FW Portugal Artur Jorge 43321100
10 MF Portugal António Simões 3302601060
11 MF Portugal Diamantino Costa 2281655310
11 MF Portugal Shéu 70304000
11‡ FW Portugal Vítor Móia 101812000

Transfers

In

Entry date Position Player From club Fee Ref
27 June 1974 MF Ibraim Silva Vitória de Guimarães Undisclosed [47]
10 September 1974 FW Vítor Móia Oriental de Lisboa Loan return [48]

Out

Exit date Position Player To club Fee Ref
29 July 1974 DF Rui Rodrigues Vitória de Guimarães Free [5]
24 August 1974 MF Eurico Caires Estoril Praia Free [35]
9 September 1974 DF Zeca União de Tomar Free [6]

Out by loan

Exit date Position Player To club Return date Ref
20 July 1974 GK João Fonseca Ourense 30 June 1975 [49]
1 August 1974 FW Rui Lopes Olhanense 30 June 1975 [50]
3 August 1974 DF Eduardo Luís Marítimo 30 June 1975 [51]
23 August 1974 MF Bernardino Pedroto Vitória de Guimarães 30 June 1975 [52]
2 September 1974 MF Nelinho Ourense 30 June 1975 [53]

Notes

  1. ↑ Sporting CP, as winners of the 1973–74 Taça de Portugal and 1973–74 Primeira Divisão, qualified for the 1974–75 European Cup

References

  1. ↑ Simões 1994, p. 190.
  2. 1 2 Simões 1994, p. 188.
  3. ↑ "Benfica e Pavic: Acordo e rubrica" [Benfica and Pavic: Agreement confirmed]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (8436): 16. 22 April 1974. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  4. ↑ Simões 1994, p. 189.
  5. 1 2 "Guimarães". Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (18523): 24. 29 July 1974. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  6. 1 2 "A grande derrota caseira" [The big home defeat]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (18557): 17. 9 September 1974. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  7. 1 2 "Benfica volta ao trabalho" [Benfica is back to work]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (18515): 20. 19 July 1974. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  8. ↑ "Na Serra da Estrela, o Benfica enche o peito de ar" [In Serra da Estrela, Benfica fills the lungs full of air]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (18517): 19. 22 July 1974. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  9. ↑ Tovar 2012, p. 384.
  10. ↑ António Manuel Morais; Carlos Perdigão; João Loureiro; José de Oliveira Santos (1994). Benfica: 90 Anos de História (in Portuguese). SOGAPAL. p. 256.
  11. ↑ "Benfica: Uma chama viva" [Benfica: A living flame]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (18563): 16. 16 September 1974. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  12. 1 2 3 4 Simões 1994, p. 192.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Miguéns 2005, p. 70.
  14. 1 2 Tovar 2012, p. 389.
  15. 1 2 Miguéns 2005, p. 71.
  16. ↑ "Guimarães ameaça a tradição" [Guimarães threatens tradition]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (18586): 16. 14 October 1974. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  17. ↑ "Bom vento do Norte" [Good winds from the North]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (18629): 20. 2 December 1974. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  18. ↑ "As brisas e as rajadas de vento do Norte" [The wind coming from the North]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (18635): 24. 9 December 1974. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  19. ↑ "Tropeçar também é cair" [Those who trip, also fall]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (18656): 21. 6 January 1975. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  20. 1 2 3 4 Simões 1994, p. 193.
  21. ↑ "Do Zero ao Infinito" [From zero to infinity]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (18668): 20. 20 January 1975. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  22. ↑ "O Belenenses assina a sensação, jogando e bem pró Benfica" [Belenenses shocks and helps Benfica]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (18674): 20. 27 January 1975. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  23. ↑ "Quem aposta nos leões" [Who bets on the Lions?]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (18680): 20. 3 February 1975. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  24. ↑ "O despertar da fera" [The awakening of the beast]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (18691): 20. 17 February 1975. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  25. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Simões 1994, p. 194.
  26. ↑ Simões 1994, p. 195.
  27. 1 2 3 Simões 1994, p. 197.
  28. 1 2 3 4 Tovar 2012, p. 390.
  29. ↑ "Benfica vence no México" [Benfica wins in Mexico]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (18526): 20. 1 August 1974. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  30. ↑ "Benfica: Segunda vitória no México" [Benfica: Second win in México]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (18528): 29. 5 August 1974. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  31. ↑ "O Benfica repete vitória ontem: 5-3 ao Cruzeiro do Brasil" [Benfica repeats win yesterday, 5-3 to Cruzeiro from Brazil]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (18531): 20. 8 August 1974. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  32. ↑ "Vitória de Setúbal em Angola" [Vitória de Setúbal in Angola]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (18534): 21. 12 August 1974. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  33. ↑ "Espectacular vitória do Benfica na Bélgica" [Amazing victory of Benfica in Belgium]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (18537): 16. 15 August 1974. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  34. ↑ "Benfica vence em Sevilha" [Benfica wins in Seville]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (18542): 17. 21 August 1974. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  35. 1 2 "Benfica derrotado em Sevilha" [Benfica defeated in Seville]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (18545): 17. 24 August 1975. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  36. ↑ "Benfica". Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (18551): 17. 31 August 1974. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  37. ↑ "Torneio Quadrangular de Lisboa" [Lisbon Quadrangular]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (18553): 17. 3 September 1974. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  38. ↑ "Benfica e Sporting: Sorte diferentes" [Benfica and Sporting: different lucks]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (18554): 21. 5 September 1974. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  39. ↑ "Benfica confirma, Sporting desilude" [Benfica confirms, Sporting disappoints]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (18555): 21. 6 September 1974. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  40. ↑ "Benfica e Sporting decidem insonsa Taça de Honra" [Benfica and Sporting decide Taça de Honra]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (18583): 21. 10 October 1974. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  41. ↑ "Ganhou quem não marcou" [It won, who did not score]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (18589): 21. 17 October 1974. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  42. ↑ "Benfica: êxito na Escócia" [Benfica: Success in Scotland]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (18638): 24. 12 December 1974. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  43. ↑ http://www.thecelticwiki.com/page/1974-12-11%3A+Celtic+3-3+Benfica%2C+UNICEF+Challenge
  44. ↑ "Benfica". Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (18793): 21. 19 June 1975. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  45. ↑ "Benfica perde em Badajoz" [Benfica loses in Badajoz]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (18801): 17. 28 June 1975. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  46. ↑ "Benfica". Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (18802): 16. 30 June 1975. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  47. ↑ "Benfica". Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (18496): 20. 27 June 1974. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  48. ↑ "Benfica-Belenenses". Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (18558): 17. 10 September 1974. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  49. ↑ "Fonseca: A longa espera" [Fonseca, the long wait]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (18516): 20. 20 July 1974. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  50. ↑ "Nem sombra do Benfica total" [No shadow of Benfica]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (18569): 20. 23 September 1974. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  51. ↑ "Marítimo". Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (18527): 12. 3 August 1974. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  52. ↑ "Guimarães". Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (18544): 16. 23 August 1974. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  53. ↑ "Ourense reforça-se" [Ourense signs Nelinho]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (18552): 17. 2 September 1974. Retrieved 17 April 2017.

Bibliography

  • Tovar, Rui Miguel (2012). Almanaque do Benfica. Portugal: Lua de Papel. ISBN 978-989-23-2087-8.
  • Miguéns, Alberto (2005). 100 anos 100 troféus. Portugal: Prime Books. ISBN 972-8820-34-8.
  • Simões, António (1994). História de 50 anos do Desporto Português. Portugal: A Bola.
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