1977–78 S.L. Benfica season

Benfica
1977–78 season
President Ferreira Queimado
Head coach John Mortimore
Stadium Estádio da Luz
Primeira Divisão 2nd
Taça de Portugal Quarter-final
European Cup Quarter-final
Top goalscorer League: Nené (12)
All: Nené (21)
Home colours

The 1977–78 season was Sport Lisboa e Benfica's 74th season in existence and the club's 44th consecutive season in the top flight of Portuguese football, covering the period from 1 July 1977 to 30 June 1978. Benfica competed domestically in the Primeira Divisão and the Taça de Portugal, and participated in the European Cup after winning the previous league.

After John Mortimore secured the third consecutive league title, Benfica streghtned their squad with Humberto Coelho. Still, they lost players like Nelinho, Artur Correia and Carlos Alhinho. In the league, Benfica campaign started with a draw against Sporting on 3 September, but they won all remaining matches in that month. They drew again in October, before racking up seven consecutive wins that propelled them to first place. In Europe, they knocked-out Torpedo Moscow and Boldklubben 1903 in the first two rounds. Domestically, the second half of the season was not so dominant. They allowed themselves to be caught by Porto at the top of the table and were knocked of the Portuguese Cup by Sporting and the European Cup by Liverpool. In the final stages of the Primeira Divisão, Benfica intertwined wins with draws and were overtaken by Porto. The decisive Clássico in May, Porto secured a 1–1 draw after trailing most of the game, putting them on the course to win the league. Two weeks later, an unbeaten Benfica came second to Porto due to a 15 goal-average deficit.

Season summary

Benfica started the new season as three time Champion for the second time in the decade.[1] In the transfer window, Benfica brought back Humberto Coelho and others like Celso Pita.[2][3] Departing players included Nelinho, Artur Correia and Carlos Alhinho.[4][5][6] One of biggest sagas of the transfer window was the return of Rui Jordão to Portugal, which Benfica approached to re-sign, but the player refused and insisted on going to rivals Sporting.[7][8][9] The pre-season began on 1 August, without Humberto and Toni, who were still competing in the United States.[10] The training sessions were mostly spent around Monsanto,[11] and the first preparation game was on 11 August with Portimonense in Estádio do Jamor. Afterwards they travelled to Seville to take part in the Trofeo Ciudad de Sevilla, with Sevilla and Vasas.[12][13][14]

A replica of the shirt used in this time period

Benfica started defending their league title on 3 September in the Derby de Lisboa with Sporting.[9] They drew 1–1 with Jordão starting for Sporting and Humberto for Benfica.[9] Throughout the month, Benfica won all remaining league matches and finished the month in first place.[15] In the European Cup, they progressed to the second round after beating Torpedo Moscow on penalties, with Bento making an important contribution.[9] In the opening league game of October, Benfica drew in Bessa with Boavista and was caught by Vitória de Guimarães in first, both with 8 points.[16] Four days later, Benfica met Boldklubben 1903 for the second round of the European Cup, beating them with a goal from Pietra.[17] Pietra would also score in Denmark, helping Benfica qualify for the quarter-finals.[17] Meanwhile, domestically, after the draw in Bessa, Benfica won all remaining league matches in 1977, finishing the year in first with 21 points, four more than Sporting and Porto, who still had a game in hand.[18] They resumed their league campaign with the reception to Porto in the Clássico on 15 January.[19] They drew 0–0 and kept Porto at bay, retaining a two-point lead over them.[19] Benfica won the next three matches,[20] one of them a Derby against Sporting with a goal from Vítor Baptista, who subsequently lost an earring, an episode he was best remembered.[21] On 19 February, in a visit to Estádio do Restelo, Benfica drew 0–0 with Belenenses and lost a point to Porto, reducing their lead to a single point.[22]

Benfica began March with a home loss to Liverpool in the first leg of the quarter-finals of the European Cup.[23] Four days later, they were knocked-out of the Portuguese Cup by Sporting, with a 3–1 loss.[19] It was the third consecutive year that Sporting had eliminated them from the competition.[19] On 12 March, they dropped points in the league again, in another 0–0, now with Varzim.[24] This result put Benfica at risk of being caught in the top of the table by Porto, which had a game in hand.[24] Three days later, Benfica lost 4–1 in Anfield Road and were eliminated of the European Cup. Toni said the result expressed the difference between both teams.[21] Back at domestic competition, Benfica regained their footing and won the following two matches.[25] However, on 8 April, they drew again, at home with Portimonense and fell to second, a point from Porto.[26] They responded with two more wins,[27] before conceding another draw, the eight all season, against Braga.[21] This opened Porto's lead to two points with five matches to go.[28] As they had done before, Benfica reacted and won two more matches,[29] one them in Bonfim, where Bento was sent-off.[21] This allowed them to reduce Porto's lead to a point, after their rivals had slipped.[30] This made the visit to Estádio das Antas on 28 May, a title defining match.[31] On that day, Benfica scored first on the 3rd minute with Porto levelling it on the 83rd minute, thus keeping them at the front.[31] From the match, Toni said "It was the divine providence that saved Porto".[31] In the second-to-last match, Porto drew away and Benfica won, which tied both teams with the same points, although Porto remained leader with a better goal-average.[32] On the final match-day, Benfica won, but so did Porto, which celebrated their first title in 19 years.[33] Despite going unbeaten all season and only conceding 11 goals, they had lost the title by a 15-goal deficit.[29]

Competitions

  Win   Draw   Loss   Postponed

Overall record

Competition First match Last match Record
G W D L GF GA GD Win % Source
Primeira Divisão 3 September 1977 11 June 1978 30 21 9 0 56 11 +45 070.00 [34]
Taça de Portugal 13 November 1977 5 March 1978 5 4 0 1 23 5 +18 080.00 [34]
European Cup 14 September 1977 15 March 1978 6 2 2 2 4 6 −2 033.33 [34]
Total 41 27 11 3 83 22 +61 065.85

Primeira Divisão

League table

Pos
 Team
 Pld
 W
 D
 L
 GF
 GA
 GD
 Pts
Qualification or relegation
1 Porto (C) 30 22 7 1 81 21+60 51 1978–79 European Cup First round
2 Benfica 30 21 9 0 56 11+45 51 1978–79 UEFA Cup First round
3 Sporting CP 30 19 4 7 63 30+33 42 1978–79 European Cup Winners' Cup First round 1

Source: [29]
Rules for classification: 1st points, 2nd goals average, 3rd head-to-head
1 Sporting qualified for the Cup Winners' Cup as winners of the 1978 Taça de Portugal Final.
(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
GroundAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAAHAHAHA
ResultDWWWDWWWWDWWDWWWDWDWWDWWDWWDWW
Position733132111111111111222222222222

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

Matches

Taça de Portugal

European Cup

First Round

Second Round

Quarter-finals

Friendlies

Player statistics

The squad for the season consisted of the players listed in the tables below, as well as staff member John Mortimore (manager), Rui Silva (assistant manager).[46]

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 1977-78 season via transfer, with more details in the following section.

No. Pos Nat Player TotalPrimeira DivisãoTaça de PortugalEuropean Cup
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
1 GK Portugal Manuel Bento 3802705060
1‡ GK Portugal António Fidalgo 70502000
2 DF Portugal Minervino Pietra 3292343362
2 DF Portugal Alberto Fonseca 4002905060
3‡ DF Portugal Humberto Coelho 3942924260
4 DF Portugal Eurico Gomes 4113015060
4 DF Portugal Joaquim Pereirinha 2011404120
5 DF Portugal António Bastos Lopes 4022915160
5‡ MF Portugal Mário Wilson 121702130
5 MF Portugal José Luís 2141541050
6 MF Portugal Toni 4133025160
7 FW Portugal Nené 362127124752
8 MF Portugal Vítor Martins 50201020
9 FW Portugal Vítor Baptista 21121584420
9‡ FW Portugal Rui Lopes 93830010
9 FW Portugal Jorge Silva 21111000
9‡ FW Portugal Celso Pita 2321821040
10 MF Portugal Fernando Chalana 3582883040
11 MF Portugal Shéu 3962855160
11 FW Portugal Cavungi 2041325220

Transfers

In

Entry date Position Player From club Fee Ref
14 April 1977 DF Humberto Coelho Paris Saint-Germain Undisclosed [2]
30 June 1977 MF Diamantino Miranda Vitória de Setúbal Undisclosed [47]
30 June 1977 MF Mário Wilson Atlético Undisclosed [47]
1 July 1977 FW Rui Lopes Vitória de Guimarães Free [48]
16 July 1977 FW Celso Pita Boavista Undisclosed [3]
28 July 1977 GK António Fidalgo Braga Loan return [49]
4 August 1977 MF Toni Las Vegas Quicksilvers Loan return [50]

Out

Exit date Position Player To club Fee Ref
2 June 1977 MF Mário Moinhos Boavista Free [51]
1 July 1977 GK Álvaro Reis Sesimbra Free
13 July 1977 MF Romeu Silva Vitória de Guimarães Free [52]
15 July 1977 DF Carlos Alhinho Molenbeek Loan end [6]
23 July 1977 DF Artur Correia Sporting CP Free [5]
5 August 1977 FW Nelinho Braga Free [4]
10 August 1977 FW José Domingos Feirense Free [53]
12 August 1977 DF Messias Timula Riopele Free [54]

Out by loan

Exit date Position Player To club Return date Ref
1 July 1977 FW Orlando Fonseca Riopele 30 June 1978 [55]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "O Tricampeão voltou" [The three time champion returned]. Visão (in Portuguese). May 2016. p. 63. ISSN 0872-3540.
  2. 1 2 "Humberto tem festa na estreia" [Humberto will have party in his debut]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (19327): 17. 14 April 1977. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  3. 1 2 "Assim vamos de futebol" [How our football is going]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (19405): 17. 16 July 1977. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  4. 1 2 "Nelinho em Braga" [Nelinho in Braga]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (19422): 17. 5 August 1977. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  5. 1 2 "Artur". Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (19411): 16. 23 July 1977. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  6. 1 2 "Emigrantes" [Migrants]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (19404): 21. 15 July 1977. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  7. ↑ "Jordão: um angolano no centro da tempestade" [Jordão: An Angolan in the centre of the storm]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (19385): 16. 23 June 1977. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  8. ↑ Simões 1994, p. 210.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Simões 1994, p. 211.
  10. ↑ "O Benfica treinou" [Benfica practised]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (19419): 13. 2 August 1977. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  11. ↑ "Benfica sob o comando de Mortimore sob a folhagem de Monsanto" [Benfica under Mortimore in the foliage of Monsanto]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (19424): 13. 8 August 1977. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  12. 1 2 "Clubes afinam pontaria futebolistica" [Clubs prepare the new season]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (19428): 17. 12 August 1977. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  13. 1 2 "Benfica, nem honra, nem glória" [Benfica, not honour or glory]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (19437): 17. 24 August 1977. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  14. 1 2 "Benfica perde outra vez" [Benfica loses again]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (19439): 17. 26 August 1977. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  15. ↑ "Benfica já é primeiro" [Benfica already leads]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (19465): 15. 26 September 1977. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  16. ↑ "Benfica: único invicto no grande escalão" [Benfica: Only undefeated team in Primeira Divisão]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (19482): 15. 17 October 1977. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  17. 1 2 Simões 1994, p. 212.
  18. ↑ "Tudo ecónomico menos o Braga" [All economical, except Braga]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (19533): 15. 19 December 1977. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  19. 1 2 3 4 Simões 1994, p. 213.
  20. ↑ Tovar 2012, p. 405.
  21. 1 2 3 4 Simões 1994, p. 214.
  22. ↑ "Lino e Juca, vermelho e amarelo" [Lino and Juca, red and yellow]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (19586): 15. 20 February 1978. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  23. ↑ "Bye, Bye Benfica". Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (19595): 21. 2 March 1978. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  24. 1 2 "Benfica e Belenenses na arte de marcar grandes penalidades" [Benfica and Belenenes in the art of scoring penalties]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (19604): 15. 13 March 1978. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  25. ↑ Tovar 2012, p. 405-406.
  26. ↑ "Porto: o empolgante "sprint"" [Porto: The "inspiring" sprint]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (19627): 15. 10 April 1978. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  27. ↑ Tovar 2012, p. 406.
  28. ↑ "Porto cada vez mais á frente" [Porto more and more leader.]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (19650): 16. 8 May 1978. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  29. 1 2 3 Tovar 2012, p. 408.
  30. ↑ "Antas, decisivo ou não?" [Antas, decisive or not?]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (19662): 16. 22 May 1978. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  31. 1 2 3 Simões 1994, p. 216.
  32. ↑ "Suplício de tântalo" [Tantalum's torture]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (19673): 16. 5 June 1978. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  33. ↑ Simões 1994, p. 215.
  34. 1 2 3 4 Tovar 2012, p. 409.
  35. ↑ "Trivial na Taça de Honra: final com derby" [Trivial in the Taça de Honra: Final with a Derby]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (19536): 21. 22 December 1977. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  36. ↑ "Duas expulsões, 31 penalties, uma agressão a Botelho e o Benfica levou a Taça para casa" [2 Ejections, 31 penalties, an assault on Botelho and Benfica won the Cup]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (19542): 17. 29 December 1977. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  37. ↑ "Benfica perde na Arabia" [Benfica loses in Arabia]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (19571): 16. 31 January 1978. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  38. ↑ "Benfica: segunda derrota na Arábia" [Benfica: Second defeat in Arabia]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (19572): 17. 1 February 1978. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  39. ↑ "Benfica vence na Arábia" [Benfica wins in Arabia]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (19573): 20. 2 February 1977. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  40. ↑ "Outro Futebol" [Another football]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (19639): 17. 24 April 1978. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  41. ↑ "Particular" [Friendly]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (19670): 20. 1 June 1978. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  42. ↑ "Benfica perde em Chaves" [Benfica loses in Chaves]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (19680): 19. 15 June 1978. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  43. ↑ "Benfica vence no Canadá" [Benfica wins in Canada]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (19688): 17. 26 June 1977. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  44. ↑ "Benfica vai ganhando" [Benfica keeps on winning]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (19690): 16. 27 June 1978. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  45. ↑ "Benfica ganha" [Benfica wins]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (19692): 20. 29 June 1978. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  46. ↑ "Benfica: plantel ás ordens" [Benfica: squad ready]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (19429): 12. 13 August 1977. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  47. 1 2 "Benfica: soluções e problemas" [Benfica: Solutions and problems]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (19391): 16. 30 June 1977. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  48. ↑ "Benfica". Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (19392): 17. 1 July 1977. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  49. ↑ "Benfica inicia preparação" [Benfica begins preparation]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (19416): 17. 29 July 1977. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  50. ↑ "Humberto e Toni perdem e voltam" [Humberto and Toni lose and return]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (19421): 16. 4 August 1977. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  51. ↑ "Benfica". Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (19369): 17. 2 June 1977. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  52. ↑ "Benfica". Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (19402): 16. 13 July 1977. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  53. ↑ "Feirense pesca no Sul" [Feirense fishes in the South]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (19426): 17. 10 August 1977. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  54. ↑ "Messias voltou" [Messias returned]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (19428): 17. 12 August 1977. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
  55. ↑ "Benfica fortalece quadro" [Benfica strengthens squad]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (19676): 16. 8 June 1978. Retrieved 7 April 2017.

Bibliography

  • Tovar, Rui Miguel (2012). Almanaque do Benfica. Portugal: Lua de Papel. ISBN 978-989-23-2087-8.
  • Simões, António (1994). História de 50 anos do Desporto Português. Portugal: A Bola.
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