1990–91 S.L. Benfica season

Benfica
1990–91 season
President João Santos
Head coach Sven-Göran Eriksson
Stadium Estádio da Luz
Primeira Divisão 1st
Taça de Portugal Quarter-final
UEFA Cup Second round
Top goalscorer League: Rui Águas (25)
All: Rui Águas (26)
Home colours

The 1990–91 season was Sport Lisboa e Benfica's 87th season in existence and the club's 57th consecutive season in the top flight of Portuguese football, covering the period from 1 July 1990 to 30 June 1991. Benfica competed domestically in the Primeira Divisão and the Taça de Portugal, and participated in the UEFA Cup after finishing second in the previous league.

With only a Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira won in the past season, Benfica was keen on retake the Primeira Divisão title again. They were quickly eliminated from Europe at the hands of Roma, so all attentions were pointed on the league title. A strong campaign witnessed Benfica overtake Porto in February and then close the title with an away win in the Clássico, a controversial match because of the tactics employed by Porto to destabilize the team. On late May, Benfica secured their 29th league title, while Rui Águas won the Bola de Prata for league top-scorer.

Season summary

Benfica started the new season after having lost their fifth European Cup Final in the past season, while Porto regained the league title back.[1] Swedish manager Sven-Göran Eriksson made some squad adjustments, releasing established players like Fernando Chalana, Diamantino Miranda and Álvaro Magalhães, and losing Aldair to Roma.[2][3][4][5] He nearly lost Valdo too, but Benfica and Fiorentina failed to agree terms.[6] To counter the departures, he brought back Rui Águas, from Porto,[7] Neno from Vitória de Guimarães, alongside William, and also added Isaías and Stefan Schwarz.[4][8][9][10] Tomas Brolin was also a target but Eriksson thought he was not ready to play for a club like Benfica.[6]

The pre-season started in Portugal in 16 July, followed by a tour in Sweden from 22 July to 5 August.[6] Benfica would then play a presentation game on the 9th with Belenenses,[11] take part on the Teresa Herrera Trophy from 17 until 19th, and closed pre-season with a match against Roma on the 22nd.[6] The league campaign started in the best of terms as the team racked up wins in September and October.[12][13] However, in Europe Benfica did not fare as well and were knocked-out of the UEFA Cup by Roma in the first round.[14]

With only the domestic competitions to fight for, Benfica lost for the first and only time in the league on 3 November in Setúbal.[15] The local Vitória played very aggressively, injuring three players from Benfica within the first 35 minutes: first Stefan Schwarz, followed by Fernando Mendes and then Vítor Paneira. They were forced to play with only 10 men for remaining 55 minutes, since they spent its two substitutions on Schwarz and Mendes.[12] Benfica reacted with four consecutive wins until the Clássico where it draw 2–2 in another violent match.[12] They followed with an away win in Alvalade, but lost a point with Farense who played their home match in Estádio do Bonfim to intimidate Benfica after they recent loss there.[12]

Lapping the first round only two points behind Porto, Benfica only lost two points from two draws in the final 19 matches, and won every game from match-day 23 to 34, including a title defining Clássico in Estádio das Antas.[12] The match was highly controversial because of the war-like tactics that Porto employed: Rocks were thrown at the team bus; the players had to walk to the locker room between a corridor of angry Porto fans; the locker room was sprayed with a chemical that made it impossible to use, with Benfica being forced to get dressed in the access tunnel; the pitch was flooded to prevent the ball from rolling.[16] Pinto da Costa allegedly said to Eriksson "Mr. Eriksson, I like you, but war is war".[16][17] Despite this, Benfica won 2–0 with goals from César Brito and opened a three-point gap.[18][19] A few days before, Porto had beat Benfica by 2–1 for the Portuguese Cup, eliminating them.[14]

Despite a home draw with Sporting in the aftermath of the Clássico, Benfica did not let the title slip and on 26 May it won its 29th league title.[18][19] William played every minute of the campaign, narrowly surpassing Rui Águas, who collected the Bola de Prata for his 25 league goals.[18] According to Eriksson, he should have left then, on a high.[20]

Competitions

  Win   Draw   Loss   Postponed

Overall record

Competition First match Last match Record
G W D L GF GA GD Win % Source
Primeira Divisão 25 August 1990 26 May 1991 38 32 5 1 89 18 +71 084.21 [21]
Taça de Portugal 27 February 1991 17 April 1991 4 3 0 1 9 5 +4 075.00 [21]
UEFA Cup 19 September 1990 3 October 1990 2 0 0 2 0 2 −2 000.00 [21]
Total 44 35 5 4 98 25 +73 079.55

Primeira Divisão

League table

Pos
 Team
 Pld
 W
 D
 L
 GF
 GA
 GD
 Pts
Qualification or relegation
1 Benfica (C) 38 32 5 1 89 18+71 69 1991–92 European Cup First round
2 Porto 38 31 5 2 77 22+55 67 1991–92 European Cup Winners' Cup First round 1
3 Sporting CP 38 24 8 6 58 23+35 56 1991–92 UEFA Cup First round

Source: Primeira Divisão
Rules for classification: 1st points, 2nd head-to-head, 3rd goals average
1 Porto qualified for the Cup Winners' Cup as Portuguese Cup winners
(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

Round1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132333435363738
GroundHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAH
ResultWWWWDWWWWLWWWWDWDWWWWDWWWWWWWWWWWWDWWW
Position22233322233332222222221111111111111111

Source: Foradejogo.net
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches

Taça de Portugal

UEFA Cup

Friendlies

[23]

Player statistics

The squad for the season consisted of the players listed in the tables below, as well as staff member Sven-Goran Eriksson (manager) and Toni (assistant manager).[21][18]

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 1990-91 season via transfer, with more details in the following section.

No. Pos Nat Player TotalPrimeira DivisãoTaça de PortugalUEFA Cup
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
1 GK Portugal Manuel Bento 00000000
1 GK Portugal Silvino 2301704020
1‡ GK Portugal Neno 2102100000
2 DF Portugal António Veloso 4103603020
2 DF Portugal José Carlos 3012614000
2 DF Portugal Fernando Mendes 1311001120
3 DF Brazil Ricardo Gomes 3993692010
4‡ DF Brazil William 4343843020
4 MF Portugal Rui Bento 10001000
4 DF Portugal Samuel Quina 1201001010
5 DF Portugal Paulo Madeira 120802020
5‡ MF Sweden Stefan Schwarz 104940010
6 DF Portugal Paulo Sousa 4203703020
6 MF Portugal Hernâni Neves 30201000
7 MF Portugal Vítor Paneira 41103693120
8 MF Sweden Jonas Thern 2542341010
8‡ MF Bolivia Erwin Sánchez 1711512000
8 MF Portugal António Pacheco 3382884010
9‡ FW Portugal Rui Águas 422637253120
9 FW Angola Vata 1131130000
9 FW Brazil Adesvaldo Lima 50400010
10 MF Brazil Valdo Filho 3042642020
11 FW Sweden Mats Magnusson 1781433500
11‡ MF Brazil Isaías 3062454120
11 FW Portugal César Brito 2271973000

Transfers

In

Entry date Position Player From club Fee Ref
18 May 1990 MF Isaías Boavista Undisclosed [10]
30 May 1990 FW Rui Águas Porto Free [7]
7 June 1990 MF Stefan Schwarz Malmö FF Undisclosed [4]
8 June 1990 GK Neno Vitória de Guimarães Undisclosed [9]
9 August 1990 DF William Vitória de Guimarães Undisclosed [8]
9 August 1990[nb 2] MF Erwin Sánchez Bolívar Undisclosed [31]

Out

Exit date Position Player To club Fee Ref
30 May 1990 LB António Fonseca Vitória de Guimarães Free [7]
31 May 1990 MF Ademir Alcântara Boavista Undisclosed [32]
7 June 1990 LB Álvaro Magalhães Estrela da Amadora Free [4]
7 June 1990 FW Abel Campos Estrela da Amadora Free [4]
29 June 1990 CB Aldair Roma 5 million [2]
10 July 1991 MF Fernando Chalana Belenenses Free [5]
27 July 1990 MF Diamantino Miranda Vitória Setúbal Free [3]
July 1990 DF Paulinho Estoril-Praia Free

Out by loan

Exit date Position Player To club Return date Ref
9 July 1990 CB Pedro Valido Gil Vicente 30 June 1991 [33]
July 1990 AM Rui Costa AD Fafe 30 June 1991
July 1990 FW João Pires Estoril-Praia 30 June 1991
July 1990 CB Abel Silva Penafiel 30 June 1991

Notes

  1. ↑ Postponed due to Benfica's request[22]
  2. ↑ Sánchez arrived months earlier for tryouts

References

  1. ↑ Tovar 2012, p. 492.
  2. 1 2 "Aldair: o salto do Roma" [Aldair: the leap to Roma]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (23271): 27. 29 June 1990. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  3. 1 2 "Diamantino regressa ás origens" [Diamantino returns to his roots]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (23291): 23. 27 July 1990. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Aumentam as trocas" [Trades increase]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (23257): 25. 7 June 1990. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  5. 1 2 "Aí vem o futebol" [Here comes the football]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (23278): 26. 10 July 1990. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Na Luz: palmas para Rui Águas" [In Luz: applause to Rui Águas]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (23282): 23. 16 July 1990. Retrieved 29 December 2016.
  7. 1 2 3 "Técnicos e jogadores mudam de patrão" [Coaches and players change clubs]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (23251): 25. 30 May 1990. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  8. 1 2 "William ingressou no Benfica" [William signs with Benfica]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (23300): 27. 9 August 1990. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  9. 1 2 "Benfica: Diamantino e Chalana na lista de dispensas" [Benfica:Diamantino and Chalana released]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (23258): 27. 8 June 1990. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  10. 1 2 "Isaias no Benfica". Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (23243): 25. 18 May 1990. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  11. ↑ "Benfica-Belenenses hoje no Estádio da Luz" [Benfica-Belenenses today in Luz]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (23300): 27. 9 August 1990.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 Miguéns 2005, p. 86.
  13. ↑ Tovar 2012, p. 502.
  14. 1 2 Tovar 2012, p. 506.
  15. ↑ Tovar 2012, p. 503.
  16. 1 2 Erikssoni 2013, p. 105.
  17. ↑ Tovar 2012, p. 501.
  18. 1 2 3 4 Miguéns 2005, p. 87.
  19. 1 2 Quidnovi 2004, p. 88.
  20. ↑ Erikssoni 2013, p. 106.
  21. 1 2 3 4 Tovar 2012, p. 507.
  22. 1 2 3 "Benfica regressou sem a "Copa"" [Benfica returns without "Cup"]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (23306): 26. 20 August 1990. Retrieved 29 December 2016.
  23. ↑ António Manuel Morais; Carlos Perdigão; João Loureiro; José de Oliveira Santos (1994). Benfica: 90 Anos de História (in Portuguese). SOGAPAL. p. 260.
  24. ↑ "Eriksson abre temporada benfiquista perdendo no estádio onde começou" [Eriksson opens Benfica pre-season by losing in the stadium where he started]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (23290): 24. 26 July 1990. Retrieved 29 December 2016.
  25. ↑ "Benfica:Eriksson testa plantel" [Benfica: Eriksson tests squad]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (23292): 27. 30 July 1990. Retrieved 29 December 2016.
  26. ↑ "Benfica "chapa nova"" [Benfica wins again]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (23295): 23. 2 August 1990.
  27. ↑ "Futebol por cá" [Football in Portugal]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (23297): 26. 6 August 1990. Retrieved 29 December 2016.
  28. ↑ "Quarenta artistas em palco" [Forty artists in play]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (23301): 27. 10 August 1990. Retrieved 29 December 2016.
  29. ↑ "Benfica e Roma esconderam o jogo" [Benfica and Roma hide the game]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (23309): 23. 23 August 1990. Retrieved 29 December 2016.
  30. 1 2 "Sporting: Honra entre os lisboetas" [Sporting: Honour amoeng Lisboetas]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (23321): 18. 10 September 1990. Retrieved 21 March 2017.
  31. ↑ "Quarenta artistas em palco" [Forty artists on stage] (in Portuguese) (23301). 10 August 1990: 27. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  32. ↑ "Trocas e Baldarocas" [Trades and more trades]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (23252): 24. 31 May 1990. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  33. ↑ "Diamantino: Setúbal, Amadora ou Belém?" [Diamantino: to Setúbal, Amadora or Belém?]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese) (23277): 27. 9 July 1990. Retrieved 6 August 2016.

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.
  • Eriksson, Sven-Goran (2013). A minha História. Sweden: Norstedts. ISBN 978-972-20-5590-1.
  • Quidnovi, Redacção (2004). Sport Lisboa e Benfica: 100 Gloriosos anos; As Provas Nacionais 2. Portugal: Quidnovi. ISBN 989-554-103-1.
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