Benfica is one of the big three teams in Portuguese football. They are also the first Portuguese club winning UEFA Champions League. Yet, they are notorious for being one of the most unfortunate teams at the continental finals too, not only at this top tier competition but also in the second tier, considering the number of finals they have failed to win so far. No wonder that many people start to believe the so-called ‘Guttman’s curse’. Nevertheless, it does not stop the 64,642 fans to come to Estadio Da Luz and bring exciting atmosphere in each of their European fixtures. Also known as Sport Lisboa e Benfica.
Benfica’s Champions League campaign can never be far from their academy products or local talents, but also some international names as well. Eusebio, Mauro Coluna, Domiciano Cavern, Antonio Veloso, Jonas Thern, Aldair and Valdo are a few of those who contributed well for a title or reaching the finals. Nevertheless, only a few managers have been considered respectable in the club’s history, the Hungarian Bella Guttmann and the Swedish Sven Goran Erikson.
Top Achievements
Benfica’s great achievements are inevitably the two back-to-back titles in 1961 and 1962. What’s even more outstanding, they defeated two La Liga giants respectively in the summit. In 1961, Bella Guttmann’s men thumped Barcelona 3-2 in Bern whereas in the following year, they trashed Real Madrid in a goal galore 5-3 win in Amsterdam.
Unfortunately, they suffered a defeat in the next five finals, three times in 1960s and twice in late 1980s. In the 1963 final, Eusebio and Co was beaten by AC Milan while two years later it was Milan’s local rival, Internazionale did it. In 1968, the Portuguese side even lost 1-4 to Manchester United. In the late 1980s, Sven Goran Erikson seemed to be giving a new hope for Benfica fans for another European trophy. Yet, a loss to PSV on penalties in 1988 and against Milan in 1990 only shows how real Bella Guttman’s curse is.
Benfica’s Iconic Champions League Moments
Benfica’s moments of glory were surely the two consecutive finals in early 1960s. In 1961, As Aguias met Barcelona at the final and won 3-2 through the goals of Jose Aguas, Ramallet’s own goal and Mauro Coluna. The more memorable one was in 1962 when Eusebio’s brace plus Jose Aguas’s opener, Mauro Coluna’s and D Cavern’s goal crushed Real Madrid’s hope for another title. They won 5-3. That was where the story of Bella Guttman’s curse began. The boss’ request for a pay rise after the final was rejected. Feeling irritated, he left the club while saying ‘Not in a hundred years from now will Benfica ever be European champions again’. Such might have been ridiculous but it comes to reality considering a number of failures they have at the finals, five times in Champions League and on three occasions in Europa league, stretching from 1960s, 1980s, and 2010s. That is undeniably the most devastating moment in the Portuguese’s side history, which also led to their big loss in Wembley final 1968 against Manchester United at the extra time. Such disappointing final alongside the defeat in 1988 edition remain Benfica’s bitter moments in the club’s history. They seem to have no choice but keep trying to reach finals till 2062 edition.