Benfica undefeated but not champions of Portugal, a first in a major European league for 47 years

Despite remaining undefeated throughout the Portuguese league season (23 wins, 11 draws), Benfica finished 3rd, behind FC Porto and Sporting. This is unprecedented in one of the top seven leagues in the UEFA coefficient rankings since 1979.

A true paradox. Benfica, having won 3-1 away at Estoril on Saturday in the final match of the season, finished the Portuguese league campaign undefeated, with 23 wins and 11 draws. Going unbeaten for an entire season usually guarantees a team the title. But not this time, as José Mourinho's team, with 80 points, finished behind FC Porto (88) and Sporting (82), even though both of those teams suffered two defeats.

This scenario is extremely rare, as it has only occurred twice in the history of the seven major European leagues (England, Spain, Germany, Italy, France, Portugal, and the Netherlands). In 1978-79, Perugia, in their best-ever season, finished undefeated in Serie A with a record of 11 wins and... 19 draws. This wasn't enough to finish ahead of AC Milan, who, despite losing three times that year, still won the title by three points – a win was worth two points.

Even more astonishing, the other scenario had occurred the previous season and also involved Benfica! With 21 wins and 9 draws, the Lisbon side finished level on points with FC Porto (51 points) but were edged out on goal difference (+45 compared to +60). 58 years later, the current Benfica is thus the only team in the history of Europe's top seven to finish undefeated but fail to secure one of the top two spots. Consequently, they will not be playing in the Champions League next year.

The teams that finished undefeated in the European top 7

*Teams that did not finish as champions are shown in bold.

1888-89: Preston North End (ENG)

1929-30: Athletic Club (ESP)

1931-32: Real Madrid (ESP)

1972-73: Benfica (POR)

1977-78: Benfica (POR)

1978-79: Perugia (ITA)

1991-92: AC Milan (ITA)

1994-95: Ajax (NED)

2003-04: Arsenal (ENG)

2010-11: FC Porto (POR)

2011-12: Juventus (ITA)

2012-13: FC Porto (POR)

2023-24: Bayer Leverkusen (GER)

2025-26: Benfica (POR)