Jose Mourinho’s Benfica are on the verge of joining the Arsenal “Invincibles” in going through an entire domestic season unbeaten.
If they manage to avoid defeat against Braga next weekend and against Estoril Praia on the final day of the Primeira Liga season they will have managed that feat.
But that is still not enough for them to have won the league title for the 39th time. That already belongs to Porto who are nine points clear with two games to go.
And Benfica are not even guaranteed to finish second, as Sporting, who are three points behind, but with a game in hand, have a superior goal difference.
The problem for Mourinho’s team is that they have drawn ten games this season, more than any of their major rivals. And in an era of three points for a win, those draws have ultimately proven costly.
Instead, Benfica could join an unwelcome group. FC Sheriff in Moldova (2024 – 2025) and Serbian side Red Star Belgrade (2007 – 2008) are the only two other European teams in the 21st century to miss out on the league title, despite not losing a single game.
