The 2025/26 football season has served up a peculiar narrative for S.L. Benfica, a tale of stark contrasts painted across their defensive record. What began as an impenetrable fortress, seemingly immune to goal concessions, has morphed into a system showing surprising vulnerability. This isn`t just a fluctuation; it`s a dramatic swing that invites a closer look at the mechanisms, or perhaps, the magic, at play within the Eagles` camp.
An Impregnable Start: The Lage Era`s Defensive Prowess
Under the initial guidance of Bruno Lage, Benfica`s defense kicked off the season with a confidence that bordered on arrogance. Across the first seven official matches, including the Supertaça against Sporting, gruelling Champions League qualifiers against Nice and Fenerbahçe (yes, that Fenerbahçe), and early I Liga clashes with Estrela da Amadora and Tondela, the Benfica goal remained untouched. Seven games, zero goals conceded – a statistical anomaly in modern football, hinting at a robust tactical setup and an unyielding backline. Supporters, one imagines, must have been humming songs of defensive solidity, confident that their net was guarded by an invisible force field.
The Turning Tide: Defensive Cracks Appear
However, football, much like life, rarely allows for prolonged perfection. The defensive dam broke during an away fixture against Alverca, a match Benfica ultimately won 2-1, but the concession marked a psychological shift. From that point forward, the Eagles` goal became significantly less sacred. In the subsequent seven games, a concerning pattern emerged: Benfica found themselves picking the ball out of their net in six of them. This sudden permeability is a head-scratcher, especially considering the initial run of defensive brilliance.
The `Special One`s` Debut: A Fleeting Clean Sheet
Amidst this defensive downturn, one solitary beacon of a clean sheet shone through. This occurred during the visit to Vila das Aves, where Benfica faced AVS. What makes this particular clean sheet noteworthy is the man in the dugout: José Mourinho. In a twist of fate, the very coach whose Fenerbahçe side earlier in the season had prevented Benfica from scoring (more on that later), now took the helm at Benfica. His debut match for the Lisbon giants provided the only instance of defensive resilience in that challenging seven-game period. One might ponder if this was the immediate `Mourinho effect` or simply a brief alignment of the stars. The cynics, of course, might suggest it was merely an opportune moment for a tactical genius to make a grand entrance. (Even a broken clock is right twice a day, but for Mourinho, it`s usually precision timing.)
The Numbers Game: A Tale of Two Sevens
The numbers lay bare the dramatic contrast: zero goals conceded in the first seven games, followed by a staggering eight goals conceded in the very next seven. This isn`t a gentle curve; it’s a precipitous drop, demanding a thorough post-mortem on what precisely shifted within the team`s defensive structure, player form, or tactical instructions.
An Eye on Offense: Striking a Balance
While the defensive woes grab headlines, it’s worth noting that Benfica`s offense hasn`t been entirely stagnant. The team has managed to score in 12 out of 14 official matches, accumulating a respectable 21 goals, averaging 1.5 goals per game. However, even the attack has faced its moments of frustration. The recent Champions League clash against Chelsea saw Benfica fail to score, marking their second goalless outing of the season. The first? That infamous Champions League qualifier against Fenerbahçe, then under the command of none other than José Mourinho himself. It seems the `Special One` has a unique knack for making things difficult for Benfica, whether he`s coaching against them or for them. (Perhaps he holds the secret recipe for both scoring droughts and clean sheets – a true enigma!)
Looking Ahead: The Road to Defensive Stability
Benfica`s 2025/26 season presents a fascinating case study in consistency, or lack thereof. The initial defensive solidity under Bruno Lage was a benchmark, but the subsequent struggles suggest deeper issues at play, whether personnel-related, tactical, or perhaps the psychological impact of mid-season coaching changes. As the season progresses, the challenge for Benfica, now seemingly under Mourinho`s command, will be to rediscover the defensive steel that defined their early campaign, without sacrificing their offensive flair. Only then can they hope to navigate the rigours of domestic and European competition with the confidence expected of a club of their stature.
