1995–96 S.L. Benfica season

Benfica
1995–96 season
PresidentManuel Damásio
Head coachArtur Jorge
(until 9 September 1995)
Mário Wilson
StadiumEstádio da Luz
Primeira Divisão2nd
Taça de PortugalWinners
UEFA CupThird round
Top goalscorerLeague: João Pinto (18)
All: João Pinto (23)
Highest home attendance50,000 v Porto
(23 March 1996)
Lowest home attendance4,000 v Chaves
(9 March 1996)
Biggest winBenfica 4–0 União de Leiria
(29 December 1995)
Benfica 5–1 Marítimo
(12 May 1996)
Biggest defeatPorto 3–0 Benfica
(5 November 1995)
Bayern Munich 4–1 Benfica
(21 November 1995)

The 1995–96 season was Sport Lisboa e Benfica's 92nd season in existence and the club's 62nd consecutive season in the top flight of Portuguese football, covering the period from 1 July 1995 to 30 June 1996. It involved Benfica competing in the Primeira Divisão and the Taça de Portugal. Benfica qualified for the UEFA Cup by coming third in previous League.

After failing to renew the title in the past season, the club brought in several players during the transfer market, with Ricardo Gomes, Valdo, Calado and Marcelo assuming regular starter roles. However, the club lost all of his more historic players as the case of Neno, Vítor Paneira, Isaías and César Brito. With the animosity around Artur Jorge increasing, poor results in September caused his departure. Despite an irregular season in the league, various winning streaks helped the team reach their second-place finish by 23 March, after a home win against Porto. In the Portuguese Cup, a strong performance from Marcelo throughout the competition, who finish as the tournament top scorer, guided the team to the final, where João Pinto delivered the trophy after scoring a double.[1]

Season summary

[edit]

The second season of Artur Jorge started with much more distrust over his abilities. From the large number of signings in the year before, only a handful prove noteworthy, and Tavares and Nelo even showed a complete inability to play for a big club.[2] Despite that, more exits followed, with a 28-year-old Vítor Paneira, and the club league topscorer in the year before; Isaías, causing the most anger.[3][4] Benfica signed mostly in Portugal, as with the league top goalscorer, Hassan, but also searched in Europe, bringing Valdo and Ricardo Gomes, back from France.

The league start was not ideal, as the team dropped four points in three match-days, leading to Artur Jorge being sacked after the build up of fan pressure.[1] The club then selected Mário Wilson as his replacement. Benfica slowly started collecting wins over the following weeks, but after the defeat against FC Porto in the Clássico of 5 November, the distance to the league leader increased to eight points.[5] In Europe, the ended their campaign, after being knock out by Bayern Munich, with Klinsmann scoring six goals, in what the press dubbed 'Cataklinsmann'.[6][1]

In November, with Porto putting on a strong campaign, the club set eyes on closing the distance on the second place, occupied by Sporting.[5] At the end of January, Benfica reach the second place for the first time, after João Pinto led the club past Vitória Guimarães.[1] In the following month, a strong performance by Marcelo, allowed the club to progress through the Portuguese Cup semi-finals after beating Vitória de Guimarães.[7] However, February did not go as well in the league race, with the club spending two weeks on the fourth place.[8]

In March, Benfica received and beat Porto, with João Pinto scoring the winning goal, as he have done in Guimarães.[1] With this win, the club re-assumed the second place, which would be its final league position, finishing the season six points ahead of Sporting, but an eleven behind Porto, which had the title wrapped up nearly a month before.[9] In April, with only the Portuguese Cup to compete for. Marcelo continued his goalscoring record on the national cup, scoring a double in overtime for the semi-final against Leiria.[7] On the 18 May, in the 1996 Taça de Portugal final, João Pinto scored two against Sporting in a 3–1 win, with the club winning its twenty-third Taça de Portugal. The celebrations were nonetheless cancelled due to the death of a Sporting supporter, after being accidentally hit by a lost flare.[1]

Competitions

[edit]

  Win   Draw   Loss   Postponed

Overall record

[edit]
Competition First match Last match Record
G W D L GF GA GD Win % Source
Primeira Divisão 26 August 1995 12 May 1996 34 22 7 5 57 27 +30 064.71 [10]
Taça de Portugal 1 December 1995 18 May 1996 6 5 1 0 12 2 +10 083.33 [10]
UEFA Cup 12 September 1995 5 December 1995 6 3 1 2 10 11 −1 050.00 [10]
Total 46 30 9 7 79 40 +39 065.22

Primeira Divisão

[edit]

League table

[edit]
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Porto (C) 34 26 6 2 84 20 +64 84 Qualification to Champions League group stage
2 Benfica 34 22 7 5 56 25 +31 73 Qualification to Cup Winners' Cup first round[a]
3 Sporting CP 34 19 10 5 69 27 +42 67 Qualification to UEFA Cup first round
4 Boavista 34 19 8 7 59 28 +31 65
5 Vitória de Guimarães 34 19 5 10 55 39 +16 62
Source: Primeira Divisão
Rules for classification: 1st points, 2nd head-to-head, 3rd goals average
(C) Champions
Notes:
  1. ^ Benfica qualified for the Cup Winners' Cup as Portuguese Cup winners

Results by round

[edit]
Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334
GroundHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHHAH
ResultDWDWWLWWWLDWWWWWDLWWWLDWWDWWWDLWWW
Position10764353334443333344224432322222222
Source: ForaDeJogo
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches

[edit]
20 August 1995 1 Benfica Postponed Salgueiros Lisbon
Report Stadium: Estádio da Luz
26 August 1995 2 Tirsense 0–1 Benfica Santo Tirso
20:00 Report Panduru 49' Stadium: Abel Alves de Figueiredo
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Veiga Trigo
6 September 1995 1 Benfica 0–0 Salgueiros Lisbon
19:45 Report Stadium: Estádio da Luz
Attendance: 6,000
Referee: José Rufino
9 September 1995 3 Benfica 1–1 Vitória Guimarães Lisbon
19:45 Hassan 59' Report Ricardo Lopes 90' Stadium: Estádio da Luz
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: José Pratas
17 September 1995 4 Estrela da Amadora 0–1 Benfica Lisbon
19:00 Report João Pinto 28' Stadium: Estádio da Reboleira
Attendance: 4,000
Referee: Pinto Correia
22 September 1995 5 Benfica 1–0 Belenenses Lisbon
19:00 Marcelo 84' Report Stadium: Estádio da Luz
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: Vítor Pereira
4 October 1995 6 Sporting 2–0 Benfica Lisbon
21:00 Pedro Barbosa 49'
Emmanuel Amuneke 83'
Report Stadium: Estádio de Alvalade
Attendance: 40,000
Referee: Veiga Trigo
14 October 1995 7 Benfica 3–0 Gil Vicente Lisbon
18:00 Panduru 21'
Hélder 45'
Hassan 64' (pen.)
Report Stadium: Estádio da Luz
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Isidoro Rodrigues
22 October 1995 8 Desp. Chaves 1–2 Benfica Chaves
19:15 Rui Loja 68' Report Valdo 75'
Hassan 78'
Stadium: Estádio Municipal de Chaves
Attendance: 17,000
Referee: Paulo Paraty
27 October 1995 9 Benfica 4–1 Leça Lisbon
19:45 Paulão 41'
Iliev 44'
Alfaia 64' (o.g.)
Hassan 80'
Report Paredão 63' (o.g.) Stadium: Estádio da Luz
Attendance: 7,000
Referee: Daniel Alberto Soares
5 November 1995 10 Porto 3–0 Benfica Porto
20:30 Domingos 42', 85' (pen.)
Péter Lipcsei 88'
Report Stadium: Estádio das Antas
Attendance: 40,000
Referee: Bento Marques
18 November 1995 11 Benfica 1–1 Boavista Lisbon
20:00 Hassan 90' Report Artur 19' Stadium: Estádio da Luz
Attendance: 25,000
Referee: José Pratas
26 November 1995 12 Braga 1–2 Benfica Braga
19:45 Bo Andersson 25' Report João Pinto 30' (pen.)
Hassan 35'
Stadium: Estádio 1º de Maio
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Lucilio Baptista
9 December 1995 13 Benfica 2–0 Campomaiorense Lisbon
19:45 Edgar Pacheco 68'
Marcelo 85'
Report Stadium: Estádio da Luz
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: Cunha Antunes
16 December 1995 14 Farense 1–3 Benfica Faro
19:45 Hajry Redouane 13' Report Ricardo Gomes 34'
Paulo Bento 56'
João Pinto 82'
Stadium: Estádio de São Luís
Attendance: 14,000
Referee: Bento Marques
22 December 1995 15 Felgueiras 1–2 Benfica Felgueiras
19:45 Lewis 32' Report Edgar Pacheco 48'
Ricardo Gomes 72'
Stadium: Estádio Dr. Machado de Matos
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Carlos Calheiros
29 December 1995 16 Benfica 4–0 União de Leiria Lisbon
19:45 Marinho 13'
João Pinto 62'
Ricardo Gomes 76'
Panduru 81'
Report Stadium: Estádio da Luz
Attendance: 30,000
Referee: Paulo Costa
6 January 1996 17 Maritimo 2–2 Benfica Funchal
19:00 Alex Bunbury 21'
Carlos Jorge 78'
Report Marcelo 16'
João Pinto 68'
Stadium: Estádio dos Barreiros
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Lucílio Baptista
12 January 1996 18 Salgueiros 4–2 Benfica Porto
20:45 Nandinho 36'
Abílio 49' (pen.)
Nilton 79'
Basílio Almeida 87'
Report Valdo 55' (pen.)
Marcelo 89'
Stadium: Estádio Prof. Dr. José Vieira de Carvalho
Attendance: 5,000
Referee: José Pratas
20 January 1996 19 Benfica 2–1 Tirsense Lisbon
19:30 João Pinto 61'
Dimas Teixeira 77'
Report Rui Manuel 56' Stadium: Estádio da Luz
Attendance: 25,000
Referee: António Costa
27 January 1996 20 Vitória Guimarães 2–4 Benfica Guimarães
19:00 Zlatko Zahovič 10'
Ricardo Lopes 17'
Report João Pinto 48', 86'
Marcelo 50'
Hélder 58'
Stadium: Estádio D. Afonso Henriques
Attendance: 5,000
Referee: António Rola
4 February 1996 21 Benfica 1–0 Estrela da Amadora Lisbon
18:15 Paulão 46' Report Stadium: Estádio da Luz
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: Vitor Reis
11 February 1996 22 Belenenses 1–0 Benfica Lisbon
21:00 Giovanella 62' Report Stadium: Estádio do Restelo
Attendance: 5,000
Referee: Bento Marques
17 February 1996 23 Benfica 0–0 Sporting Lisbon
20:00 Report Stadium: Estádio da Luz
Attendance: 20,000
Referee: Paulo Paraty
2 March 1996 24 Gil Vicente 1–2 Benfica Braga
20:15 Jaime Cerqueira 13' Report João Pinto 6'
Marcelo 45'
Stadium: Estádio 1º de Maio
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Isidoro Rodrigues
9 March 1996 25 Benfica 2–0 Desp. Chaves Lisbon
20:00 João Pinto 32'
Marcelo 36'
Report Stadium: Estádio da Luz
Attendance: 4,000
Referee: João Mesquita
17 March 1996 26 Leça 0–0 Benfica Leça da Palmeira
19:00 Report Stadium: Estádio do Leça FC
Attendance: 5,000
Referee: Lucílio Baptista
23 March 1996 27 Benfica 2–1 Porto Lisbon
20:00 Valdo 14' (pen.)
João Pinto 52'
Report Emerson 51' Stadium: Estádio da Luz
Attendance: 50,000
Referee: António Rola
30 March 1996 28 Boavista 1–3 Benfica Porto
20:00 Artur 85' Report Ricardo Gomes 1'
João Pinto 67', 75'
Stadium: Estádio do Bessa
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Bento Marques
5 April 1996 29 Benfica 3–0 Braga Lisbon
19:00 Daniel Kenedy 9'
João Pinto 43' (pen.), pen.'
Report Stadium: Estádio da Luz
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: Antonio Costa
14 April 1996 30 Campomaiorense 0–0 Benfica Campo Maior
20:30 Report Stadium: Estádio Capitão Cesar Correia
Attendance: 12,000
Referee: Martins dos Santos
21 April 1996 31 Benfica 0–1 Farense Lisbon
20:00 Report Jorge Soares 90' Stadium: Estádio da Luz
Attendance: 20,000
Referee: José Pratas
28 April 1996 32 Benfica 1–0 Felgueiras Lisbon
20:30 Paulão 60' Report Stadium: Estádio da Luz
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: Monteiro da Silva
5 May 1996 33 União de Leiria 0–2 Benfica Leiria
20:30 Report Paulo Bento 44'
Valdo 89'
Stadium: Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Daniel Soares
12 May 1996 34 Benfica 5–1 Maritimo Lisbon
17:00 João Pinto 7', 69', 74'
Dimas Teixeira 19'
Paredão 90'
Report Alex Bunbury 80' Stadium: Estádio da Luz
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: José Rufino

Taça de Portugal

[edit]
1 December 1995 Fourth Rd Tirsense 0–2 Benfica Santo Tirso
18:00 Report João Pinto 7', 72' Stadium: Abel Alves de Figueiredo
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Juvenal Silvestre
31 January 1996 Sixth Rd Farense 1–1 (a.e.t.) Benfica Faro
19:45 Christian 73' Report Marcelo 71' Stadium: Estádio de São Luís
Attendance: 12,000
Referee: Veiga Trigo
14 February 1996 6R Replay Benfica 3–0 Farense Lisbon
20:30 Mauro Airez 60', 68'
Marcelo 81'
Report Stadium: Estádio da Luz
Referee: José Leirós
25 February 1996 Quarter-finals Benfica 1–0 (a.e.t.) Vitória Guimarães Lisbon
20:30 Marcelo 98' Report Stadium: Estádio da Luz
Referee: Martins dos Santos
10 April 1996 Semi-finals Benfica 2–0 (a.e.t.) União de Leiria Lisbon
20:30 Marcelo 113', 119' Report Crespo Yellow card 61' Yellow-red card 81'
Hugo Yellow card 66' Yellow-red card 84'
Stadium: Estádio da Luz
Referee: Lucílio Baptista
18 May 1996 Final Benfica 3–1 Sporting Lisbon
20:30 Mauro Airez 9'
João Pinto 39', 67'
Report Carlos Xavier 83' (pen.) Stadium: Estádio Nacional
Attendance: 50,000
Referee: Vítor Pereira

UEFA Cup

[edit]

First round

[edit]
12 September 1995 First leg Lierse SK Belgium 1–3 Portugal Benfica Lier
Huysmans 39' (pen.) Report Valdo 28' (pen.)
Marcelo 54'
Paulo Bento 64'
Stadium: Herman Vanderpoortenstadion
Referee: Anders Frisk
26 September 1995 Second leg Benfica Portugal 2–1
(5–2 agg.)
Belgium Lierse SK Lisbon
19:00 João Pinto 24'
Kenedy 60'
Report van Kerckhoven 33' Stadium: Estádio da Luz
Referee: Philippe Leduc

Second round

[edit]
17 October 1995 First leg Benfica Portugal 1–0 Netherlands Roda JC Lisbon
19:00 Panduru 78' Report Stadium: Estádio da Luz
Attendance: 20,000
Referee: Periklis Vassilakis
31 October 1995 Second leg Roda JC Netherlands 2–2
(2–3 agg.)
Portugal Benfica Kerkrade
19:00 Hesp 60'
Trost 72'
Report Nader 85', 90' Stadium: Parkstad Limburg Stadion
Referee: Serge Muhmenthaler

Third round

[edit]
21 November 1995 First leg Bayern Munich Germany 4–1 Portugal Benfica Munich
19:00 Klinsmann 26', 31', 44', 46' Report Dimas 30' Stadium: Olympiastadion
Attendance: 60,000
Referee: Dermot Gallagher
5 December 1995 Second leg Portugal Benfica 1–3
(2–7 agg.)
Bayern Munich Germany Lisbon
19:00 Valdo 14' Report Klinsmann 32', 68'
Herzog 83'
Stadium: Estádio da Luz
Attendance: 60,000
Referee: Peter Mikkelsen

Friendlies

[edit]
30 July 1995 UBank Challenge Benfica 0–0
(4–3 p)
Leeds United Johannesburg
Stadium: Ellis Park Stadium
4 August 1995[12] Parmalat Cup Boca Juniors 1–1
(4–3 p)
Benfica East Rutherford, New Jersey
Luis Medero 75' 17' Valdo Stadium: Giants Stadium
6 August 1995[12] Parmalat Cup USA 2–1 Benfica East Rutherford, New Jersey
Klopaso 13' (pen.)
Lassiter 66'
63' Illiev Stadium: Giants Stadium
Attendance: 32,859
18 August 1995[14] Teresa Herrera Real Madrid 2–0 Benfica A Coruña
Amavisca 70'
Raúl 71'
Stadium: Estadio Riazor
Referee: Arturo Daudén Ibáñez
19 August 1995[15] Teresa Herrera Flamengo 2–1 Benfica A Coruña
Romário 3', 13' 12' João Pinto Stadium: Estadio Riazor
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: José López de la Fuente

Player statistics

[edit]

The squad for the season consisted of the players listed in the tables below, as well as staff member Artur Jorge (manager), Zoran Filipovic (assistant manager) and Mário Wilson (manager).[10][16]

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 1995–96 season via transfer, with more details in the following section.

No. Pos Nat Player Total Primeira Divisão Taça de Portugal UEFA Cup
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
1 GK Belgium BEL Michel Preud'homme 45 -37 33 -24 6 -2 6 -11
2 DF Brazil BRA Paulo Pereira 11 0 7 0 0 0 4 0
3 DF Brazil BRA Ricardo Gomes 37 4 29 4 5 0 3 0
4 DF Portugal POR Hélder Cristóvão 43 2 31 2 6 0 6 0
5 DF Brazil BRA Paredão 12 1 8 1 2 0 2 0
6 MF Portugal POR Paulo Bento 40 3 29 2 6 0 5 1
7 MF Portugal POR José Calado 22 0 14 0 4 0 4 0
8 MF Portugal POR João Vieira Pinto 42 23 31 18 6 4 5 1
9 FW Morocco MAR Hassan Nader 14 8 10 6 1 0 3 2
10 MF Brazil BRA Valdo Filho 39 6 30 4 6 0 3 2
11 MF Romania ROU Basarab Panduru 19 4 15 3 1 0 3 1
13 DF Portugal POR Dimas Teixeira 41 3 30 2 6 0 5 1
14 DF Portugal POR Marinho 24 1 18 1 3 0 3 0
15 FW Brazil BRA Aílton Delfino 5 0 4 0 0 0 1 0
16 DF Brazil BRA King 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
17 DF Portugal POR Pedro Henriques 19 0 16 0 2 0 1 0
18 MF Portugal POR Edgar Pacheco 31 2 21 2 4 0 6 0
19 MF Portugal POR Bruno Caires 23 0 16 0 4 0 3 0
20 MF Bulgaria BUL Ilian Iliev 24 1 19 1 5 0 0 0
21 FW Brazil BRA Luiz Gustavo 14 0 14 0 0 0 0 0
25 FW Brazil BRA Marcelo 39 13 27 7 6 5 6 1
22 MF Portugal POR Daniel Kenedy 30 2 22 1 3 0 5 1
23 MF Angola ANG Paulão 20 3 18 3 2 0 0 0
24 GK Portugal POR Fernando Brassard 2 -4 2 -4 0 0 0 0
26 DF Portugal POR Nélson Veríssimo 3 0 3 0 0 0 0 0
27 MF Portugal POR Maniche 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
30 FW Argentina ARG Mauro Airez 28 3 24 0 4 3 0 0

Transfers

[edit]

[17]

In

[edit]
Entry date Position Player From club
July 1995 AM Valdo Filho Paris SG
July 1995 CB Ricardo Gomes Paris SG
July 1995 CM José Calado Estrela da Amadora
July 1995 ST Marcelo Tirsense
July 1995 RB Marinho Sporting
July 1995 ST Hassan Farense
July 1995 CM Ilian Iliev Levski Sofia
July 1995 AM Basarab Panduru Steaua București
July 1995 FW Mauro Airez Belenenses
July 1995 RW Paulão Vitória Setúbal
July 1995 GK Fernando Brassard Gil Vicente
July 1995 CB Paredão Tirsense
July 1995 FW Luiz Gustavo Belenenses
July 1995 ST Aílton Delfino São Paulo

In by loan

[edit]
Entry date Position Player From club Return date
July 1995 CB King Farense 30 June 1996

Out

[edit]
Exit date Position Player To club
July 1995 GK Neno Vitória Guimarães
July 1995 LB António Veloso Retired
July 1995 CB William Bastia
July 1995 FB Abel Xavier Bari
July 1995 CB Paulo Madeira Belenenses
July 1995 CB Paulão Vasco da Gama
July 1995 CB Carlos Mozer Kashima Antlers
July 1995 CM José Tavares Boavista
July 1995 RW Amaral Felgueiras
July 1995 RW Vítor Paneira Vitória Guimarães
July 1995 CM Nelo Boavista
July 1995 AM Mario Stanić Club Brugge
July 1995 CM Rui Esteves Belenenses
July 1995 ST Edílson Palmeiras
July 1995 ST Claudio Caniggia Boca Juniors
July 1995 FW Isaías Coventry City
July 1995 ST César Brito Belenenses
December 95 ST Aílton Delfino São Paulo

Out by loan

[edit]
Exit date Position Player To club Return date
July 1995 ST Akwá Alverca 30 June 1997
December 95 AM Basarab Panduru Neuchâtel Xamax 30 June 1996

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f Tovar 2012, p. 540.
  2. ^ Tovar 2012, p. 532.
  3. ^ "Paneira e a seleção: "Se eu tivesse ficado no Benfica..."" [Paneira and the national team: "If I stayed at Benfica..."]. Mais Futebol (in Portuguese). 14 May 2012. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  4. ^ "Isaías ataca Artur Jorge: "Chegou para destruir o Benfica"" [Isaías attacks Artur Jorge: "He arrived to destroy Benfica".]. Sapo Desporto (in Portuguese). Planeta Benfica. 22 August 2013. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  5. ^ a b Tovar 2012, p. 542.
  6. ^ "Cataklismann". Diário de Noticias (in Portuguese). Retrieved 12 March 2017.
  7. ^ a b Tovar 2012, p. 545.
  8. ^ Tovar 2012, p. 543.
  9. ^ Tovar 2012, p. 544.
  10. ^ a b c d Tovar 2012, p. 547.
  11. ^ "South Africa: United Bank Challenge Soccer". itnsource.com. 27 July 1995. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
  12. ^ a b Martín Tabeira (4 October 2006). "Parmalat Cup". RSSSF. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
  13. ^ "Momentos de uma carreira". Público (in Portuguese). 11 May 2008. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
  14. ^ "El Madrid, finalista en apuros" [Finalist Madrid in trouble]. El Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 19 August 1995. p. 18.
  15. ^ "Romario fue demasiado para el Benfica" [Romario was too much for Benfica]. El Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 20 August 1995. p. 26.
  16. ^ "Squad 1995/96". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 17 September 2015.
  17. ^ "Transfers". Thefinalball.com. Retrieved 22 March 2017.

Bibliography

  • Tovar, Rui Miguel (2012). Almanaque do Benfica [Benfica Almanac]. Portugal: Lua de Papel. ISBN 978-989-23-2087-8.