2015–16 S.L. Benfica season

Benfica
2015–16 season
PresidentLuís Filipe Vieira
ManagerRui Vitória
StadiumEstádio da Luz
Primeira Liga1st
Taça de PortugalFourth round
Taça da LigaWinners
Supertaça Cândido de OliveiraRunners-up
UEFA Champions LeagueQuarter-finals
Top goalscorerLeague: Jonas (32)
All: Jonas (36)
Highest home attendance64,235 v Nacional[1]
(15 May 2016)
Lowest home attendance20,107 v Nacional[2]
(29 December 2015)
Average home league attendance50,322[3]
Biggest winBenfica 6–0 Belenenses
(11 September 2015)
Benfica 6–0 Marítimo
(6 January 2016)
Biggest defeatBenfica 0–3 Sporting CP
(25 October 2015)

The 2015–16 season was Sport Lisboa e Benfica's 112th season in existence and the club's 82nd consecutive season in the top flight of Portuguese football. It started on 9 August 2015 and concluded on 20 May 2016.

Benfica played in the Primeira Liga as the two-time defending champions after being crowned for a record 34th time, in the previous campaign. On 15 May, Benfica won their third consecutive league title (for the sixth time in their history and first since 1977), and their 35th overall, with a Portuguese record of 88 points out of the possible maximum of 102 (34 matches). Five days later, Benfica won their third consecutive league cup title, their seventh overall in nine editions, beating Marítimo 6–2 in the final. Internationally, Benfica reached the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League, where they were eliminated by Bayern Munich 2–3 on aggregate.

Players[edit]

Squad information[edit]

N
 Pos.
 Nat.
 Name
 Age
 Since
 App
 Goals
 Ends
 Transfer fee
 Notes
1 GK Brazil Ederson M. 22 2015 18 0 2020 Undisclosed Originally from youth system
2 CB Argentina Lisandro 26 2014 29 1 2018 Undisclosed
3 LB Spain Grimaldo 20 2016 (Winter) 5 0 2021 €2,121,000
4 CB Brazil Luisão (captain) 35 2003 475 44 2017 Undisclosed
5 DM Serbia Fejsa 27 2013 61 1 2019 Undisclosed
7 CM Greece Samaris 27 2014 78 2 2019 €10,000,000
9 ST Mexico Raúl 25 2015 45 12 2020 Undisclosed
10 AM Argentina Nico Gaitán (VC) 28 2010 253 41 2019 €8,400,000
11 ST Greece Mitroglou 28 2015 45 25 2016 Loan
12 GK Brazil Júlio César 36 2014 64 0 2016 Free
13 GK Portugal Paulo Lopes 38 2012 10 0 2016 Free Originally from youth system
14 DF Sweden V. Lindelöf 21 2014 26 1 2020 Youth system Promoted from Benfica B
17 ST Brazil Jonas 32 2014 83 67 2018 Free
18 RW Argentina Salvio 25 2012 162 38 2017 €13,500,000 Played as a loanee in the 2010–11 season
19 LB Portugal Eliseu 32 2014 77 4 2016 Undisclosed
20 RW Portugal G. Guedes 19 2014 40 4 2021 Youth system Promoted from Benfica B
21 CM Portugal Pizzi 26 2014 78 12 2019 €14,000,000
28 FB Portugal Sílvio 28 2013 39 0 2016 Loan Originally from youth system
30 AM Brazil A. Talisca 22 2014 78 20 2019 €4,000,000
33 CB Brazil Jardel 30 2011 (Winter) 166 11 2020 Undisclosed
34 DM Portugal A. Almeida 25 2012 132 0 2018 Undisclosed
35 ST Serbia Luka 18 2016 (Winter) 2 0 2021 €6,583,000
38 LW Portugal N. Santos 21 2015 2 0 2021 Youth system Promoted from Benfica B
39 AM Morocco Carcela G. 26 2015 29 3 2019 Free
50 RB Portugal N. Semedo 22 2015 18 1 2021 Undisclosed Promoted from Benfica B
85 MF Portugal R. Sanches 18 2015 35 2 2021 Youth system Promoted from Benfica B

Transfers[edit]

In[edit]

Date Pos No. Player Age From Ends Fee Ref
20 May 2015 MF — Venezuela Jhon Murillo 19 Venezuela Zamora FC 2020 Undisclosed [4]
26 May 2015 MF — Brazil Diego Lopes 21 Portugal Rio Ave 2020 €726,600 [5]
26 May 2015 GK 1 Brazil Ederson 21 Portugal Rio Ave 2020 Undisclosed [5]
27 May 2015 DF 3 Brazil Marçal 26 Portugal Nacional 2020 Undisclosed [6]
27 May 2015 MF — Portugal Pelé 23 Unattached 2020 Undisclosed [7]
12 June 2015 MF 23 Morocco Adel Taarabt 26 England Queens Park Rangers 2020 €4,000,000 [8][9][10]
13 June 2015 MF 39 Morocco Mehdi Carcela 25 Belgium Standard Liège 2019 Undisclosed [8][11]
13 August 2015 FW 9 Mexico Raúl Jiménez 24 Spain Atlético Madrid 2020 Undisclosed [12]
29 December 2015 DF 3 Spain Álex Grimaldo 20 Spain Barcelona 2021 €2,121,000 [13][14]
2 February 2016 FW 35 Serbia Luka Jović 18 Serbia Red Star Belgrade 2021 €6,583,000 [15][14]

Loan in[edit]

Date Pos No. Player Age From Ends Fee Ref
15 July 2015 DF 28 Portugal Sílvio 27 Spain Atlético Madrid 30 June 2016 Free [16]
6 August 2015 FW 11 Greece Kostas Mitroglou 27 England Fulham 30 June 2016 Undisclosed [17]

Out[edit]

Date Pos No. Player Age To Fee Ref
25 May 2015 DF — Portugal João Cancelo 20 Spain Valencia Undisclosed [8][18]
9 June 2015 MF 8 Serbia Miralem Sulejmani 26 Switzerland Young Boys Undisclosed [8][19]
12 June 2015 FW — Argentina Rogelio Funes Mori 24 Mexico Monterrey Undisclosed [8][20]
12 June 2015 MF — Portugal André Gomes 21 Spain Valencia End of contract [8][21][22]
15 June 2015 FW — Spain Rodrigo 24 Spain Valencia End of contract [8][23][24]
23 June 2015 DF 23 Switzerland Loris Benito 23 Switzerland Young Boys Undisclosed [8][25]
30 June 2015 MF — Brazil Airton 25 Unattached End of contract
30 June 2015 GK 1 Brazil Artur 34 Unattached End of contract
30 June 2015 DF 14 Uruguay Maxi Pereira 31 Unattached End of contract
10 July 2015 FW 19 Portugal Ivan Cavaleiro 21 France Monaco Undisclosed [26]
24 July 2015 FW 11 Brazil Lima 32 United Arab Emirates Al Ahli Club €7,000,000 [27][28]
2 February 2016 FW — Portugal Yannick Djaló 29 Thailand Ratchaburi End of contract [29]

Loan out[edit]

Date Pos No. Player Age To Ends Ref
10 July 2015 FW 32 Portugal Bebé 24 Spain Rayo Vallecano 30 June 2016 [30]
10 July 2015 MF 67 Portugal Hélder Costa 21 France Monaco 30 June 2016 [31]
16 July 2015 MF — Venezuela Jhon Murillo 19 Portugal Tondela 30 June 2016 [32]
18 July 2015 DF 37 Brazil César 22 Brazil Flamengo 30 June 2016 [33]
20 July 2015 FW 9 Brazil Derley 27 Turkey Kayserispor 30 June 2016 [34]
22 July 2015 MF — Brazil Diego Lopes 21 Turkey Kayserispor 30 June 2016 [35]
30 July 2015 FW 83 Portugal Rui Fonte 25 Portugal Braga 30 June 2016 [36]
1 August 2015 MF — Portugal Pelé 23 Portugal Paços de Ferreira 30 June 2016 [37]
7 August 2015 FW — Portugal Yannick Djaló 29 Russia Mordovia Saransk 31 December 2015 [38]
14 August 2015 MF 6 Portugal Rúben Amorim 30 Qatar Al-Wakrah 30 June 2016 [39]
20 August 2015 DF 3 Brazil Marçal 26 Turkey Gaziantepspor 30 June 2016 [40]
28 August 2015 MF 27 Germany Hany Mukhtar 20 Austria Red Bull Salzburg 30 June 2016 [41]
31 August 2015 MF — Portugal Daniel Candeias 27 France Metz 30 June 2016 [42]
1 September 2015 MF 15 Netherlands Ola John 23 England Reading 30 June 2016 [43]
1 September 2015 DF — Brazil Sidnei 26 Spain Deportivo La Coruña 30 June 2016 [44]
4 September 2015 FW 16 Portugal Nélson Oliveira 24 England Nottingham Forest 30 June 2016 [45]
8 January 2016 MF 24 Italy Bryan Cristante 20 Italy Palermo 30 June 2016 [46]
25 January 2016 MF 22 Serbia Filip Đuričić 23 Belgium Anderlecht 30 June 2016 [47]
1 February 2016 MF 31 Brazil Victor Andrade 20 Portugal Vitória de Guimarães 30 June 2016 [48]

Technical staff[edit]

Position Name
Head coach Rui Vitória
Assistant coach Arnaldo Teixeira
Sérgio Botelho
Minervino Pietra
Marco Pedroso
Fitness coach Paulo Mourão
Goalkeeping coach Hugo Oliveira
Benfica LAB coordinator Bruno Mendes

Source: Equipa Técnica

Pre-season friendlies[edit]

  Win   Draw   Loss

18 July 2015 International Champions Cup Benfica Portugal 2–3 France Paris Saint-Germain Toronto, Ontario, Canada
20:30 EDT (UTC−04:00) Talisca 34'
Jonas 42'
López Yellow card 89'		 Report Kimpembe Yellow card 23'
Augustin 29'
Lucas Yellow card 60' 64' (pen.)
Digne 79'		 Stadium: BMO Field
Attendance: 20,000
Referee: Drew Fischer (Canada)
24 July 2015 International Champions Cup Benfica Portugal 0–0
(4–5 p)		 Italy Fiorentina East Hartford, Connecticut, United States
20:00 EDT (UTC−04:00) Luisão Yellow card 29' Yellow-red card 66' Report Basanta Yellow card 15'
Rodríguez Yellow card 29'
Alonso Yellow card 35'
Iličić Yellow card 44'
Hegazi Yellow card 74'
Badelj Yellow card 90'		 Stadium: Rentschler Field
Attendance: 15,791
Referee: Sorin Stoica (United States)
Penalties
Almeida soccer ball with check mark
Pizzi soccer ball with check mark
Sílvio soccer ball with check mark
Oliveira soccer ball with check mark
Carcela soccer ball with red X		 soccer ball with check mark Pasqual
soccer ball with check mark Badelj
soccer ball with check mark Iličić
soccer ball with check mark Rebić
soccer ball with check mark Suárez
26 July 2015 International Champions Cup New York Red Bulls United States 2–1 Portugal Benfica Harrison, New Jersey, United States
19:30 EDT (UTC−04:00) Wright-Phillips 33'
Robles Yellow card 45'
Grella 56'
Miller Yellow card 85'		 Report Pizzi 7' Yellow card 20' Stadium: Red Bull Arena
Referee: Alex Chilowicz (United States)
28 July 2015 International Champions Cup Club América Mexico 0–0
(3–4 p)		 Portugal Benfica Mexico City, Mexico
21:00 CDT (UTC−05:00) Alvarado Yellow card 15'
Güémez Yellow card 32'
Arroyo Yellow card 54'
Burón Red card 70'		 Report Marçal Yellow card 85' Stadium: Estadio Azteca
Referee: Jorge Castillo (Mexico)
Penalties
Martínez soccer ball with red X
Zúñiga soccer ball with check mark
Marín soccer ball with check mark
Colula soccer ball with check mark
Rosel soccer ball with red X		 soccer ball with check mark Cristante
soccer ball with red X Gaitán
soccer ball with check mark Santos
soccer ball with check mark Samaris
soccer ball with check mark Rodríguez
2 August 2015 Eusébio Cup Monterrey Mexico 3–0 Portugal Benfica Monterrey, Mexico
22:00 CDT (UTC−05:00) Ramírez 49'
Funes Mori 58' (pen.)
Rivera 81'		 Report Stadium: Estadio BBVA Bancomer
Attendance: 51,000
Referee: Francisco Chacón (Mexico)

Competitions[edit]

Overall record[edit]

Performance by competition
Competition Starting round Final position/round First match Last match
Primeira Liga — 1st 16 August 2015 15 May 2016
Taça de Portugal Third round Fourth round 16 October 2015 21 November 2015
Taça da Liga Third round Winners 29 December 2015 20 May 2016
Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira — Runners-up 9 August 2015
UEFA Champions League Group stage Quarter-finals 15 September 2015 13 April 2016
Statistics by competition
Competition Pld W D L GF GA GD Win%
Primeira Liga 34 29 1 4 88 22 +66 085.29
Taça de Portugal 2 1 0 1 3 3 +0 050.00
Taça da Liga 5 5 0 0 16 4 +12 100.00
Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira 1 0 0 1 0 1 −1 000.00
UEFA Champions League 10 5 2 3 15 12 +3 050.00
Total 52 40 3 9 122 42 +80 076.92

Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira[edit]

Main article: 2015 Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira
9 August 2015 Benfica 0–1 Sporting CP Faro/Loulé
20:45 WEST (UTC+01:00) Sílvio Yellow card 38'
Fejsa Yellow card 50'
Jonas Yellow card 60'
Gaitán Yellow card 76'		 Report Slimani Yellow card 16'
Gutiérrez 53'
A. Silva Yellow card 57'
Pereira Yellow card 58'
Carrillo Yellow card 63'		 Stadium: Estádio Algarve
Attendance: 28,717[49]
Referee: Jorge Sousa (Porto)
Man of the Match: André Carrillo

Primeira Liga[edit]

Main article: 2015–16 Primeira Liga

League table[edit]

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Benfica (C) 34 29 1 4 88 22 +66 88 Qualification for the Champions League group stage
2 Sporting CP 34 27 5 2 79 21 +58 86
3 Porto 34 23 4 7 67 30 +37 73 Qualification for the Champions League play-off round
4 Braga 34 16 10 8 54 35 +19 58 Qualification for the Europa League group stage[a]
5 Arouca 34 13 15 6 47 38 +9 54 Qualification for the Europa League third qualifying round
Source: Liga Portugal, Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head away goals scored; 5) Goal difference; 6) Matches won; 7) Goals scored; 8) Play-off.
(Note: LPFP decided that only criteria 1, 5, 6 and 7 would be applied to establish the classification during the competition.)[50]
(C) Champions
Notes:
  1. ^ Braga qualified for the Europa League group stage by winning the 2015–16 Taça de Portugal.

Results by round[edit]

Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334
GroundHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
ResultWLWWLWDLWWWWWWWWWWWWWLWWWWWWWWWWWW
Position1843335854333332222212221111111111
Source: [citation needed]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches[edit]

16 August 2015 1 Benfica 4–0 Estoril Lisbon
20:30 WEST (UTC+01:00) López Yellow card 16'
Mitroglou 73'
Jonas 77' (pen.), 81'
Semedo 89'		 Report Anderson Luís Yellow card 48'
Sebá Yellow card 67'
Gerso Yellow card 70'
Mattheus Yellow card 77'
Taira Yellow card 80'
Bruno César Yellow card 84'		 Stadium: Estádio da Luz
Attendance: 53,285
Referee: Tiago Martins (Lisbon)
23 August 2015 2 Arouca 1–0 Benfica Aveiro
19:15 WEST (UTC+01:00) Roberto 2' Yellow card 41'
Simão Yellow card 22'
Lima Yellow card 37'
Jaílson Yellow card 74'
Bracalli Yellow card 84'		 Report Andrade Yellow card 80'
Mitroglou Yellow card 88'		 Stadium: Estádio Municipal de Aveiro
Attendance: 23,540
Referee: Nuno Almeida (Algarve)
29 August 2015 3 Benfica 3–2 Moreirense Lisbon
20:45 WEST (UTC+01:00) Pizzi Yellow card 40'
Jiménez 75'
Samaris 76'
Jonas 87'		 Report Martins 30'
Ohemeng Yellow card 42'
Gonçalves Yellow card 50'
Cardozo 84' Yellow card 90'
Boateng Yellow card 90+2'		 Stadium: Estádio da Luz
Attendance: 43,417
Referee: Jorge Ferreira (Braga)
11 September 2015 4 Benfica 6–0 Belenenses Lisbon
20:30 WEST (UTC+01:00) Mitroglou 5', 53'
Jonas 17', 40'
Gaitán 60'
Talisca 63'
Luisão Yellow card 86'		 Report Camará Yellow card 70' Stadium: Estádio da Luz
Attendance: 42,454
Referee: Bruno Paixão (Setúbal)
20 September 2015 5 Porto 1–0 Benfica Porto
19:15 WEST (UTC+01:00) Pereira Yellow card 35'
Maicon Yellow card 55'
André Yellow card 70' 86'
Neves Yellow card 71'		 Report Almeida Yellow card 50'
Semedo Yellow card 80'
Luisão Yellow card 83'
Mitroglou Yellow card 84'		 Stadium: Estádio do Dragão
Attendance: 49,209
Referee: Artur Soares Dias (Porto)
26 September 2015 6 Benfica 3–0 Paços de Ferreira Lisbon
18:30 WEST (UTC+01:00) Jonas 34', 73'
Guedes 67'		 Report Silva Yellow card 41'
Baixinho Yellow card 79'		 Stadium: Estádio da Luz
Attendance: 45,276
Referee: Rui Costa (Porto)
4 October 2015[A] 7 União da Madeira v Benfica Funchal
16:00 WET (UTC±00:00) Stadium: Estádio da Madeira
Referee: Cosme Machado (Braga)
25 October 2015 8 Benfica 0–3 Sporting CP Lisbon
17:00 WET (UTC±00:00) Samaris Yellow card 40'
Gaitán Yellow card 43'
Fejsa Yellow card 47'
Jonas Yellow card 50'
Mitroglou Yellow card 83'		 Report Gutiérrez 9'
Slimani 21' Yellow card 43'
Ruiz 36' Yellow card 44'
Carvalho Yellow card 50'
A. Silva Yellow card 58'		 Stadium: Estádio da Luz
Attendance: 63,054
Referee: Carlos Xistra (Castelo Branco)
30 October 2015 9 Tondela 0–4 Benfica Aveiro
20:30 WET (UTC±00:00) Souza Yellow card 24' Report Jonas 3'
Talisca Yellow card 5'
Berger 11' (o.g.)
Jardel Yellow card 35'
Luisão Yellow card 39'
Guedes 42'
Samaris Yellow card 68'
Carcela 82'		 Stadium: Estádio Municipal de Aveiro
Attendance: 9,394
Referee: Fábio Veríssimo (Leiria)
8 November 2015 10 Benfica 2–0 Boavista Lisbon
16:00 WET (UTC±00:00) Guedes 39'
Samaris Yellow card 85'
Carcela 88'		 Report Figueiredo Yellow card 53'
Carvalho Yellow card 73'
Idris Yellow card 78' Yellow-red card 90+3'		 Stadium: Estádio da Luz
Attendance: 46,362
Referee: Bruno Esteves (Setúbal)
30 November 2015 11 Braga 0–2 Benfica Braga
21:00 WET (UTC±00:00) Hassan Yellow card 68'
Ferreira Yellow card 72'
Filipe Augusto Yellow card 77'		 Report Pizzi 3' Yellow card 73'
López 11'
Eliseu Yellow card 67'
Sanches Yellow card 68'		 Stadium: Estádio Municipal de Braga
Attendance: 17,396
Referee: Hugo Miguel (Lisbon)
4 December 2015 12 Benfica 3–0 Académica Lisbon
20:30 WET (UTC±00:00) Fejsa Yellow card 18'
Jonas 35' (pen.), 79' (pen.)
Sanches 85'		 Report Trigueira Yellow card 33'
Aderlan Yellow card 44'
Ofori Yellow card 68'
Rabiola Yellow card 79'		 Stadium: Estádio da Luz
Attendance: 34,752
Referee: Luís Ferreira (Braga)
12 December 2015 13 Vitória de Setúbal 2–4 Benfica Setúbal
20:45 WET (UTC±00:00) Pinto Yellow card 44'
Costa 59'
Suk 88'		 Report López Yellow card 33'
Pizzi 35'
Jonas 39'
Mitroglou 54', 79'
Eliseu Yellow card 60'
Almeida Yellow card 65'
Samaris Yellow card 90+3'		 Stadium: Estádio do Bonfim
Attendance: 9,323
Referee: Manuel Mota (Braga)
15 December 2015 7 União da Madeira 0–0 Benfica Funchal
21:00 WET (UTC±00:00) Cádiz Yellow card 42'
Gian Yellow card 45+1'
Danilo Yellow card 90+1'
Fidalgo Yellow card 90+4'		 Report Sanches Yellow card 14'
Eliseu Yellow card 90+2'		 Stadium: Estádio da Madeira
Attendance: 5,095
Referee: Cosme Machado (Braga)
20 December 2015 14 Benfica 3–1 Rio Ave Lisbon
16:00 WET (UTC±00:00) Jonas 4', 81'
Samaris Yellow card 8'
Jiménez 84'		 Report Bressan 9'
Wakaso Yellow card 29'		 Stadium: Estádio da Luz
Attendance: 45,955
Referee: Manuel Oliveira (Porto)
2 January 2016 15 Vitória de Guimarães 0–1 Benfica Guimarães
18:30 WET (UTC±00:00) Dourado Yellow card 11'
Otávio Yellow card 20'
Saré Yellow card 28'		 Report López Yellow card 38'
Fejsa Yellow card 39'
Sanches 74' Yellow card 75'
Jardel Yellow card 85'		 Stadium: Estádio D. Afonso Henriques
Attendance: 22,218
Referee: Carlos Xistra (Castelo Branco)
6 January 2016 16 Benfica 6–0 Marítimo Lisbon
19:00 WET (UTC±00:00) Pizzi 29', 34'
Jiménez 35' Yellow card 50'
Jonas 52' (pen.), 54' (pen.)
Talisca 69'		 Report Silva Yellow card 10'
Bessa Yellow card 37'
João Diogo Yellow card 49'
Sousa Yellow card 50'
F. Ferreira Yellow card 52'
Rodrigues Yellow card 61'		 Stadium: Estádio da Luz
Attendance: 31,590
Referee: Fábio Veríssimo (Leiria)
10 January 2016[B] 17 Nacional 1–4 Benfica Funchal
20:30 WET (UTC±00:00) Soares 50'
Zainadine Yellow card 81'		 Report Jonas 23', 56', 63'
Eliseu Yellow card 47'
Mitroglou 89'		 Stadium: Estádio da Madeira
Attendance: 4,753
Referee: Tiago Martins (Lisbon)
16 January 2016 18 Estoril 1–2 Benfica Estoril
20:45 WET (UTC±00:00) Bonatini 11'
Tavares Yellow card 74'
Taira Yellow card 86'		 Report Mitroglou 52'
Pizzi 68'
Júlio César Yellow card 90+2'		 Stadium: Estádio António Coimbra da Mota
Attendance: 7,836
Referee: Vasco Santos (Porto)
23 January 2016 19 Benfica 3–1 Arouca Lisbon
18:30 WET (UTC±00:00) Pizzi 3'
Almeida Yellow card 6'
Mitroglou 19'
Jonas 68'		 Report Velázquez Yellow card 77' 90+1' Stadium: Estádio da Luz
Attendance: 51,511
Referee: Manuel Mota (Braga)
31 January 2016 20 Moreirense 1–4 Benfica Moreira de Cónegos
19:15 WET (UTC±00:00) Gomes Yellow card 54'
Palhinha Yellow card 81'
Medeiros 90+1'		 Report Jonas 16', 67'
Mitroglou 43'
Jardel Yellow card 63'
Lindelöf Yellow card 63'
Gaitán 75'		 Stadium: Parque de Jogos Comendador Joaquim de Almeida Freitas
Attendance: 5,772
Referee: Manuel Oliveira (Porto)
5 February 2016 21 Belenenses 0–5 Benfica Lisbon
20:30 WET (UTC±00:00) Juanto Yellow card 20'
Pinto Yellow card 27'		 Report Mitroglou 42', 57', 75'
Jonas 53', 87'
Sílvio Yellow card 71'
Samaris Yellow card 81'		 Stadium: Estádio do Restelo
Attendance: 13,109
Referee: Nuno Almeida (Algarve)
12 February 2016 22 Benfica 1–2 Porto Lisbon
20:30 WET (UTC±00:00) Mitroglou 18'
Carcela Yellow card 79'
Sanches Yellow card 85'
Almeida Yellow card 88'		 Report Herrera 28' Yellow card 30'
Aboubakar 65'
Neves Yellow card 75'
Layún Yellow card 88'		 Stadium: Estádio da Luz
Attendance: 61,536
Referee: Artur Soares Dias (Porto)
20 February 2016 23 Paços de Ferreira 1–3 Benfica Paços de Ferreira
18:30 WET (UTC±00:00) Jota 23'
Moreira Yellow card 28'
Andrezinho Yellow card 45'
Farias Yellow card 58'
Martins Yellow card 81'		 Report Mitroglou 13'
Jonas 45+2' (pen.)
Lindelöf 58'
Jardel Yellow card 73'
Eliseu Yellow card 82'		 Stadium: Estádio Capital do Móvel
Attendance: 6,433
Referee: Jorge Ferreira (Braga)
29 February 2016[C] 24 Benfica 2–0 União da Madeira Lisbon
19:45 WET (UTC±00:00) Jonas 4', 76'
Lindelöf Yellow card 78'		 Report Monteiro Yellow card 70' Stadium: Estádio da Luz
Attendance: 44,485
Referee: Cosme Machado (Braga)
5 March 2016 25 Sporting CP 0–1 Benfica Lisbon
20:45 WET (UTC±00:00) Jefferson Yellow card 70'
(A. Silva Red card 86')		 Report Mitroglou 20' Yellow card 67'
Jonas Yellow card 46'
Gaitán Yellow card 52'
Sanches Yellow card 86'		 Stadium: Estádio José Alvalade
Attendance: 49,699
Referee: Artur Soares Dias (Porto)
14 March 2016 26 Benfica 4–1 Tondela Lisbon
20:00 WET (UTC±00:00) Jardel 11' Yellow card 12'
Jonas 24', 69'
Mitroglou 87' Yellow card 87'		 Report Monteiro Yellow card 51'
Tikito Yellow card 70'
Nathan Júnior 90+1'		 Stadium: Estádio da Luz
Attendance: 51,314
Referee: Luís Ferreira (Braga)
20 March 2016 27 Boavista 0–1 Benfica Porto
18:15 WET (UTC±00:00) Tahar Yellow card 60' Report Samaris Yellow card 10'
Eliseu Yellow card 45'
Jiménez Yellow card 59'
Jonas 90+3'
Ederson Yellow card 90+5'		 Stadium: Estádio do Bessa
Attendance: 22,834[54]
Referee: Fábio Veríssimo (Leiria)
1 April 2016 28 Benfica 5–1 Braga Lisbon
20:30 WEST (UTC+01:00) Mitroglou 17', 71'
Jonas 37' (pen.)
Pizzi 39' Yellow card 62'
Samaris 75'
Semedo Yellow card 90+2'		 Report Santos Yellow card 51' 90+3' (pen.)
Stojiljković Yellow card 72'
Luíz Carlos Yellow card 83'
Marcelo Goiano Yellow card 89'		 Stadium: Estádio da Luz
Attendance: 61,042
Referee: Nuno Almeida (Algarve)
9 April 2016 29 Académica 1–2 Benfica Coimbra
18:30 WEST (UTC+01:00) Pedro Nuno 17' Yellow card 28'
Nascimento Yellow card 21'
Santos Yellow card 45'
Plange Yellow card 90+1'		 Report Mitroglou 39'
Jiménez 84'		 Stadium: Estádio Cidade de Coimbra
Attendance: 26,444
Referee: João Capela (Lisbon)
18 April 2016 30 Benfica 2–1 Vitória de Setúbal Lisbon
21:00 WEST (UTC+01:00) Jonas 19' Yellow card 90'
Jardel 24'		 Report Claro 1'
Lourenço Yellow card 86'		 Stadium: Estádio da Luz
Attendance: 54,855
Referee: Rui Costa (Porto)
24 April 2016 31 Rio Ave 0–1 Benfica Vila do Conde
20:30 WEST (UTC+01:00) Vilas Boas Yellow card 18' Yellow-red card 90+4'
Héldon Yellow card 66'		 Report Eliseu Yellow card 29'
Jardel Yellow card 37'
Fejsa Yellow card 41'
Jiménez 73'
Ederson Yellow card 87'		 Stadium: Estádio do Rio Ave FC
Attendance: 9,023
Referee: Artur Soares Dias (Porto)
29 April 2016 32 Benfica 1–0 Vitória de Guimarães Lisbon
19:00 WEST (UTC+01:00) Jardel 47'
Eliseu Yellow card 48'
Almeida Yellow card 54' Yellow-red card 90+5'		 Report Pedro Henrique Yellow card 7'
Hurtado Yellow card 13'
Otávio Yellow card 22'
Licá Yellow card 35'
Josué Yellow card 53'
X. Silva Yellow card 80'
Vigário Yellow card 90+2'		 Stadium: Estádio da Luz
Attendance: 60,351
Referee: Bruno Paixão (Setúbal)
8 May 2016 33 Marítimo 0–2 Benfica Funchal
20:30 WEST (UTC+01:00) Dirceu Yellow card 11'
Costa Yellow card 65'
João Diogo Yellow card 73'
Fransérgio Yellow card 82' Yellow-red card 89'
Deyvison Yellow card 87'
Bessa Yellow card 90+3'
Patrick Yellow card 90+7'		 Report Sanches Yellow card 27' Yellow-red card 37'
Eliseu Yellow card 30'
Jardel Yellow card 43'
Mitroglou 48'
Talisca 83'		 Stadium: Estádio dos Barreiros
Attendance: 9,400
Referee: Fábio Veríssimo (Leiria)
15 May 2016 34 Benfica 4–1 Nacional Lisbon
17:00 WEST (UTC+01:00) Gaitán 24', 64'
Talisca Yellow card 28'
Jonas 39' Yellow card 39'
Jardel Yellow card 54'
Pizzi 84'		 Report Agra Yellow card 12' 90+1'
Fofana Yellow card 43'		 Stadium: Estádio da Luz
Attendance: 64,235
Referee: Nuno Almeida (Algarve)
  1. ^ Match postponed due to heavy fog.[51]
  2. ^ The match was interrupted in the 8th minute because of heavy fog, and was resumed on 11 January 2016, 12:00, from the point of abandonment.[52]
  3. ^ The match was originally to be played on 28 February 2016, during Benfica's 112th anniversary, but was postponed because União da Madeira could not fly to Lisbon.[53]

Taça de Portugal[edit]

Main article: 2015–16 Taça de Portugal

Third round[edit]

16 October 2015 Vianense 1–2 Benfica Barcelos
20:30 WEST (UTC+01:00) R. Magalhães Yellow card 20'
Coulibaly 79'		 Report Fejsa Yellow card 35'
Carcela 38'
Santos Yellow card 72'
Jardel 90'		 Stadium: Estádio Cidade de Barcelos
Attendance: 8,000
Referee: João Pinheiro (Braga)

Fourth round[edit]

21 November 2015 Sporting CP 2–1 (a.e.t.) Benfica Lisbon
20:00 WET (UTC±00:00) Montero Yellow card 43'
A. Silva 45+2'
Oliveira Yellow card 70'
Slimani Yellow card 84' 112'		 Report Mitroglou 6'
Jardel Yellow card 36'
Talisca Yellow card 40'
Sílvio Yellow card 45+3'
Gaitán Yellow card 63'
(Ederson Red card 64')
Almeida Yellow card 65'
Samaris Yellow card 111' Yellow-red card 114'
Jonas Yellow card 120+1'		 Stadium: Estádio José Alvalade
Attendance: 41,244
Referee: Jorge Sousa (Porto)

Taça da Liga[edit]

Main article: 2015–16 Taça da Liga

Third round[edit]

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Benfica 3 3 0 0 8 1 +7 9 Advance to knockout phase
2 Nacional 3 1 1 1 1 1 0 4
3 Moreirense 3 1 1 1 5 8 −3 4
4 Oriental 3 0 0 3 2 6 −4 0
Source: LPFP
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
29 December 2015 1 Benfica 1–0 Nacional Lisbon
19:45 WET (UTC±00:00) Lindelöf Yellow card 24'
Eliseu Yellow card 28'
López Yellow card 33'
Jiménez 89'
Sílvio Yellow card 90+2'		 Report Campos Yellow card 38'
Sequeira Yellow card 44'		 Stadium: Estádio da Luz
Attendance: 20,107
Referee: João Capela (Lisbon)
19 January 2016 2 Oriental 0–1 Benfica Lisbon
15:00 WET (UTC±00:00) Tavares Yellow card 51' Report Samaris Yellow card 62'
Talisca 74'
Sanches Yellow card 79'		 Stadium: Campo Engenheiro Carlos Salema
Attendance: 3,409
Referee: Tiago Antunes (Coimbra)
26 January 2016 3 Moreirense 1–6 Benfica Moreira de Cónegos
20:30 WET (UTC±00:00) Andrade Yellow card 11'
Medeiros 25'
Sousa Yellow card 32'
Micael Yellow card 84'
Schons Yellow card 88'		 Report Talisca 11' (pen.), 14', 83' Yellow card 36'
Gaitán 19', 89'
Semedo Yellow card 23'
Jiménez 36'
Guedes Yellow card 87'		 Stadium: Parque de Jogos Comendador Joaquim de Almeida Freitas
Attendance: 4,206
Referee: Sérgio Piscarreta (Algarve)

Semi-finals[edit]

2 May 2016[A] Benfica 2–1 Braga Lisbon
19:45 WEST (UTC+01:00) Jonas 58'
Jiménez 71'
Sílvio Yellow card 79'
Grimaldo Yellow card 84'		 Report Silva 19'
Mauro Yellow card 44'		 Stadium: Estádio da Luz
Attendance: 24,933
Referee: Tiago Martins (Lisbon)
  1. ^ The match was originally to be played in February 2016 but was postponed because of both teams' tight schedule.[55]

Final[edit]

Main article: 2016 Taça da Liga final
20 May 2016 Marítimo 2–6 Benfica Coimbra
19:45 WEST (UTC+01:00) João Diogo 45+1'
Fransérgio 83' (pen.)		 Report Jonas 11'
Mitroglou 18', 38'
Gaitán 77'
Jardel 90+1'
Jiménez 90+3' (pen.)		 Stadium: Estádio Cidade de Coimbra
Attendance: 28,878
Referee: Fábio Veríssimo (Leiria)
Man of the Match: Nicolás Gaitán

UEFA Champions League[edit]

Main article: 2015–16 UEFA Champions League

Group stage[edit]

Main article: 2015–16 UEFA Champions League group stage § Group C


Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification ATL BEN GAL AST
1 Spain Atlético Madrid 6 4 1 1 11 3 +8 13 Advance to knockout phase — 1–2 2–0 4–0
2 Portugal Benfica 6 3 1 2 10 8 +2 10 1–2 — 2–1