Berne, 1961 – European Champions Cup 1960/61

The first opponent of the Portuguese champion was the Scotish team Heart of Midlothian Football Club. Benfica brought a 2-1 victory from Edinburgh, J. Augusto and J. Águas scored the Portuguese goals. In Lisbon the vitory also smiled to Benfica on a three null victory. The same scorers but these time Águas scored twice.

The next round was against Újpest Football Club and after a large victory, 6-2 (J. Augusto 2, J. Águas, Santana and Cavém) on the first game in Luz, few believed Újpesti FC could do better. The second game in Budapest was a defeat 2-1 (Santana) but the main objectiv was obtained.

The Dannish team AGF - Aarhus Gymnastik Forening tried in vain to do better, but this Benfica was unstopable. Two victories marked the eliminatory, 3-1 in Lisbon (J. Augusto and J. Águas 2) and 4-1 in Denmark (J. Augusto 2, Santana and J. Águas).

The Austrian team, SK Rapid Wien came to Lisbon and suffered 3 goals (J. Águas, M. Coluna and Cavém). The second game had to end 3 minutes before the regulamentar time, this because by then the result was 1-1 (J. Águas) and the referee didn’t mark a supposed penalty fault.

On the 31st May 1961 the Wankdorf Stadium, in Berne, received the European Champions Cup Final. FC Barcelona, that had earlier eliminated Real Madrid CF, would be the other finalist, playing against SL Benfica. FC Barcelona had great players by that time, like for instance, the Hungarians Kubala, Kocsis and Czibor.

Location: Berne, Wankford Stadium (30 000 spectators)

Date: 31/05/1961

Referee: Gottfie Dienst (Switzerland).

Finalist Teams:

SL Benfica: Costa Pereira, Mário João, Ângelo, Neto, Germano, Cruz, José Augusto, Santana, José Águas, Coluna and Cavém.

FC Barcelona: Ramallets, Foncho, Garay, Vergés, Gensana, Garcia, Kubala, Suarez, Evaristo, Kocsis and Czibor.

Sport Lisboa e Benfica 3-2 Futbol Club Barcelona

The first goal of the game was scored by kocsis (20’) but before the end of the first half Águas scored and Vergés with an own goal, turned the result. Coluna scored soon on the second half, but FC Barcelona players made everything they could to change the result. Fortunately for us only Czibor scored (75’).

The Benfica’s Coach Bella Guttmann knew how, the team who had belonged before to Otto Gloria, could make brilliant exhibitions. The rest was done by, the Portuguese goalkeeper, Costa Pereira, and by his brave companions.

Preliminary round
Hearts FC 1-5 SL Benfica
FC Barcelona 5-0 KS Lierse

First round
Real Madrid CF 3-4 FC Barcelona
SL Benfica 7-4 Újpest FC
Quarter-finals
SL Benfica 7-2 AGF Århus
FC Barcelona 5-1 Hradec Králové

Semi-finals
FC Barcelona 2-2 Hamburg SV
SL Benfica 4-1 Rapid Wien

Final
SL Benfica 3-2 FC Barcelona

Season 2009/10

Club » Sport Lisboa e Benfica
Stadium » Luz
Academy » Caixa Futebol Campus (Seixal)
Foundation » 28 Feb 1904
President » Luís Filipe Vieira
Sports Director » Rui Costa
Head Coach » Jorge Jesus
Coaching Staff » Minervino Pietra and Raul José (Assistant Coaches) Mário Monteiro (Fitness Coach), Márcio Sampaio (Fitness Recovering Coach), Luís Matos (Goalkeeping Coach), Miguel Quaresma e Marco Pedrosa (Observers)
SL Benfica TV » benficatv@slbenfica.pt
Website » www.slbenfica.pt

PRE-SEASON

Caixa Futebol Campus (Seixal)

8 - 15 July » Tour » Switzerland
12th July » Football Club Sion 2-2 SLB
13th July » FC Shakhtar Donetsk 0-2 SLB

Next Games

16 - 18 July » Guadiana Tournament - Vila Real de Santo António (Athletic Club de Bilbao, Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht or Sporting Clube Olhanense)
21st July » Club Atlético de Madrid
24 - 26 July » Amsterdam Tournament (Sunderland Association Football Club, Amsterdamsche Football Club Ajax NV, Club Atlético de Madrid)
1 - 2 August » Guimarães Tournament (Vitória Sport Clube and Portsmouth Football Club)
8th August » Eusébio Cup (Associazione Calcio Milan)

Benfica is leaving Switzerland, precisely the country where obtained the first European Champions Cup (1960/61).

Amsterdam, 1962 – European Champions Cup 1961/62

Cristiano Ronaldo is the new Real Madrid player and was received, in Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, by 85 000 enthusiastic fans. The President, Florentino Pérez and the Real Madrid Marketing team know exactly how to valorise their “galactic” players and CR9 is the most recent example. To the presentation two special guests were invited, Alfredo Di Stéfano and Eusébio. These two football players’ stars played against each other on the Euro Champions Final 1962.

Amsterdam, 1962 – European Champions Cup 1961/62

The first ECC round was played against FC Austria Wien, on 31st October 1961 and the final result was a draw to one goal (J. Águas). Two weeks later, the result would be different for SL Benfica, 5-1 (Santana 2, J. Águas 2, Eusébio) at Luz Stadium.
On the second round the opponent was FC Nürnberg. The snow was present when Benfica visited the German team and the 3-1 (Cavém) defeat almost compomised the chances of the Portuguese players.
Fortunately for us on the night of 22nd February, Benfica won the second leg on the Lisbon game for 6-0 (Eusébio 2, J. Augusto 2, J. Águas and Coluna).
On the semi-finals, came Tottenham Hotspur Football Club from the United Kingdom, whose team lost the game in Luz 3-1. The scorers from the Benfica side were José Augusto with two goals and Simões. Things became harder at the White Hart Lane. On the London game the Spurs won for 2-1 (J. Águas).

On the 2nd May 1962, Amsterdam, received the European Champions Cup Final. Benfica with Eusébio known as the “Black Panther”, José Águas, Mário Coluna and António Simões facing Real Madrid CF of Alfredo Di Stéfano, Ferenc Puskas and Francisco Gento.

Location: Amsterdam, Olympisch Stadium

Date: 02/05/1962

Referee: Léon Horn (Holland).

ECC Final Teams:

SL Benfica: Costa Pereira, Mário João, Ângelo, Cavém, Germano, Cruz, José Augusto, Eusébio, Coluna and Simões.

Real Madrid CF: Araquistain, Casado, Miera, Felo, Santamaria, Pachin, Tejada, Del Sol, Di Stéfano, Puskas and Gento..

Sport Lisboa e Benfica 5-3 Real Madrid Club de Fútbol

Real Madrid CF entered better on the game and Puskas scored two goals (17’ and 23’). The reaction of Benfica was quicly and José Águas scored two minutes later. On the 34th minute Cavém had a chance and made the second Portuguese goal. The “Merengues” tried to achieve again a positive result before half-time and Puskas did it, he scored at the 38th minute.
On the second half, the benfica’s players scored three goals. Coluna initially and latter Eusébio scored twice, helping SL Benfica to bring the second ECC home.

Preliminary round
Budapesti Vasas S Club 1-5 Real Madrid CF

First round
Boldklubben 1913 0-12 Real Madrid CF
FC Austria Wien 2-6 SL Benfica

Quarter-finals
FC Nürnberg 3-7 SL Benfica
Juventus FC (ag) 1-1 Real Madrid CF

Semi-finals
SL Benfica 4-3 Tottenham H.
Real Madrid CF 6-0 Standard de Liège

Final
SL Benfica 5-3 Real Madrid CF