SL Benfica Europa League Tickets

There are not many teams in Europe that have achieved the kind of success that Benfica have managed over the years. The Lisbon-based club have amassed a number of trophy wins, with no less than two European Cups to their name.

The club have regularly found themselves competing in Europe; indeed, up to the 2023/24 season, they had taken part in 63 seasons in continental action, playing over 450 games in the process.

In 1960/61, the club reached their first European final, where they met Barcelona in the European Cup Finale. Bela Gutman’s side edged out their illustrious opponents 3-2 at the Wankdorf Stadium in Bern.

In 1961/62, they once again reached the final, this time taking on Real Madrid in an enthralling encounter in Amsterdam. Legendary forward Eusebio netted twice, and Jose Aguas, Domiciano Cavem, and Mario Coluna all also scored in a thumping 5-3 victory over the Spanish giants.

Benfica subsequently reached the finals of 1963, 1965, and 1968 European Cup Finals but lost on every occasion to AC Milan, Internazionale, and Manchester United, respectively.

In 1982/83, Benfica reached the UEFA Cup Final, the tournament effectively being the predecessor to today’s UEFA Europa League. They beat Real Betis, Lokeren, Zurich, Roma, and Romanian side Universitatea Craiova on the way to meeting Belgian side Anderlecht.

Benfica lost the first leg in Brussels by one goal and then could only draw with Anderlecht at the Estadio da Luz and lost out 2-1 on aggregate.

In 1988 and 1990, under Toni and then Sven-Goran Eriksson, the team made it to the 1988 and 1990 European Cup finals.

In 1988 they faced PSV Eindhoven, and the game resulted in a 0-0 draw, with the game going to penalties in Stuttgart. Club legend Antonio Veloso missed the all-important spot-kick, and the Dutch side triumphed.

In 1990 a Frank Rijkaard goal gave AC Milan a narrow 1-0 win over Benfica in Vienna to once again leave the Eagles without silverware.

SL Benfica have also been a force to be reckoned with in the UEFA Europa League, reaching the final of the competition in two successive seasons. In 2012/13, they met Chelsea in the final, and Jorge Jesus’s side leveled the tie when Oscar Cardozo scored from the spot, with the Blues having taken the lead through Fernando Torres.

Unfortunately, Benfica once again tasted final defeat when Branislav Ivanovic scored an injury-time winner for the West London side. Amazingly history repeated itself a year later when Jorge Jesus’s side lost on penalties to Sevilla.

In 2020/21, Benfica lost to Arsenal in the Round of 32 in the UEFA Europa League, and in more recent seasons, their exploits have been chiefly in the UEFA Champions League, such has been their domestic success of late.