Mourinho’s Benfica End Season Unbeaten but Miss Out On Top Two Finish

Benfica closed their season with a 3-1 victory over Estoril Praia on Sunday, extending their unbeaten league run to 34 matches, comprising 23 wins and 11 draws.

Despite the impressive record, the title went elsewhere. FC Porto clinched the championship with 88 points, while Sporting CP finished second on 82 points. Benfica ended the season with 80 points.

The result adds another rare chapter to Portuguese football history, as Benfica have previously experienced similar disappointment—going unbeaten in the 1977–78 season but still losing the title to Porto on goal difference.

Attention has now shifted to Mourinho’s future amid growing speculation. The Portuguese coach, who joined Benfica last September on a two-year deal, is reportedly in advanced talks over a possible return to Real Madrid, with club president Florentino Pérez said to be leading discussions.

A return to Madrid would mark Mourinho’s second spell at the Santiago Bernabéu more than a decade after his first tenure.

Speaking on his future, Mourinho said: “My future should be decided this week. I have a proposal from Benfica. I don’t have a proposal from Real Madrid. At the same time, I was saying that to hide that there is nothing, we cannot do that, there is something, but not with me directly.

“I need time, I need space, I need time to make my decision and this week I think is going to be very important.