2011–12 S.L. Benfica season


The 2011–12 season was Sport Lisboa e Benfica's 108th season in existence and the club's 78th consecutive season in the top flight of Portuguese football. It involved Benfica competing in the Primeira Liga, Taça de Portugal, Taça da Liga and the UEFA Champions League. Benfica qualified for the Champions League by finishing second in the previous Primeira Liga.
In Jesus' third season at the helm of the club, he tried to implement a more balanced system, with Axel Witsel replacing Pablo Aimar as a more central midfielder, with Aimar pushed as to second striker role, to give more defensive support than Javier Saviola. Nicolás Gaitán was moved to the right, with Bruno César and Nolito alternating on the left. Rodrigo eventually gained his space in the starting eleven, replacing Aimar.
This season, Benfica placed first in their UEFA Champions League group, later reaching the competition's quarter-finals, and won their fourth Taça da Liga by defeating Gil Vicente.

Competitions

Pre-season

Primeira Liga

League table

Results by round

Matches

Taça de Portugal

Taça da Liga

Group stage

Knockout phase

UEFA Champions League

Third qualifying round

Play-off round

Group stage

Team
Benfica633084+412
Basel63211110+111
Manchester United6231118+39
Oțelul Galați6006311−80

Knockout phase

Round of 16
Quarter-finals

Overall record

Player statistics

! colspan="15" style="background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center;"| Goalkeepers
! colspan="15" style="background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center;"| Defenders
! colspan="15" style="background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center;"| Midfielders
! colspan="15" style="background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center;"| Strikers

Transfers

In

Summer

No.Pos.NameMoving FromType of TransferContract EndsTransfer feeSourceNotes
1GK Artur BragaTransfer2016FreeN/A
28MF Axel Witsel Standard LiègeTransfer2017€6,500,000N/A
24DF Ezequiel Garay Real MadridTransfer2016€5,500,000N/A
8MF Bruno César CorinthiansTransfer2016€5,300,000N/A
21MF Nemanja Matić ChelseaTransfer2016FreeN/ATransfer of David Luiz
35MF Enzo Pérez Estudiantes La PlataTransfer2016€5,500,000N/A
3DF Emerson LilleTransfer2015€2,000,000N/A
38DF Joan Capdevila VillarrealTransfer2013€1,000,000N/A
39GK Mika União de LeiriaTransfer2016€500,000N/A
#DF Lorenzo Melgarejo Independiente FBCTransfer2015€750,000N/A
9MF Nolito Barcelona BTransfer2016FreeN/A
34DF André Almeida BelenensesTransfer2016FreeN/A
22FW Rodrigo Mora DefensorTransfer2015FreeN/A
47GK Eduardo GenoaLoan2012FreeN/A
#MF Nuno Coelho Académica de CoimbraTransfer2014FreeN/A
#DF Daniel Wass BrøndbyTransfer2015FreeN/A
36DF Luís Martins Benfica JuniorsPromoted2016FreeN/A
37MF Rúben Pinto Benfica JuniorsPromoted2015FreeN/A
26MF David Simão Paços FerreiraLoan return2015FreeN/A
#DF Marco Zoro Universitatea CraiovaLoan return2012FreeN/A
#DF José Shaffer BanfieldLoan return2013FreeN/A
#FW Jonathan Urretavizcaya PeñarolLoan return2013FreeN/A
#FW Freddy Adu Çaykur RizesporLoan return2012FreeN/A
#FW Javier Balboa AlbaceteLoan Return2012FreeN/A
#FW Marcel Vasco da GamaLoan return2011FreeN/A
#FW Ishmael Yartey Beira-MarLoan return2013FreeN/A
#GK Jan Oblak OlhanenseLoan return2015FreeN/A
3DF Fábio Faria Real ValladolidLoan return2014FreeN/A
#DF Abel Pereira GondomarLoan return2013Free
#FW Evandro Brandão GondomarLoan return2013FreeN/A
#FW Hélio Vaz Casa PiaLoan return2012Free
#DF Hassan Yebda NapoliLoan Return2013FreeN/A
#FW Rodrigo Bolton WanderersLoan return2016FreeN/A
#FW Nélson Oliveira Paços FerreiraLoan return2018FreeN/A
#FW José Coelho FátimaLoan return2012FreeN/A
#FW Ivan Santos EspinhoLoan return2012FreeN/A
#FW André Carvalhas FátimaLoan return2012FreeN/A
#MF Miguel Rosa BelenensesLoan return2015FreeN/A
#MF Lassana Camará ServetteLoan Return2013FreeN/A
#FW André Soares ServetteLoan return2013FreeN/A
#MF Leandro Pimenta FátimaLoan return2013FreeN/A
#DF Mário Rui FátimaLoan return2013FreeN/A
#DF Miguel Vítor Leicester CityLoan return2012FreeN/A
#DF Jorge Ribeiro Vitória de GuimarãesLoan return2012FreeN/A

Winter

No.Pos.NameMoving FromType of TransferContract EndsTransfer feeNotesSource
12MF Yannick Djaló-Transfer2015FreeN/A
34DF André Almeida União de LeiriaLoan return2015FreeN/A

Spend : €27,050,000

Out

Summer

No.Pos.NameMoving toType of transferTransfer feeSource
18DF Fábio Coentrão Real MadridTransfer€30,000,000N/A
12GK Roberto Real ZaragozaTransfer€8,600,000
1GK José Moreira Swansea CityTransfer€850,000N/A
21FW Nuno Gomes BragaTransferFreeN/A
22DF Luís Filipe OlhanenseTransferFreeN/A
#DF Marco Zoro-Contract TerminatedFreeN/A
#FW Freddy Adu Philadelphia UnionTransferFreeN/A
#FW Marcel Suwon BluewingsTransferFreeN/A
#FW Weldon CFR ClujTransferFreeN/A
#DF Abel Pereira DoxaTransferFreeN/A
#FW Evandro Brandão VideotonTransferFreeN/A
#DF Hassan Yebda GranadaTransferFreeN/A
#DF Jorge Ribeiro GranadaTransferFreeN/A
#FW Ivan Santos OliveirenseTransferFreeN/A
#FW André Carvalhas TrofenseTransferFreeN/A
#MF Lassana Camará Real ValladolidTransferFreeN/A
#FW André Soares Marítimo BTransferFreeN/A
#DF Mário Rui ParmaTransferFreeN/A
#FW Javier Balboa Beira-MarTransferFreeN/A
24DF Lionel Carole SedanLoanFreeN/A
#DF Daniel Wass EvianLoanFreeN/A
#MF José Luis Fernández Estudiantes La PlataLoanFreeN/A
#DF Lorenzo Melgarejo Paços de FerreiraLoanFreeN/A
#DF Fábio Faria Paços de FerreiraLoanFreeN/A
#MF Nuno Coelho Beira-MarLoanFreeN/A
34DF André Almeida União de LeiriaLoanFreeN/A
#DF José Shaffer União de LeiriaLoanFreeN/A
#MF Elvis LeiriaLoanFreeN/A
#GK Jan Oblak LeiriaLoanFreeN/A
#FW Jonathan Urretaviscaya Vitória de GuimarãesLoanFreeN/A
#FW Hélio Vaz Atlético CPLoanFreeN/A
#FW José Coelho Atlético CPLoanFreeN/A
#MF Leandro Pimenta Atlético CPLoanFreeN/A
#MF Miguel Rosa BelenensesLoanFreeN/A
#FW Franco Jara GranadaLoan€400,000N/A
#MF Carlos Martins GranadaLoan€500,000N/A
#GK Júlio César GranadaLoanFreeN/A
#DF Sidnei BeşiktaşLoan€200,000N/A
#MF Airton FlamengoLoan€300,000N/A
#FW Alan Kardec SantosLoanFreeN/A
#FW Ishmael Yartey ServetteLoanFreeN/A
#DF Roderick ServetteLoanFreeN/A
#MF Eduardo Salvio Atlético MadridLoan ReturnFreeN/A

Winter

No.Pos.NameMoving toType of transferTransfer feeSource
25DF César Peixoto Gil VicenteTransferFreeN/A
#FW José Coelho Sheriff TiraspolTransferFreeN/A
5MF Rúben Amorim BragaLoanFreeN/A
35MF Enzo Pérez Estudiantes La PlataLoan€300,000N/A
22FW Rodrigo Mora PeñarolLoanFreeN/A
26MF David Simão Académica de CoimbraLoanFreeN/A
#DF Fábio Faria Rio AveLoanFreeN/A

Overall transfer activity

Spending

Income

Expenditure