S.L. Benfica (basketball)


Sport Lisboa e Benfica, commonly known as Benfica, is a professional basketball team based in Lisbon, Portugal, who play in the Liga Portuguesa de Basquetebol. In June 2007, the club decided to leave the professional top league, then known as LCB, and join the Proliga, a league organized by the Portuguese Basketball Federation. From 2008 onwards, they returned to the LPB after the federation took over the realms of the competition.
Founded in 1927, Benfica is the most successful Portuguese club, having the record for most championships, cups, league cups, super cups, and other national competitions, with a total of 80 domestic titles. It is also the Portuguese team that advanced the furthest in the European top club championship, now known as the EuroLeague.
Some of their most memorable moments were when they won European clashes against the likes of European clubs which have won the Euroleague, such as Virtus Bologna, Real Madrid, Cantù, Cibona, Joventut Badalona, Panathinaikos, Partizan, CSKA Moscow or Varese. Despite basketball not being nearly as popular as football among the Portuguese population, Benfica has a major rivalry with FC Porto in this sport.
Along with its several junior teams that play in their respective top division championships, Benfica also has a developmental basketball team, Benfica B, that plays in the Proliga, the second highest tier in Portugal after the LPB, in which the main team competes.

History

Early years

Created on 20 March 1927, the basketball team followed the steps of many other sports that were supported by the club, achieving great success almost immediately. The team established itself as a main contender by the 1940s and during the whole 1960s gained the status of championship favourite and was already the club with the most titles won. By this time the club had won eight national championships and eight cups. This dominating spell decreased the following decade until the early 1980s. In this time-span Benfica could only win two championships, in the 1969–70 and the 1974–75 season, but won four national cups, the second most prestigious Portuguese tournament, in 1969–70, 1971–72, 1972–73 and 1973–74. After these years, Benfica again dominated the national scene.

Golden years

The most successful period of the club was between 1985 and 1995. In eleven seasons, the team won ten national titles, seven of which in a row, five national cups, five league cups and six super cups, achieving the best season ever by a Portuguese basketball team in 1994–95 winning the Portuguese League, Portuguese League Cup, Portuguese Super Cup, Portuguese Basketball Cup and finishing the European Champions' Cup in the Top 16. One of the highlight from that European Champions' Cup season was a 22-point victory against CSKA Moscow in Lisbon on 12 January 1995. Benfica also made successful international campaigns in the other seasons considering the budget the team had compared with other European big teams. Some of the most successful of those campaigns include the 1993–94, when Benfica was close to reach the Top 8, and for a third season in a row Benfica managed to reach the Top 16 again in the European Champions' Cup, in 1995–96, grabbing a win against Panathinaikos, the eventual champions.

Decline in the late 1990s

This period was followed by a dark era in which Benfica was internally overshadowed by Ovarense, Portugal Telecom and FC Porto. Even though this period is considered to be a dark one, Benfica did manage to reach the LPB final once as well as winning Super Cups and finishing runners-up in the national cup and in the league cup. Also noteworthy is an away win against Real Madrid, in the 1996–97 EuroCup, the same season the Spaniards won the competition. The team finally decided to withdraw from the top tier and applied for the second league, the Proliga, which was the highest division run by the Federação Portuguesa de Basquetebol. However the first division was folded and the LPB was again being overviewed by the national federation. This allowed the team to make a comeback to the main league.

Revival in the late 2000s

After more than a decade without any titles and in the same season Benfica had made a return to the first league, the 2008–09 season, the team won the Portuguese League, with a perfect score of 100% wins during the regular season, becoming the second team in the world to do so, after Maccabi Tel Aviv in the 1970s, and thrashing Ovarense 4–0 in the best-of-four game final. Benfica won the championship again the following season with a 91% winning record in the regular stage and a 4–1 final against Porto. The recent success brought the team to participate in the EuroChallenge, thus marking the end of a mid-term long hiatus from Portuguese clubs in European basketball competitions. The following year, Benfica won the League Cup and the Super Cup but did not renew the championship as it lost 4–3 in the final to Porto.

Recent years

In the next season Benfica regained the title of Portuguese champion after defeating Porto in their home court Dragão Caixa in the last best-of-five series game following a 2–2 playoff tie. Benfica retained the title the following season, having only lost two games, one in the regular season, and the other in the play-off final, which they won 3–1 against Académica de Coimbra, both defeats coming only in overtime. Overall Benfica won every title except the Cup, losing against Vitória de Guimarães in the final, amassing only three losses in the entire season in all competitions. On 23 May 2014, Benfica defeated Vitória de Guimarães and conquered its 25th champions title, completing the domestic treble of League, Portuguese Cup and Hugo dos Santos Cup. In this season they won a total of 4 titles.
In the 2014–15 season, Benfica returned to the European competitions, playing in EuroChallenge where they finished in third place of Group E. At domestic level, Benfica won all the five competitions. Starting the 2015–16 season, they won their fifth and fourth consecutive António Pratas Trophy, setting a club record of ten consecutive Portuguese trophies won. They achieved the domestic treble of League Cup, Portuguese Cup, and league title the next season.

Honours

Domestic competitions

Home arenas

Note: Benfica score is always listed first.
SeasonCompetitionRoundOppositionScore
1961–62FIBA European Champions CupQualifying round Pallacanestro Varese49–73
101–48
1962–63FIBA European Champions CupQualifying round Real Madrid61–97
110–47
1963–64FIBA European Champions CupQualifying round—Bye
1963–64FIBA European Champions CupFirst round Legia WarsawForfeit
1965–66FIBA European Champions CupQualifying round Wydad Casablanca53–54
76–77
61–63
1966–67FIBA European Cup Winners' CupQualifying round Joventut Badalona107–38
57–118
1970–71FIBA European Champions CupQualifying round Budapest Honvéd SE67–112
118–66
1972–73FIBA European Cup Winners' CupFirst qualifying round Sutton Basket76–77
77–71
1972–73FIBA European Cup Winners' CupSecond qualifying round Antwerp BC86–83
120–80
1973–74FIBA European Cup Winners' CupSecond qualifying round Estudiantes Madrid91–75
93–61
1981–82FIBA European Cup Winners' CupFirst qualifying round BBK Gent81–83
101–81
1986–87FIBA European Champions CupQualifying round Manchester United91–67
87–79
1987–88FIBA European Champions CupQualifying round BBC Sparta Bertrange122–77
84–108
1987–88FIBA European Champions CupFirst round Maccabi Tel Aviv111–86
79–81
1988–89FIBA Korać CupQualifying round Antwerp Giants83–75
95–88
1989–90FIBA European Champions CupQualifying round Olimpia Milano99–112
92–73
1990–91FIBA European Champions CupQualifying round Bayer Leverkusen87–85
110–74
1991–92FIBA European LeaguePreliminary round II Olympique Antibes89–76
88–74
1991–92FIBA European CupPreliminary round III Szolnoki Olaj100–79
75–84
1991–92FIBA European CupSemi-final round Group B Union Olimpija91–88
47–84
1991–92FIBA European CupSemi-final round Group B Panionios89–77
88–76
1991–92FIBA European CupSemi-final round Group B Hapoel Galil Elyon79–74
78–95
1991–92FIBA European CupSemi-final round Group B Real Madrid75–78
102–79
1991–92FIBA European CupSemi-final round Group B Pau-Orthez89–80
79–90
1992–93FIBA European LeaguePreliminary round I Etzella Ettelbruck72–113
105–58
1992–93FIBA European LeaguePreliminary round II Maccabi Tel Aviv75–89
100–81
1992–93FIBA European CupPreliminary round III CSKA Sofia111–83
80–84
1992–93FIBA European CupSemi-final round Group B Cholet Basket82–98
84–73
1992–93FIBA European CupSemi-final round Group B Split60–70
79–56
1992–93FIBA European CupSemi-final round Group B Aris67–75
83–72
1992–93FIBA European CupSemi-final round Group B Budivelnyk79–77
88–75
1992–93FIBA European CupSemi-final round Group B Hapoel Galil Elyon74–93
73–80
1993–94FIBA European LeaguePreliminary round I Hapoel Tel Aviv83–75
87–67
1993–94FIBA European LeaguePreliminary round II Union Olimpija87–63
91–76
1993–94FIBA European LeagueSemi-final round Group B Panathinaikos83–73
69–76
1993–94FIBA European LeagueSemi-final round Group B Anadolu Efes61–77
80–67
1993–94FIBA European LeagueSemi-final round Group B Pallacanestro Cantù75–64
83–64
1993–94FIBA European LeagueSemi-final round Group B Virtus Bologna102–90
97–57
1993–94FIBA European LeagueSemi-final round Group B Cibona67–66
75–63
1993–94FIBA European LeagueSemi-final round Group B Joventut Badalona76–79
78–89
1993–94FIBA European LeagueSemi-final round Group B Pau-Orthez72–80
72–74
1994–95FIBA European LeaguePreliminary round II Budapest Honvéd SE85–94
96–89
1994–95FIBA European LeagueSemi-final round Group A CSKA Moscow103–61
102–80
1994–95FIBA European LeagueSemi-final round Group A Union Olimpija81–84
64–56
1994–95FIBA European LeagueSemi-final round Group A PAOK74–68
77–75
1994–95FIBA European LeagueSemi-final round Group A Panathinaikos49–67
80–60
1994–95FIBA European LeagueSemi-final round Group A Real Madrid70–54
62–66
1994–95FIBA European LeagueSemi-final round Group A Victoria Pesaro88–75
69–88
1994–95FIBA European LeagueSemi-final round Group A Maccabi Tel Aviv81–90
86–75
1995–96FIBA European LeaguePreliminary round II Partizan Belgrade64–64
112–95
1995–96FIBA European LeagueSemi-final round Group B Cibona65–79
64–59
1995–96FIBA European LeagueSemi-final round Group B Pau-Orthez76–61
99–90
1995–96FIBA European LeagueSemi-final round Group B Maccabi Tel Aviv74–66
82–94
1995–96FIBA European LeagueSemi-final round Group B Virtus Bologna83–85
97–81
1995–96FIBA European LeagueSemi-final round Group B Panathinaikos67–51
96–87
1995–96FIBA European LeagueSemi-final round Group B Real Madrid73–78
86–81
1995–96FIBA European LeagueSemi-final round Group B Barcelona55–76
106–94
1996–97FIBA EuroCupGroup C Spartak Pleven111–98
95–75
1996–97FIBA EuroCupGroup C ratiopharm Ulm91–81
82–69
1996–97FIBA EuroCupGroup C Hapoel Galil Elyon78–64
92–85
1996–97FIBA EuroCupGroup C Real Madrid59–60
73–76
1996–97FIBA EuroCupGroup C MZT Skopje77–75
75–73
1996–97FIBA EuroCupLast 16 Paris Racing63–81
80–86
1997–98FIBA Korać CupAdditional preliminary round Fribourg Olympic66–67
63–78
1997–98FIBA Korać CupGroup F Den Helder Seals80–56
63–76
1997–98FIBA Korać CupGroup F Montpellier86–78
75–76
1997–98FIBA Korać CupGroup F Brose Baskets93–95
89–77
1998–99FIBA Korać CupAdditional preliminary round SAV Vacallo Basket80–74
72–84
1998–99FIBA Korać CupGroup H Maccabi Rishon93–99
74–77
1998–99FIBA Korać CupGroup H Les Mans Sarthe72–78
78–65
1998–99FIBA Korać CupGroup H Brose Baskets70–59
63–69
2004–05ULEB CupGroup G Baskets Bonn71–74
80–62
2004–05ULEB CupGroup G Śląsk Wrocław85–83
60–70
2004–05ULEB CupGroup G Lietuvos rytas74–49
57–59
2004–05ULEB CupGroup G Red Star Belgrade66–106
83–69
2004–05ULEB CupGroup G Pompea Napoli87–82
67–104
2010–11EuroChallengeEuroChallenge qualifying round BC Ferro-ZNTU105–105
72–77
2010–11EuroChallengeGroup C Lukoil Academic92–71
86–79
2010–11EuroChallengeGroup C Lugano Tigers89–84
74–52
2010–11EuroChallengeGroup C Tartu Ülikool80–74
80–64
2010–11EuroChallengeLast 16 Group K Ventspils100–65
71–74
2010–11EuroChallengeLast 16 Group K Gravelines-Dunkerque64–67
91–82
2010–11EuroChallengeLast 16 Group K Norrköping Dolphins83–75
80–74
2014–15EuroChallengeGroup E Belfius Mons-Hainaut69–79
92–63
2014–15EuroChallengeGroup E JSF Nanterre80–68
86–96
2014–15EuroChallengeGroup E Kataja Basket90–93
107–82
2015–16FIBA Europe CupGroup B Cibona79–83
74–66
2015–16FIBA Europe CupGroup B Soproni KC65–78
91–62
2015–16FIBA Europe CupGroup B Antwerp Giants84–76
77–79
2016–17Basketball Champions LeagueSecond qualifying round Pallacanestro Varese72–75
70–72
2016–17FIBA Europe CupGroup A Alba Fehérvár77–74
90–71
2016–17FIBA Europe CupGroup A Élan Chalon90–76
77–69
2016–17FIBA Europe CupGroup A Basic-Fit Brussels74–79
75–80
2016–17FIBA Europe CupSecond round Lukoil Academic72–84
67–76
2016–17FIBA Europe CupSecond round Donar82–94
81–78
2016–17FIBA Europe CupSecond round Enisey Krasnoyarsk99–69
58–89
2017–18Basketball Champions LeagueFirst qualifying round Kapfenberg Bulls75–72
67–62
2017–18Basketball Champions LeagueSecond qualifying round Lukoil Academic82–91
71–87
2017–18FIBA Europe CupGroup B Nevėžis88–83
68–94
2017–18FIBA Europe CupGroup B Bakken Bears76–95
95–108
2017–18FIBA Europe CupGroup B Avtodor Saratov86–97
71–110
2018–19FIBA Europe CupSecond qualifying round Dinamo Sassari66–100
92–111
2019–20Basketball Champions LeagueFirst qualifying round Donar95–65
66–77
2019–20Basketball Champions LeagueSecond qualifying round Mornar68–96
82–71
2019–20FIBA Europe CupGroup A ZZ Leiden103–99
68–84
2019–20FIBA Europe CupGroup A Pécs Veolia89–81
19 Nov
2019–20FIBA Europe CupGroup A Inter Bratislava77–68
27 Nov

Head coaches

Won an official title or individual titles