X-ray during the Eagles’ season: 80 percent of points lost on opponents’ ground; worse second round than the first, unlike last season
Benfica missed the opportunity to renew its title as national champion thanks to its performance in away games. Compared to last season, the Reds have so far scored nine points less against their opponents, a sum that makes all the difference against rivals who demonstrate greater regularity, as was the case with Sporting, the new national champion.
In an X-ray of the Eagles’ current season, this is the data that stands out most, placing it in a mirror with Roger Schmidt’s first at the club. In 2022/2023 there was little difference between the total points achieved at home (46) and away (41) as opposed to what happened in 2023/2024, in which the team could finish with a better score in Luz (47, if they win Arouca this Sunday), but will score a maximum of 35 points away from home.
Of the 20 points lost so far, 16 were on someone else’s field, which is equivalent to saying that 80 percent of the damage was on the way out. All defeats (four) took place at their opponents’ home ground (Boavista, FC Porto, Sporting and Famalicão) and of the four draws recorded, half occurred away from home (Moreirense and V. Guimarães). No matter how much support the team received on all their trips, the North region this time ruined the Reds’ plans.
Comparative
| Era | turns on | Portugal Cup | League Cup | Europe |
| 2022/23 | 1st | Quarter finals | Group stage | Champions Rooms |
| 2023/24 | 2nd | Semi finals | Final Four | Europa League Quarter Finals* |
*Falling from the Champions League ** Won a Super Cup
On the other hand, the performance at home was better, with 14 wins and two draws (Casa Pia and Farense), without knowing, for now, the taste of defeat.
Worse in the second round
Another relevant data relates to the performance in each half of the championship. Last season, and contrary to the image that sometimes passes, Benfica scored more points in the second round (44) than in the first (43), that is, even having lost Enzo Fernández to Chelsea in January after the World Cup. Qatar and without being able to bring in a replacement. This season, and despite the club having made more signings in the winter market, the second round was worse: 42 points in the first half, 34 in the second (which can reach a maximum of 40).
Greater instability when traveling and a drop in performance over time are the two strongest features, therefore, to describe what was the Eagles’ season in the championship, in which they will finish in second place with presence in the qualifying rounds for access to the Champions League (you can also enter directly if Leverkusen wins the Europa League or another team that qualifies for the Champions League via the national championship).
Even in a season considered negative, Benfica can finish the League with 82 points, which would be enough to win half of the 20 editions of the championship held so far since victory became worth three points – and the club’s fourth best score ever.
LOSS OF POINTS
| Era | Home | Outside |
| 2022/23 | 5 | 10 |
| 2023/24 | 4 | 16 |
1st LAP ‘VS’. 2nd ROUND
| Era | 1st round points | 2nd round points |
| 2022/23 | 43 | 44 |
| 2023/24 | 42 | 34 (two rounds to play) |
Best in the four-way championship
Benfica was the team that had the best score in the championship among the title candidates, including SC Braga. The Eagles scored 12 points in the six games played against the Lions, Dragons and Braga, one more point than Sporting (11), five more than FC Porto (7, despite still having a game to go against the Minho team) and 11 more than the warriors (1, having yet to host the blue and whites in the last round, a match that could decide who finishes in third place in the League).
Comparatively a year ago, it was a better performance from the men led by Roger Schmidt, taking into account that in the title season Benfica had four fewer points in the championship than four (8), being well behind FC Porto (15), who just didn’t achieved a full number of victories against the eagles (triumph at Luz, defeat at Dragão) – Sporting had 6 points, SC Braga did not exceed 4.
This means that at least in the last two seasons the champion was not the best team in direct confrontations. Dragons (22/23) and Eagles (23/24) lost more points compared to the first placed team in the challenges held against the remaining 13 clubs in the League. As they say in slang, championships are won and lost against the small.
