THE BALL – Only four times worse and the worst with … Jesus (Benfica)

The defeat of Benfica, on Saturday, with Gil Vicente (1-2), at Estádio da Luz, stopped a series of six consecutive victories in the championship and allowed the distance between Sporting and FC Porto, now with 12 and six points of advantage, respectively in the first and second places. And it accentuated, even more, the bad records of the time. In such a way that it is not common for the reds to be so far from the first place to the 27th round.

In fact, it is necessary to go back until the 2010/2011 season, to find an even worse situation with regard to the disadvantage (19 points) for the first place crossed out 27 rounds. At that time it was Jorge Jesus, also, the coach. In the previous one he had won the title, but the high expectations were not confirmed in the following season, which started with a defeat in the Super Cup with FC Porto, which would win the championship with another 21 points. Benfica were therefore obliged to play qualifying and qualifying play off for the Champions group stage, which they entered after removing Trabzonspor and Twente. It would be, however, the failure in the championship – lost 0-5 in Dragão – and the withdrawal in the semi-final of the Europa League, against SC Braga, to mark this season.

In 1996/1997, the reds already had 16 points less than FC Porto on the 27th round – they finished third with 27 points less. In the 1995/1996 and 2002/2003 seasons, always with more than one coach, Benfica was 13 points away from FC Porto. The times, however, were different, of instability, unlike now. Jorge Jesus’ place is not at risk for the next season, despite having achieved the worst score (57) at Benfica on matchday 27. Worse than the current one only with Quique Flores (52), in the 2008/2009 season. The Spaniard left and Jesus came in the following season.

– .