Mourinho’s Unbeaten Benfica Finish Third in Primeira Liga

José Mourinho’s Benfica completed a remarkable unbeaten 2025/26 Primeira Liga season but were left empty-handed, finishing third despite not losing a single match across 34 games.

The Eagles recorded 23 wins and 11 draws, amassing 80 points in what should have been a triumphant campaign. However, an unusually high number of draws proved costly as rivals Sporting CP and Porto converted their opportunities more efficiently to claim the top two spots. The result means Benfica will miss out on the league title and direct Champions League qualification.

Mourinho, who took charge mid-season, transformed Benfica into a defensively rock-solid unit that proved almost impossible to beat. The Portuguese manager’s tactical discipline earned praise across Europe, even as critics pointed to a lack of cutting edge in decisive moments.

The campaign marks the end of Mourinho’s stint at the Estádio da Luz, with the 63-year-old set to return to Real Madrid for a second spell. His departure leaves Benfica fans with mixed emotions — pride in an historic invincible record, yet frustration at missing silverware.

The achievement joins the rare list of unbeaten league seasons in modern European football, though the final standing serves as a reminder that invincibility alone does not always guarantee glory.