O Clássico

O Clássico ("The Classic") is the name given in football to any match between S.L. Benfica and F.C. Porto. Originally, the term O Clássico only referred to games disputed in the Primeira Liga, but now tends to take into account matches that take place between these two sides in other domestic competitions such as the Taça de Portugal, Taça da Liga and Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira. Despite being the two most successful Portuguese clubs in European football with nine International titles shared between both of them, they have never faced each other in a European competition. Benfica and Porto are two of the three clubs which are labelled as the Big Three in Portugal.

The rivalry comes about as Lisbon and Porto are the two largest cities in Portugal, and the two clubs are two of the richest, currently the most successful and influential football clubs in Portugal. The animosity between these two sides also extends from the country's political, cultural and sporting history.

Rivalry

The first match between the Águias and the Dragões was an exhibition game that was played on the 28 April 1912, where Benfica defeated Porto 8–2.^[1] Eight years later, Porto would win their first Clássico, after beating their rivals Benfica 3–2. Porto would have to wait another nine years to accumulate their second victory over Benfica. Prior to the establishment of the Primeira Liga in 1934, both Benfica and Porto were competing within their football league district. Both sides were also competing in the Campeonato de Portugal which later became in 1938 the Taça de Portugal.

Up until 1934, Benfica would win the Campeonato de Lisboa nine times as well as triumphing in the Taça de Honra de Lisboa twice, whilst Porto would win the Campeonato de Porto nineteen times as well as claiming the Taça de Honra de Porto twice. Benfica would meet Porto for the very first time in an official match in the domestic cup competition which during the early periods of Portuguese football was the Campeonato de Portugal. Benfica defeated Porto in the final of the 1931 Campeonato de Portugal, 3–0 at the Campo do Arnado in Coimbra. Two from Vítor Silva and one from Augusto Dinis sealed the win to claim Benfica's second Campeonato de Portugal.^[2]

The inception of the Primeira Liga, saw Porto win the very first edition of the competition.^[3] Both sides met for the very first time in the competition on the 3 February 1935, where Porto triumphed over their rivals 2–1.^[4] Benfica would win the return tie 3–0. Despite Benfica's win, the águias would finish third in the league, three points behind Porto.^[5] The next five seasons would see Benfica win three and Porto win two league titles. When the 1940s arrived, both sides would take a back seat to Sporting CP, who would win five league titles in a decade.

The late 1950s and 1960s saw Benfica dominate not just Portuguese football but also European football. The arrival of Eusébio saw Benfica secure eight league titles in the space of ten years.^[1] Benfica's league titles were joined by two consecutive European Cups which were won in 1961, 3–2 against Barcelona, and in 1961, 5–3 against Real Madrid. The 70s saw the continuation of Benfica's dominance up until the 1977–78 season, where Porto secured the league title for the first time in nineteen years. The 80s and early 90s saw both Benfica and Porto battle for the league title. Porto's resurgence and the introduction of Pinto da Costa as chairman saw Porto reach new heights, winning the European Cup for the first time after beating Bayern Munich, 2–1 in the 1987 European Cup Final.^[1] Three years later Benfica reached its eight European final, the 1990 European Cup Final, where it lost to Milan 1–0.

In the 1990s, the dragões began to dominate Portuguese football, winning a record five consecutive league titles.^[1] The intensity between these two sides in the 90s was culminated by the fact that former Portuguese international team mates, João Vieira Pinto who played for Benfica and Paulinho Santos who played for Porto publicly declared their dislike for each other. The new millennium saw a continuation of Porto's dominance.^[1] Porto would reach the heights of their 1987 European Cup final win after José Mourinho guided the dragons to the UEFA Cup in 2003 and the UEFA Champions League in 2004. Benfica won the league title in 2005, for the first time in over ten years to halter Porto's momentum. Over recent years, both sides have battled out for top spot. The rivalry has intensified over recent years due to Benfica's Cristian Rodríguez switching alliances to Porto in the summer of 2008. He became the third Benfica player in recent history to have switched allegiances to Porto. In 2010, after four seasons, Benfica won its 32nd championship thus establishing a new Portuguese record.

In recent history, Benfica beat Porto 3–0 in 2009–10 Taça da Liga final and conquered the first of its fourth consecutive League Cup (establishment a new record), a trophy that Porto has never won in six editions. In the next year, Porto recorded their biggest home win over the águias, after defeating Benfica 5–0 in a league fixture.^[6][7] Porto would secure a treble in the same season in which they claimed league and cup as well as the UEFA Europa League.^[8]

League matches

The matches listed below are only Primeira Liga matches, club name in bold indicates win. The score is given at full-time and half-time (in brackets), and in the goals columns, the goalscorer and time when goal was scored is noted.^[9]

Head-to-head results

Cup matches

The matches listed below are only Taça de Portugal matches, club name in bold indicates win. The score is given at full-time and half-time (in brackets), and in the goals columns, the goalscorer and time when goal was scored is noted.^[10]

Head-to-head results

League Cup matches

The matches listed below are only Taça da Liga matches, club name in bold indicates win. The score is given at full-time and half-time (in brackets), and in the goals columns, the goalscorer and time when goal was scored is noted.^[11]

Head-to-head results

Portuguese Super Cup matches

The matches listed below are only Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira matches, club name in bold indicates win. The score is given at full-time and half-time (in brackets), and in the goals columns, the goalscorer and time when goal was scored is noted.^[12]

Head-to-head results

Championship of Portugal matches

The matches listed below are only Campeonato de Portugal matches. The Campeonato de Portugal was created in 1922 and was the primary tournament in Portugal, where all teams competed from around the country. In 1938, the Campeonato de Portugal became what is now known as the Taça de Portugal. The club name in bold indicates win. The score is given at full-time and half-time (in brackets), and in the goals columns, the goalscorer and time when goal was scored is noted.^[13]

Head-to-head results

Reserve team matches

Both Benfica's reserve side Benfica B and Porto's reserve side Porto B were established in the late 90s. Both sides folded following the end of the 2005–06 season. Both sides were re-established in 2012, to compete in the 2012–13 Segunda Liga where both reserve sides met for the very first time.

As of 1 December 2013^[14]

Head-to-head results

All Time Head-to-head results

As of 12 January 2014^[15]

This section doesn't take into account results between reserve teams and exhibition games.

Statistics

As of 20 February 2013, 18:44 UTC

• Biggest Benfica home win: Benfica 12–2 Porto (7 February 1943)^[16]
• Biggest Benfica away win: Porto 2–8 Benfica (28 May 1952),(In the inauguration of Porto's Estádio das Antas)
• Most consecutive Benfica wins: 4, (12 November 1971 – 5 November 1972)^[17]
• Longest undefeated Benfica run: 7, (24 January 1982 – 8 December 1983)^[17]
• Most consecutive Benfica loses: 4, (10 February 2002 – 21 September 2003)^[17]
• Most consecutive matches without Benfica winning: 9, (31 January 1988 – 17 April 1991)^[17]
• Biggest Porto home win: Porto 8–0 Benfica (28 May 1933)^[18]
• Biggest Porto away win: Benfica 0–5 Porto (18 September 1996)^[19]
• Most consecutive Porto wins: 4, (10 February 2002 – 21 September 2003)^[20]
• Longest undefeated Porto run: 9, (31 January 1988 – 17 April 1991)^[20]
• Most consecutive Porto loses: 4, (12 September 1971 – 5 November 1972)^[20]
• Most consecutive matches without Porto winning: 7, (24 January 1982 – 8 December 1983)^[20]
• Most common result: 1–1 (14 times)^[17]

Players who played for both clubs

• Carlos Alhinho (Porto 1976, Benfica 1976–1977 & 1978–1981)
• César Peixoto (Porto 2002–2007, Benfica 2009–2012)
• Fernando Mendes (Benfica 1989–1991 & 1992–1993, Porto 1996–1999)
• Maniche (Benfica 1995–1996 & 1999–2002, Porto 2002–2005)
• Paulo Futre (Porto 1984–1987, Benfica 1993)
• Paulo Santos (Benfica 1993–1994, Porto 2001–2005)
• Pedro Henriques (Benfica 1993–1997, Porto 1997–1998)
• Romeu Silva (Benfica 1975–1977, Porto 1979–1983)
• Serafim Pereira (Porto 1960–1963, Benfica 1963–1967)
• Argel (Porto 1999, Benfica 2001–2004)
• Derlei (Porto 2002–2005, Benfica 2007)
• Tomo Šokota (Benfica 2001–2005, Porto 2005–2007)
• Miklós Fehér (Porto 1998–2002, Benfica 2002–2004)
• Basarab Panduru (Benfica 1995–1998, Porto 1998–1999)
• Sergei Yuran (Benfica 1991–1994, Porto 1994–1995)
• Vasili Kulkov (Benfica 1991–1994, Porto 1994–1995)
• Ljubinko Drulović (Porto 1994–2001, Benfica 2001–2003)
• Zlatko Zahovič (Porto 1996–1999, Benfica 2001–2005)
• Cristian Rodríguez (Benfica 2007–2008, Porto 2008–2012)

Honours

These are the major football honours of FC Porto and SL Benfica.

See also

• Derby de Lisboa
• F.C. Porto–Sporting CP rivalry
• List of association football rivalries

References

External links

• Benfica Official Website (Portuguese)
• FC Porto Official Website (Portuguese)