Sport Lisboa e Benfica (), commonly known as Benfica, is a professional handball team based in Lisbon, Portugal.
Benfica play in the top tier domestic league, Andebol 1, and hold home matches at the Pavilhão da Luz Nº 2. Since its inception in 1932, Benfica have won 7 Portuguese League titles, 6 Portuguese Cups, 2 Portuguese League Cups, and 7 Portuguese Super Cups. Internationally, Benfica won the EHF European League in 2021–22, becoming the first Portuguese club to win the competition.
In addition to the club's men's reserve team, Benfica B, playing in the second division, Benfica also has a women's team, who are the current Portuguese champions, having won 12 League titles, 10 Cups, 1 Federation Cup and 6 Super Cups.
History
Beginning Founded on 8 May 1932, Benfica's handball section endured a troubled start shortly after being founded. It was inactive from 1939 to 1942–43 because of a conflict between Benfica and the Portuguese Handball Federation. Until the 1960s, handball was played by eleven players, and after 1962–63, in another dispute with the federation, Benfica closed the eleven players team and opted for the current team handball. The handball section did not achieve success until 1961–62, being overshadowed by the football, cycling, basketball and roller hockey sections of the club during that time.
Golden years After a period of dominance by crosstown rivals Sporting CP, Benfica experienced great success in the 1980s and early 1990s, when was led by coach Eugene Troffin, and later by Ângelo Pintado, along with players such as Paulo Bunze, Swedish international Fredrik Appelgren, Dogărescu, Covaciu and Drăgăniță, goalkeeper João Santa Bárbara, wingman Mário Gentil, Vasco Vasconcelos, Luís Lopes and Rui Ferreira; Benfica won four national championships, three Portuguese Cup and two Portuguese Super Cup.
Decay In the 1997–98 season, club president João Vale e Azevedo decided to shut down the section. It was restarted in the next season, but from the Regional Championship, four divisions away from the top flight.
Rebuilding years In 2005, after years in anonymity, Benfica hired former ABC Braga coach Aleksander Donner on a three-year deal. Because of a dispute between Liga and the Handball Federation, which managed the Divisão de Elite, there were two simultaneous championships. In the 2005–06 season, Benfica played in the Divisão de Elite. In 2006–07, Benfica joined the Liga Portuguesa de Andebol along with Sporting CP. During that season, Benfica won their first title since 1994, the League Cup. In the following season, Benfica finally achieved their first league title since 1990. Despite the success, Aleksander Donner did not renew his contract at the end of the season.
Recent years To replace Donner, Benfica hired José António Silva, who won three titles in three years: the 2008–09 League Cup, 2010–11 Portuguese Cup and 2010 Super Cup. In the 2010–11 season, Benfica reached the final of the EHF Challenge Cup, but lost to Slovene side RK Cimos Koper. In 2011–12, José António Silva was replaced by another former ABC Braga coach, Jorge Rito. With him, Benfica finished fourth in league for the first time. On 2 September 2012, Jorge Rito won Benfica's fourth Super Cup trophy. The season ended with only a second place in the league. In 2013–14, Benfica's performances worsened, and the team finished the league in fourth place. Jorge Rito did not renew his contract and was replaced by Mariano Ortega. On 3 April 2016, Benfica, who had beaten rivals FC Porto in the semi-finals the day before, beat Lisbon rivals Sporting in the final and conquered their fifth Portuguese Cup, ending a four-year trophy drought.
Current squad Squad for the 2025–26 season:
Goalkeepers 16 Rangel da Rosa 41 Gustavo Capdeville 65 Bernardo Almeida Left wingers 2 Miguel Sánchez-Migallón 7 Stiven Valencia Right wingers 4 Christopher Hedberg 55 Mikita Vailupau Line players 20 Fábio Silva 21 Aldo Pagliotta 22 Alexis Borges 99 Javier Rodríguez Moreno
Left backs 5 Gabriel Cavalcanti 6 Miguel Mendes 9 Pau Oliveras 97 Reinier Taboada Central backs 15 Alejandro Barbeito 23 El Korchi 24 Ander Izquierdo Right backs 10 Kristian Olsen 11 Belone Moreira
Transfers Transfers for the 2026–27 season
Joining Tobias Thulin (GK) from OTP Bank – Pick Szeged William Bogojevic (LB) from SC DHfK Leipzig Sindre Heldal (LW) from Paris Saint-Germainhttps://www.slbenfica.pt/pt-pt/agora/noticias/2026/07/21/andebol-benfica-sindre-heldal-contratacao Aurélien Padolus (LB) from Istres Provence Handball Joaquim Nazaré (RB) from Skjern Håndboldhttps://www.slbenfica.pt/pt-pt/agora/noticias/2026/06/24/andebol-benfica-joaquim-nazare-contratacao
Leaving Miguel Sánchez-Migallón (LW) to RK Partizan Pau Oliveras (LB) to Istres Provence Handball Reinier Taboada (LB) to SønderjyskE Herrehåndboldhttps://soenderjyskehh.dk/2026/06/04/soenderjyske-herrehaandbold-henter-taboada-i-sl-benfica/ Gabriel Cavalcanti (LB) to Chambéry SMBH Gustavo Capdeville (GK) to TTH Holstebrohttps://www.handball-world.news/artikel/portugiesischer-nationalspieler-wechselt-nach-daenemark-1179917
Transfer History
Transfers for the 2025–26 seasonJoining Mikita Vailupau (RW) from ONE Veszprém Rangel da Rosa (GK) from Saint-Raphaël Var Handball Reinier Taboada (LB) from Fredericia HK Javier Rodríguez Moreno (LP) from FC Barcelona Pau Oliveras (LB) from Saran Loiret Handball Alejandro Barbeito (CB) from US Créteil Handball Rolando Uríos González (CB) from CB Ciudad de Logroño Kristian Olsen (RB) from Ystads IF Afonso Freire Mendes (RW) back from loan at SC Horta
Leaving Filip Taleski (LB) to RK Vardar Demis Grigoraș (RB) to MOL Tatabánya KC Egon Hanusz (CB) to Cesson Rennes MHB Guilherme Carvalho Cabral (LP) to Recoletas Atlético Valladolid Aldo Pagliotta (LP) to CF Belenenses Rui Baptista (CB) on loan at Club Balonmano Nava Afonso Freire Mendes (RW) on loan at BM Rebi Cuenca
Results in international competition Note: Benfica score is always listed first. H = home match; A = away match SeasonCompetitionRoundOpponentScore 1962–63European Cup Round 1 Atlético Madrid BM 13–6 1975–76 Round 1 CB Alicante Withdrew 1982–83 Round 1 FC Barcelona 25–32 18–32 1983–84 Round 1 ATSE Graz 25–25 (H) 20–29 (A) 1987–88 EHF Cup Winners' Cup Round 1 Atlético Madrid BM 21–20 (H) 11–29 (A) 1989–90European Cup Round 1 FC Barcelona 20–18 (H) 17–28 (A)1990–91 Round 1 Red Boys Differdange 28–18 (H) 26–28 (A) Round 2 USAM Nîmes 23–21 (H)23–31 (A)1993–94EHF City Cup 1/16 Finals Pallamano Rubiera 27–19 (H)20–22 (A) 1/8 Finals ETO Győri 24–21 (A)19–17 (H) 1/4 Finals PSG Asnieres Hand-Ball 27–32 (A)25–28 (H) 1995–96 1/16 Finals ZMC Amicitia Zürich 19–30 (A)30–27 (H)1996–97 1/16 Finals Borec Veles 18–15 (A)32–14 (H) 1/8 Finals Horn/Sittardia 21–14 (H)15–29 (A)1997–98 1/16 Finals ESN Vrilissia 26–21 (A)30–12 (H) 1/8 Finals Trabzon Belediyespor 27–20 (H)30–30 (A) 1/4 Finals Academia Octavio Vigo 22–32 (A)25–23 (H) 1998–99 1/16 Finals BSV Wacker Thun 0–10 (A)0–10 (H) 2002–03 EHF Cup Winners' Cup Round 3 Dennis Turku 14–26 (A)17–25 (H)2007–08EHF Challenge Cup Round 3 HC "Mojkovac" 46–22 (A)46–26 (H) 1/8 Final Shakhtar-Academiya 33–26 (A)21–25 (H) 1/4 Final CSU Poli-Izometal Timişoara 32–22 (H)22–21 (A) 1/2 Final UCM Sport Reșița 31–26 (H)25–32 (A) 2008–09 EHF Champions League Qualification Round 1 A1 Bregenz 38–34 (H)28–35 (A) 2008–09EHF Cup Round 2 RK Lovćen 26–28 (A)24–23 (H)2009–10 Round 2 H/C "Tbilisi" 34–21 (H)29–25 (A) Round 3 SKIF Krasnodar 29–28 (A)35–30 (H) Round 4 TBV Lemgo 30–27 (A)18–31 (H)2010–11EHF Challenge Cup Round 3 CSA Steaua București 43–29 (H)23–29 (A) Last 16 HC "Motor-ZNTU-ZAS" 33–28 (A)30–23 (H) Quarter-finals Radnički Kragujevac 28–29 (A)29–21 (H) Semi-finals Partizan Dunav Osiguranje 30–36 (A)33–25 (H)Finals RK Cimos Koper 27–27 (H)27–31 (A)2011–12EHF Cup Winners' Cup Round 3 HC Lovćen-Cetinje 25–21 (A)26–14 (H) Last 16 Pandurii Târgu Jiu 33–27 (A)41–24 (H) Quarter-finals HC Celje Pivovarna Lasko 23–29 (A)31–30 (H)2012–13EHF Cup Round 1 Pfadi Winterthur 28–21 (A)27–27 (H) Round 2 Loacker Südtirol Team 32–20 (H)40–25 (H) Round 3 HBC Nantes 21–29 (A)28–21 (H)2013–14 Round 2 Haukar 34–22 (A)34–19 (H) Round 3 Pick Szeged 25–31 (A)24–25 (H)2014–15EHF Challenge Cup Round 3 FyllingenBergen 33–32 (H)28–25 (H) Last 16 HB Dudelange 36–30 (H)28–24 (H) Quarter-finals KS Azoty-Puławy 37–29 (A)32–31 (H) Semi-final Odorheiu Secuiesc 29–31 (A)25–27 (H)2015–16 Round 3 ÍBV Vestmannaeyjar 28–26 (A)34–26 (H) Last 16 A.C. Filippos Verias 34–14 (H)23–26 (A) Quarter-finals St. Petersburg HC 24–20 (H)25–27 (A) Semi-finals FyllingenBergen 35–22 (H)29–27 (A)Finals ABC/UMinho 22–28 (H)29–25 (A)2016–17EHF Cup Qualification Round 2 Käerjeng 31–26 (H)33–30 (A) Qualification Round 3 KS Azoty-Puławy 29–34 (A)24–18 (H)Group D MT Melsungen 22–32 (A)26–24 (H) Helvetia Anaitasuna 33–28 (H)28–35 (A) Riihimäki Cocks 23–21 (A)26–25 (H)2017–18 Qualification Round 1 HC Dinamo Pančevo 39–20 (H)28–35 (H) Qualification Round 2 Gwardia Opole 28–24 (H)21–26 (A)2018–19 Qualification Round 2 FH Hafnarfjordur 37–32 (H)34–31 (H) Qualification Round 3 TSV Hannover-Burgdorf 36–41 (A)33–33 (H)2019–20 Qualification Round 2 RK Dubrava 29–28 (H)34–16 (H) Qualification Round 3 RK Nexe 26–30 (A)28–24 (H)Group A(cancelled due to theCOVID-19 pandemic) Bjerringbro-Silkeborg 33–24 (A)(H) cancelled MT Melsungen 29–26 (H)(A) cancelled Gwardia Opole 29–24 (H)30–23 (A)2020–21EHF European League Qualification Round 1 Fivers 28–26 (H)34–38 (A)2021–22EHF European League Qualification Round 1 HC Kriens-Luzern 31–24 (A)29–18 (H) Qualification Round 2 Rhein-Neckar Löwen 31–31 (A)33–28 (H)Group B HBC Nantes 31–30 (H)33–33 (A) GOG Håndbold 38–39 (A)25–33 (H) Chekhovskiye Medvedi 32–27 (A)38–35 (H) TBV Lemgo 35–30 (H)30–29 (A) Riihimäki Cocks 37–23 (H)37–32 (A) Last 16 Fenix Toulouse Handball 34–38 (A)36–30 (H) Quarter-finals RK Gorenje Velenje 36–29 (H)27–27 (H) Semi-finals Orlen Wisła Płock 26–19Final SC Magdeburg 40–39 ()2022–23EHF European LeagueGroup A Tatran Prešov 29–25 (A)35–28 (H) Frisch Auf Göppingen 27–31 (H)29–31 (A) Fejér B.Á.L. Veszprém 39–35 (H)35–26 (A) Kadetten Schaffhausen 25–26 (A)27–28 (H) Montpellier HB 24–26 (H)27–33 (A) Last 16 SG Flensburg-Handewitt 26–39 (H)28–33 (A)2023–24EHF European LeagueGroup A IFK Kristianstad 31–27 (A)36–33 (H) HBC Nantes 34–38 (H)28–37 (A) Rhein-Neckar Löwen 30–39 (A)35–36 (H)2024–25EHF European LeagueGroup C Kadetten Schaffhausen 26–25 (A)39–32 (H) Limoges Handball 37–31 (H)28–36 (A) HT Tatran Prešov 24–16 (A)36–23 (H)Main round – Group II CD Bidasoa Irun 27–28 (A)33–30 (H) Ystads IF 36–31 (H)33–37 (A)Play-offs GOG Håndbold 33–31 (H)31–34 (A)2025–26EHF European LeagueGroup E MT Melsungen 26–28 (A)26–30 (H) Ferencvárosi 38–25 (H)31–33 (A) HF Karlskrona 34–32 (A)36–33 (H)Main round – Group III RK Vardar 40–35 (H) 27–33 (A) IFK Kristianstad 38–34 (A)22–30 (A)
Honours According to Benfica's official website
Domestic competitions Portuguese League Winners (7): 1961–62, 1974–75, 1981–82, 1982–83, 1988–89, 1989–90, 2007–08 Portuguese Cup Winners (6): 1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87, 2010–11, 2015–16, 2017–18 Portuguese League Cup Winners (2): 2006–07, 2008–09 Portuguese Super Cup Winners (7): 1989, 1993, 2010, 2012, 2016, 2018, 2022
International competitions EHF European League Winners (1): 2021–22 EHF European Cup Runners-up (2): 2010–11, 2015–16
Women's honours According to Benfica's official website Portuguese League Winners (12): 1983–84, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1988–89, 1989–90, 1991–92, 1992–93, 2021–22, 2022–23,A conquista do título nacional S.L. Benfica (in Portuguese)Campeonato 1ª Divisão Feminina: SL Benfica revalida o título de Campeão Nacional FAP (in Portuguese) 2023–24, 2024–25, 2025-26 Portuguese Cup Winners (10): 1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1988–89, 1991–92, 2021–22, 2022–23,Benfica conquista Taça de Portugal feminina e faz a dobradinha Record (in Portuguese) 2024–25, 2025-26 FAP Cup Winners (1): 2023-24