The 1958–59 season was Sport Lisboa e Benfica's 55rd season in existence and the club's 25rd consecutive season in the top flight of Portuguese football, covering the period from 1 September 1956 to 30 August 1957. Benfica competed in the Primeira Divisão and in the Taça de Portugal.
In the fifth under manager Otto Glória. After tightly contested title race, Benfica lost the league title in the last matchday, finishing tied on points with Porto, but with a worst goal difference. The team then won the Taça de Portugal, with a 1–0 victory over Porto in the final.
Season summary Benfica entered the season seeking to reclaim the league title after failing to retain it in the previous campaign. Manager Otto Glória remained in charge for a fifth consecutive season.
Benfica began the season with a 7–0 win against Vitória de Guimarães. In the next match, Benfica visited Caldas, drawing 1–1. Next, the they hosted Académica, winning 5–0, but in the next matchday once again dropped points in a draw with Covilhã. The team responded with three wins, finishing October in first place with a two-point advantage.
November started with 5–1 home win over Braga, before visiting Estádio das Antas to face Béla Guttmann's Porto in O Clássico, drawing in a goalless match. A win over Vitória de Setúbal, was followed by another goalless away draw with Lusitano de Évora, before hosting Sporting in the first Derby de Lisboa of the season, which Benfica won 4–0 with Águas and Mendes scoring a brace each. This result was followed by an away win over CUF and an away loss with Vitória de Guimarães, with Benfica finishing the year in first place with a one-point advantage.
The new year began with a 3–0 win over Caldas, followed by five consecutive wins, which meant Benfica reached the decisive O Clássico with a three-point advantage. The match ended in a draw, but an away draw with Vitória de Setúbal reduced Benfica's lead to two points. In the next matchday Benfica defeated Lusitano de Évora, but one week later a 2–1 loss to Sporting at Estádio José Alvalade cost them the first place, now tied on points with Porto but with a worst goal difference. In the last matchday, they defeated CUF 7–1, but as Porto had also won their match, Benfica finished second with the same points as Porto. The match was controversial with the game starting later than scheduled and Benfica having three penalties awarded.
After failing to win the league title, Benfica competed in the Taça de Portugal. The team defeated Covilhã, 4–2 on aggragate, in the round of 32, Tirsense 7–0 in the round of 16 and then faced Belenenses in the quarter-finals. After losing 3–1 in the first leg, Benfica defeated Belenenses 3–0 in the second leg, advancing to the semi-finals, where they would meet Sporting. As in the previous round, Benfica lost 2–1 in the first leg, but a 3–1 win in the second leg allowed them to qualify for the final. Before the final, manager Otto Glória left the club with Argentinian manager José Alberto Valdivieso assuming. On 19 July, Benfica defeated Porto with a sole goal from Cavém on the first minute, winning its tenth Taça de Portugal.
Competitions
Overall record Competition First match Last match RecordGWDLGFGAGDWin %Source Primeira Divisão 14 September 1958 22 March 1959 Taça de Portugal 3 May 1959 19 July 1959 Total
Primeira Divisão
League table
Results by round
Matches
Taça de Portugal
Round of 32
Round of 16
Quarter-Finals
Semi-Finals
Final
Friendlies
Player statistics The squad for the season consisted of the players listed in the tables below, as well as staff member Otto Glória (manager).
Transfers In Position Player From Fee Ref DF José Neto C.D. MontijoUndisclosed FW António Hilário S.C.U. TorreenseUndisclosed FW Chino C.S. MarítimoUndisclosed
Out Position Player To Fee Ref GK Arnaldo Rodrigues Amarante F.C.Undisclosed DF Araújo AcadémicaUndisclosed MF Hélder Constantino S.C.U. TorreenseUndisclosed FW Azevedo S.C.U. TorreenseUndisclosed FW Chipenda AcadémicaUndisclosed FW Isidro Santos S.C.U. TorreenseUndisclosed FW José Maria BragaUndisclosed
References