Benfica: Eagles soaring high over domestic competition in Portugal

The sight of Vitória circling above the Estádio da Luz is more than just an atmospheric overture in Lisbon. The eagle is Benfica’s mascot, the source of its nickname and the very essence of the club – a symbol of a club that aims high. The women’s team, too, has enjoyed a remarkable rise in just a few years. Founded in 2018, they are now the benchmark in Portugal and have been at home on Europe’s big stage for several years. FC Bayern Women will now face the Portuguese powerhouse in the league phase of the UEFA Women’s Champions League on Wednesday (21:00 CEST). fcbayern.com has the lowdown on As Águias…

🎟️ You can now get your tickets for the home game against Real Madrid here and apply for tickets to watch Barcelona come to Unterhaching here

Eagles take flight

Benfica’s history is still in its infancy. It was only in the spring of 2018 that the club began setting up its women’s football section – two years after local rivals Sporting had taken this step. In the 2018/19 season, Benfica competed in Portugal’s second tier for the first time. However, the Encarnadas did not stay there for long. Their very first fixture in September 2018 was a statement as they beat Ponte Frielas 28-0 for the biggest winning margin in professional football in the country at the time. It was followed by 13 more victories, with only one remaining in single figures and also including a 32-0 thrashing of CP Pego to break that record again. Their goals tally after 16 matches was 293 scored and zero conceded. It was not until the cup semi-final in March 2019 that the Eagles tasted defeat, going down 2-1 at home to Braga.

However, the team managed to turn the two-legged tie around with a 4-2 victory in the return game to become the first second-tier side to reach the Portuguese Cup final. They then put the icing on the cake of their debut season by beating Valadares Gaia 4-0 to become the first second-tier side to win the Portuguese Cup. Benfica also remained unbeaten in the league, securing the title and promotion to the top flight. By the end of the season, they had recorded 34 wins, one draw and just one defeat in 36 competitive matches. Added to this was a surreal goal difference of 452–6.

Becoming the benchmark

It wasn’t long before they secured their second major title with the domestic Super Cup in September 2019, when Pauleta – now the captain – scored the only goal against Braga. From 2020 onwards, Benfica have established themselves as one of the leading forces in Portuguese football. The Águias not only continued to rise but began to dominate the domestic competition.

Benfica have won the Portuguese league title for the last six years. They have also lifted five Portuguese League Cups, three Portuguese Cups and two more Super Cups. The team, which was only formed in 2018, has become the dominant team in the country within just a few years. They have finished the last two league seasons unbeaten.

European record

Since making their Champions League debut in the 2020/21 season, Benfica have been making steady progress at European level. After coming through qualifying, the club reached the round of 32 in its debut season but were knocked out by Chelsea. In the years that followed, the Lisbon club also managed to qualify for the group stage on several occasions. In 2021/22, they faced Lyon, Bayern and Häcken but could only finish third with one win and one draw. The year after, the competition proved too strong once again, with Barcelona, Bayern and Rosengård in the mix. Both matches against the Munich side were lost (3-2 and 2-0).

Benfica’s greatest achievement to date came in 2023/24 when they finished second in a group featuring Barcelona, Eintracht Frankfurt and Rosengård, reaching the quarter-finals for the first time. However, the Portuguese champions were subsequently no match for record champions Lyon, losing both legs. In 2024/25, their European campaign ended as early as the qualifying rounds. A year later, thanks to their coefficient, Benfica qualified directly for the newly introduced league phase for the first time, finishing 16th out of 18 teams after failing to secure a single win and managing only a draw each against Twente and Paris Saint-Germain.

A stage for the occasion

The clash with Benfica takes Bayern to Lisbon’s iconic Estádio da Luz. The home ground of Portugal’s record champions has a capacity of around 68,100 and rises above the pitch like a giant bowl. Matches were played here at Euro 2004, including the final. The stadium also regularly serves as a venue for major concerts.

This venue is associated with one of the most recent major chapters in Bayern’s history. It was there on 23 August 2020 that the men’s team won the Champions League final 1-0 against PSG as Kingsley Coman’s header sealed a sixth European crown and brought the club a second continental treble. Now Bayern are returning once again to this special venue – this time with their women’s team.

Ones to watch

Benfica’s squad includes several players who can make their mark on a match. Caroline Møller, for example, has been providing structure to the Portuguese side’s midfield for around a year, whilst also making an impact in attack. The Dane has scored 13 goals and provided three assists in 36 appearances across all competitions. Marit Lund ensures the necessary organisation in defence. The Norwegian is strong in the tackle but also possesses a remarkable knack for a through ball. In 71 matches for Benfica, she has scored nine goals and set up 19 more.

Captain Pauleta, who has been playing for the club since 2019, also plays a key role. With more than 160 appearances, 20 goals and 19 assists to her name, she is a testament to her experience and leadership. In goal, Benfica rely on the German Lena Pauels, who proved her reliability last season with six clean sheets in 14 league matches. Together, these four players give Benfica stability, creativity and the individual quality needed to succeed on the big stage.

🎟️ You can now get your tickets for the home game against Real Madrid here and apply for tickets to watch Barcelona come to Unterhaching here