Opinion

Next up in our Champions League campaign is Sport Lisboa e Benfica or as they’re more commonly known, just plain Benfica.

Whilst Newcastle United and Benfica clashed as recently as the summer of 2022 in the Eusebio Cup, that was a pre-season friendly.

The only competitive fixture between the two clubs was at the quarter-final stage of the Europa League in 2013.

After the 3-1 reverse in Lisbon, Newcastle led 1-0 until the dying embers thanks to a Pappis Cisse strike in the return fixture at St James Park, before Eduardo Salvio’s 90th minute equaliser sealed Benfica’s progress to the semi finals, where they overcame Turkey’s Fenerbahce before eventually succumbing to Rafa Benitez’ Chelsea in the final.

Founded on 28 February 1904, as Sport Lisboa, Benfica is the most decorated club in Portugal, with a record 38 Primeira Liga titles and a record haul of 34 Portuguese domestic cups, 26 being equivalent to the FA cup and 8 being the equivalent of the League cup.

Since the 2008/09 season, the club’s famous red shirt has displayed three stars above the crest, with each star representing ten league titles won by the club, the most recent...