Best streak in the European Top 10

Benfica is the only team among the Top 10 countries of European football (UEFA ranking) that is currently in five-match winning streak wins and no goals conceded.

Last Sunday's win in Madeira, against Marítimo, was the third in a row by 1-0. More than the offensive capacity, this results highlight the defensive consistency that the team has been displaying, an aspect mentioned by the coach Rui Vitória after the match against the Islanders.

“Defensive consistency is important in any team in the world. We were a solid team. The team is firm, well positioned and defending well. These are the foundations”, he praised.

After a poor spell that ended in Munich against Bayern, Benfica has entered a phase of recovery in which the growth of confidence indices is fundamental to the achievement of more robust results. However, Rui Vitória warned that it is "important to continue in this phase, game by game".

Gradually, this achievement is being made as the results show. With the start of  December, the first of the five wins occurred on Dec 1 against Feirense. At Estádio da Luz, the eagles flew higher and won by 4-0. Jonas, Rafa, Seferovic and the own-goal from Bruno Nascimento make up the score. A few days later, on December 5, for the League Cup, Paços de Ferreira was defeated by 2-0, with accurate strikes from Seferovic and João Félix.

After that came three 1-0 wins. The first in Setúbal against the local Vitória, with a goal from Jonas; against AEK, in the last round of the Champions League group stage, through an outstanding free-kick taken by Grimaldo; against Marítimo through Jonas from the penalty spot.

In these five wins in three competition(Liga NOS, League Cup, and Champions League), Benfica used two goalkeepers, Odysseas and Svilar. The record can be extended this Wednesday against Montalegre (8:45 pm), in a match from the eighth-finals of the Portuguese Cup.

Who comes close in Europe

No one has this mark of five matches winning with clean sheets, but in the top 10 leagues from the Old Continent, there are teams that manage to come close.

The team that is closer to the eagles comes from the Premier League. Liverpool also has five wins in a row but has conceded two goals (Burnley and Manchester United) and the men under Klopp have achieved this record in two competition (championship and Champions League).

Without five wins, but with four wins and a draw are Borussia Dortmund (Bundesliga) and Zorya (Ukrainian league). Both conceded two goals.

Text: Marco Rebelo

Pics: Archive / SL Benfica