- O Clássico
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SL Benfica vs FC Porto, or O Clássico, is the most important match in Portuguese football. Many see this as the new power (FC Porto) in Portuguese football versus the traditional strong force (Benfica).It became one of the greatest classics of the world.
"Lisbon shows off while Porto works," is the adage used to describe Portugal's north-south divide. And the flagship clubs of the laid back capital and the industrious northern port, who between them have taken every league title but three over the past 30 years, represent the constant behind-the-scenes domestic power struggle.
Benfica dominated in the 1960s (8 Portuguese Leagues, 3 Cups of Portugal and 2 European Cups), 1970's (6 Portuguese Leagues, 2 Portuguese Cups) and in the 1980s a balance appears (Benfica: 5 Portuguese Leagues, 6 Portuguese Cups and 3 Portuguese Super Cups; FC Porto: 3 Portuguese Leagues, 2 Portuguese Cups, 4 Portuguese Supercups, 1 Intercontinental Cup, 1 Champions league and 1 European Supercup). FC Porto dominated 1990's (8 Portuguese Leagues, 3 Portuguese Cups and 7 Portuguese Supercups) and 2000's (6 Portuguese Leagues, 5 Portuguese Cups, 5 Portuguese Supercups, 1 Intercontinental Cup, 1 Champions League, 1 UEFA Cup and 1 UEFA Europa League). Once serious TV money was available, coaches and chairmen influenced the media and officialdom by fair means of foul, with scandal the inevitable result. Porto fans claim corruption allegations against former coach Antonio Oliveira were planted in the Lisbon press. Oliveira and his brother Joaquim own powerful TV and sports marketing company Olivedesportos, while Joaquim runs sports daily O Jogo.
In 1997, Benfica's president João Vale e Azevedo declared a media war. On the pitch, national team-mates Joao Pinto (Benfica) and Paulinho Santos (Porto) openly declared their hatred of each other, and yellow and red cards were flourished on derby day.
Honours
These are the major football honours of FC Porto and SL Benfica.
International Competition FC Porto SL Benfica Intercontinental Cup / FIFA Club World Cup 2 - UEFA Champions League 2 2 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup / UEFA Cup / UEFA Europa League 2 - UEFA Cup Winners' Cup - - UEFA Super Cup 1 - National Competition FC Porto SL Benfica Portuguese Championships 25 32 Portuguese Cup 20 27 Portuguese League Cup - 3 Portuguese Supercup 18 4 Total 70 68 Statistics
As of 22rd April 2011
Club P W D L Portuguese League FC Porto 155 60 42 53 SL Benfica 155 53 42 60 Portuguese Cup FC Porto 40 12 5 23 SL Benfica 40 23 5 12 Portuguese League Cup FC Porto 1 0 0 1 SL Benfica 1 1 0 0 Portuguese Supercup FC Porto 25 13 7 5 SL Benfica 25 5 7 13 Totals FC Porto 221 85 54 82 SL Benfica 221 82 54 85 External links
- Official Websites:
- Daily Sports Papers:
- Others:
Sport Lisboa e Benfica Players · Managers · Presidents · Records & Statistics · Seasons · Europe · Honours · Filiations · Benfica B · Benfica JuniorsHome stadium Terras do Desembargador (1904–1906) · Campo da Feiteira (1907–1911) · Campo de Sete Rios (1913–1917) · Campo do Benfica (1916–1926) · Amoreiras (1925–1940) · Campo Grande (1941–1954) · Estádio da Luz (old) (1954–2003) · Estádio da Luz (new) (2003–present) · Pavilhão nº1 · Pavilhão nº2Training ground Futebol CampusMedia Rivalries Derby de Lisboa · O ClássicoSupporters Diabos Vermelhos · Grupo Manks · No Name BoysOther sports Archery · Athletics · Basketball · Beach soccer · Cycling · Futsal · Handball · Rink Hockey · Rugby union · Swimming · VolleyballRelated articles Futebol Clube do Porto Grounds Training Ground Rivalries O Clássico · Sporting CP rivalryMiscellaneous Other sports Categories:- Portugal football (soccer) rivalries
- S.L. Benfica
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