1980–81 S.L. Benfica season the club. Benfica's league campaign started with seven consecutive wins, before a first loss with Porto in the Clássico. A few days later, Benfica wins their first Supertaça de Portugal. In the Cup Winners' Cup, Benfica eliminated Altay, Dinamo Zagreb and Malmö in the first three rounds. In late November, Benfica draws with Sporting and three weeks later, with Vitória de Setúbal, lapping the first half in first place with a three-point lead. In the following weeks, Benfica won three more matches before losing another point in a draw with Penafiel, which cut his lead to two points. They reacted
1986–87 S.L. Benfica season campaign started with a Clássico with Porto, which ended with a draw. A win in match-day 2 was followed by another draw. Six consecutive wins propelled Benfica into first place isolated, with two points in hand. In the end of November, Benfica contested the Supertaça with Porto and was defeated by 4–2 at home, after a one-all draw in Antas. On the second week of December, in the Derby de Lisboa with Sporting, Benfica conceded their largest loss ever in the Primeira Divisão, losing 7–1. Fans reacted with anger towards Mortimore and ripped flags and scarfs with the club image.