1973–74 S.L. Benfica season consecutive wins and reached second place by early February, while also cutting their gap to Sporting to just one point. In March, a loss in Estádio das Antas with Porto and a draw with Beira-Mar, put Sporting with a four-point lead again. Nonetheless, Benfica beat Sporting at their own home and three weeks later, they got back to a single point difference after their rival dropped points. That gap remained unchanged until the last match-day, when Sporting won the title. In the Portuguese Cup, Benfica reached the Taça de Portugal Final after beating Porto away, but lost the competition on
1977–78 S.L. Benfica season top of the table by Porto, which had a game in hand. Three days later, Benfica lost 4–1 in Anfield Road and were eliminated of the European Cup. Toni said the result expressed the difference between both teams. Back at domestic competition, Benfica regained their footing and won the following two matches. However, on 8 April, they drew again, at home with Portimonense and fell to second, a point from Porto. They responded with two more wins, before conceding another draw, the eight all season, against Braga. This opened Porto's lead to two points with five matches to go. As