1983–84 S.L. Benfica season left the club in second, a point shy of the leader Porto, their next opponent. In the Clássico, Benfica beat his rival Porto and assumed first place. Later in the month, Benfica defeated Olympiacos in the second round of the European Cup, qualifying for the quarter-final. In November and December, Benfica won all their league matches, but lost the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira to Porto. Benfica kept on winning in the Primeira Divisão in January, lapping the first part of league with a three-point lead. However they suffered a set-back in the Taça de Portugal, losing 2–1 in Estádio de
1996–97 S.L. Benfica season Portuguese Cup. With the advantage of receiving smaller teams at home in the knock-out stages, Benfica progressed to the semi-finals after beating Dragões Sandinenses in the quarter-final, meeting Porto next. On the last day of April, the club defeated Porto by two-nil with goals from Valdir and Edgar Pacheco, reaching a second consecutive Portuguese Cup final, where they enter as title-holders. On the league campaign, Benfica track record on the final six league match-days, was four losses, a win and a draw, losing fifteen more points, ending the season a record-breaking twenty-seven points from Porto, fourteen from Sporting. On 10