1985–86 S.L. Benfica season lapped the first round of the league in first place, after recovering five points since September. After an event-less January, in which Benfica retained their one-point lead over Sporting; in February, Benfica faced Porto again, this time for the round of 16 of the Taça de Portugal, winning 2–1. Meanwhile, in the Primeira Divisão, they added another point in their lead over their closest competitors. In March, Benfica was eliminated of the Cup Winners' Cup by Dukla Prague, while in the Portuguese Cup, they thrashed Sporting by 5–0 in the quarter-finals. They finished the month with a replay of the
1984–85 S.L. Benfica season won all league matches in April. In the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira, a one-nil win for both Benfica and Porto forced a replay of the competition. In early May, John Mortimore was confirmed as new manager, with Csernai still in charge for another month. Before the end of May, Benfica lost away in the first leg of the Supertaça to Porto, but won the Derby de Lisboa with Sporting by 3–1, reducing the distance between them. In June, Benfica lost again in the Supertaça, losing the competition and finished the league in third place, 12 points behind Porto and five