Mourinho’s Benfica finish unbeaten but miss Champions League – ESPN Singapore

Benfica has completed a remarkable unbeaten season under manager Jose Mourinho, although the achievement was tempered by the club’s failure to qualify for the Champions League.

The Portuguese side secured a 3-1 victory in their final match against Estoril, ensuring they finished the campaign without a single defeat, according to reporting from OneFootball.

Despite the undefeated run, the club finished third in the league standings, as reported by The Sun. This final placement means the Eagles will compete in the Europa League next season rather than the Champions League.

The result marks a rare statistical anomaly in professional football, where a team manages to avoid defeat throughout an entire league campaign but still misses out on the highest tier of European competition.

ESPN Singapore and the BBC both confirmed that while the unbeaten streak remained intact, it was not sufficient to secure the necessary standing for Champions League qualification.

The tactical discipline maintained by the 63-year-old Mourinho has drawn significant attention across Europe, even as the club falls short of its primary European objective.

Following the conclusion of the season, reports from The Sun indicate that Real Madrid is targeting Mourinho to lead their project.

The interest from the Spanish giants comes as Mourinho concludes a campaign defined by defensive resilience and a consistent ability to avoid loss, despite the lack of a top-two finish in the league.