2008–09 S.L. Benfica season
The 2008–09 European football season was Sport Lisboa e Benfica's 105th season and their 75th consecutive season in the top flight of Portuguese football. The season ran from 1 July 2008 to 30 June 2009, with Benfica competing domestically in the Primeira Liga, Taça de Portugal and Taça da Liga. The club also participated in the UEFA Cup, since they finished fourth in the Primeira Liga the previous season.
| 2008–09 season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| President | Luís Filipe Vieira | ||
| Manager | Quique Sánchez Flores | ||
| Stadium | Estádio da Luz | ||
| Primeira Liga | 3rd | ||
| Taça de Portugal | Fifth round | ||
| Taça da Liga | Winners | ||
| UEFA Cup | Group stage (5th) | ||
| Top goalscorer | League: Óscar Cardozo (17) All: Óscar Cardozo (17) | ||
| Highest home attendance | 60,022 v Sporting CP (27 September 2008) | ||
| Lowest home attendance | 9,570 v Metalist Kharkiv (18 December 2008) | ||
| Average home league attendance | 35,698 | ||
| Biggest win | Marítimo 0–6 Benfica (7 December 2008) | ||
| Biggest defeat | Olympiacos 5–1 Benfica (27 November 2008) | ||
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After José Antonio Camacho's March 2008 resignation, Benfica did not have a permanent manager. The club inquired about Quique Sánchez Flores, Sven-Göran Eriksson and others, ultimately choosing Flores. Rui Costa led the transfer activity as Benfica continued to invest heavily, spending nearly €19 million on Javier Balboa, Carlos Martins, Pablo Aimar and Sidnei and bringing in José Antonio Reyes and David Suazo on loan. Major departures included Rui Costa, Cristian Rodríguez, Petit and Nélson.
Benfica's season began inauspiciously but they quickly recovered, gaining momentum domestically and eliminating Napoli to qualify for the group stage of the UEFA Cup. Until January, club performance fluctuated in their European campaign and the domestic league. Although they finished last in the former, they reached first place in the Primeira Liga for the first time since 2005.
In the new year, Benfica suffered their first league loss, falling to second place and beginning their erratic spell. Despite a sterling League Cup (where they earned their first honour in four seasons), the club's league play was not as impressive. They battled Porto for first place until March, when they had another costly loss and were passed by Sporting CP. Benfica tried to retake second place in the remaining eight matches, but in early May, the club dropped five points, sealing their fate; they finished third, missing the UEFA Champions League for a second consecutive season.