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O Clássico ("The Classic") is the name given in football to any match between S.L. Benfica and FC Porto. Originally, the term O Clássico only referred to games disputed in the Primeira Liga, but now tends to take into account matches that take place between these two sides in other domestic competitions such as the Taça de Portugal, Taça da Liga and Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira. Despite being the two most decorated Portuguese clubs in European football with nine International titles shared between both of them, they have never faced each other in a European competition. Benfica and Porto are two of the three clubs which are labelled as the Big Three in Portugal, the other being Sporting CP.

The rivalry comes about as Lisbon and Porto are the two largest cities in Portugal, and the two clubs are two of the wealthiest, most successful and influential football teams in Portugal. The animosity between these two sides also extends from the country's political, cultural and sporting history.

Rivalry

A fuzboll table depicting the rivalry between Benfica and Porto

The first match between the Águias and the Dragões was an exhibition game that was played on the 28 April 1912, where Benfica defeated Porto 8–2.^[3] Eight years later, Porto would win their first Clássico, after beating their rivals Benfica 3–2. Porto would have to wait another nine years to accumulate their second victory over Benfica. Prior to the establishment of the Primeira Liga in 1934, both Benfica and Porto were competing within their football league district. Both sides were also competing in the Campeonato de Portugal which later became in 1938 the Taça de Portugal.

Up until 1934, Benfica would win the Campeonato de Lisboa nine times as well as triumphing in the Taça de Honra de Lisboa twice, whilst Porto would win the Campeonato do Porto nineteen times as well as claiming the Taça de Honra do Porto twice. Benfica would meet Porto for the very first time in an official match in the domestic cup competition which during the early periods of Portuguese football was the Campeonato de Portugal. Benfica defeated Porto in the final of the 1931 Campeonato de Portugal, 3–0 at the Campo do Arnado in Coimbra. Two from Vítor Silva and one from Augusto Dinis sealed the win to claim Benfica's second Campeonato de Portugal.^[4]

The inception of the Primeira Liga, saw Porto win the very first edition of the competition.^[5] Both sides met for the very first time in the competition on the 3 February 1935, where Porto triumphed over their rivals 2–1.^[6] Benfica would win the return tie 3–0. Despite Benfica's win, the Águias would finish third in the league, three points behind Porto.^[7] The next five seasons would see Benfica win three and Porto win two league titles. When the 1940s arrived, both sides would take a back seat to Sporting CP, who would win five league titles in a decade.

The late 1950s and 1960s saw Benfica dominate not just Portuguese football but also European football. The arrival of Eusébio saw Benfica secure eight league titles in the space of ten years.^[3] Benfica's league titles were joined by two consecutive European Cups which were won in 1961, 3–2 against Barcelona, and in 1962, 5–3 against Real Madrid. The 70s saw the continuation of Benfica's dominance up until the 1977–78 season, where Porto secured the league title for the first time in nineteen years. The 80s and early 90s saw both Benfica and Porto battle for the league title. Porto's resurgence and the introduction of Pinto da Costa as chairman saw Porto reach new heights, winning the European Cup for the first time after beating Bayern Munich, 2–1 in the 1987 European Cup Final.^[3] Three years later Benfica reached their eighth European final, the 1990 European Cup Final, where they lost to Milan 1–0.

In the 1990s, Porto began to dominate Portuguese football, winning a record five consecutive league titles.^[3] The intensity between these two sides in the 90s was culminated by the fact that former Portuguese international team mates, João Vieira Pinto who played for Benfica and Paulinho Santos who played for Porto publicly declared their dislike for each other. The new millennium saw a continuation of Porto's dominance.^[3] Porto would reach the heights of their 1987 European Cup final win after José Mourinho guided the Dragões to the UEFA Cup in 2003 and the UEFA Champions League in 2004. Benfica won the league title in 2005, for the first time in over ten years to halter Porto's momentum. During the second half of the 2010s, both sides battled out for top spot, when the rivalry intensified due to Benfica's Cristian Rodríguez switching alliances to Porto in the summer of 2008. He became the third Benfica player in recent history to have switched allegiances to Porto. In 2010, after four seasons, Benfica won their 32nd league title.

Benfica also went on to beat Porto 3–0 in 2009–10 Taça da Liga final and conquer the first of its fourth consecutive League Cup, a trophy that Porto has never won. In the next year, Porto recorded their biggest home win over the Águias, after defeating Benfica 5–0 in a league fixture.^[8][9] Porto would secure a treble in the same season in which they claimed league and cup as well as the UEFA Europa League.^[10] In 2013 Porto won their latest silverware: the Super Cup. On 18 May 2014, Benfica made history as they achieved the domestic treble of Primeira Liga, Taça de Portugal and Taça da Liga. Later on, Benfica secured three more league titles – four in a row and 36 overall, the latter a Portuguese record – and won another two league cups, achieving a record seventh.

Honours comparison

These are the major football honours of Benfica and Porto. Benfica's Latin Cup is not included.

League matches

The matches listed below are only Primeira Liga matches, club name in bold indicates win. The score is given at full-time and half-time (in brackets), and in the goals columns, the goalscorer and time when goal was scored is noted.^[11]

Head-to-head results

Cup matches

The matches listed below are only Taça de Portugal matches, club name in bold indicates win. The score is given at full-time and half-time (in brackets), and in the goals columns, the goalscorer and time when goal was scored is noted.^[12]

Head-to-head results

League Cup matches

The matches listed below are only Taça da Liga matches, club name in bold indicates win. The score is given at full-time and half-time (in brackets), and in the goals columns, the goalscorer and time when goal was scored is noted.^[13]

Head-to-head results

Super Cup matches

The matches listed below are only Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira matches, club name in bold indicates win. The score is given at full-time and half-time (in brackets), and in the goals columns, the goalscorer and time when goal was scored is noted.^[14]

Head-to-head results

Championship of Portugal matches

The matches listed below are only Campeonato de Portugal matches. The Campeonato de Portugal was created in 1922 and was the primary tournament in Portugal, where all teams competed from around the country. In 1938, the Campeonato de Portugal became what is now known as the Taça de Portugal. The club name in bold indicates win. The score is given at full-time and half-time (in brackets), and in the goals columns, the goalscorer and time when goal was scored is noted.^[15]

Head-to-head results

Reserve team matches

Both Benfica's reserve side Benfica B and Porto's reserve side Porto B were established in the late 90s. Both sides folded following the end of the 2005–06 season. Both sides were re-established in 2012, to compete in the 2012–13 Segunda Liga, where both reserve sides met for the very first time.

As of match played on 12 May 2018^[16]

Head-to-head results

Premier League International Cup

As of match played on 3 February 2016^[17]

All-time head-to-head results

As of 7 October 2018^[18]

This section does not include results between reserve teams and exhibition games.

Statistics

Chart showing the finishing league positions of Benfica (red) and Porto (blue) between the 1934–35 and 2009–10 seasons

• 
  Biggest Benfica home win: Benfica 12–2 Porto (7 February 1943)^[19]


• 
  Biggest Benfica away win: Porto 2–8 Benfica (28 May 1952, in the inauguration of Porto's Estádio das Antas)


• 
  Most consecutive Benfica wins: 4 (12 November 1971 – 5 November 1972)^[20]


• 
  Longest undefeated Benfica run: 7 (24 January 1982 – 8 December 1983)^[20]


• 
  Most consecutive Benfica losses: 4 (10 February 2002 – 21 September 2003)^[20]


• 
  Most consecutive matches without Benfica winning: 9 (31 January 1988 – 17 April 1991)^[20]


• 
  Biggest Porto home win: Porto 8–0 Benfica (28 May 1933)^[21]


• 
  Biggest Porto away win: Benfica 0–5 Porto (18 September 1996)^[22]


• 
  Most consecutive Porto wins: 4 (10 February 2002 – 21 September 2003)^[23]


• 
  Longest undefeated Porto run: 9 (31 January 1988 – 17 April 1991)^[23]


• 
  Most consecutive Porto losses: 4 (12 September 1971 – 5 November 1972)^[23]


• 
  Most consecutive matches without Porto winning: 7 (24 January 1982 – 8 December 1983)^[23]


• 
  Most common result: 1–1 (14 times)^[20]

Most appearances

Competitive matches only, includes appearances as used substitute.

Rank	Name	Nationality	Years	Apps	Ref
1	Nené	Portugal	1970–1985	30	[24]
2	Mário Coluna	Portugal	1954–1970	28	[24]
	Francisco Ferreira	Portugal	1936–1952		[24]
4	Virgílio Mendes	Portugal	1947–1963	27	[24]
5	Vítor Baía	Portugal	1988–1996 1999–2006	24	[24]
	Barrigana	Portugal	1953–1955		[24]
	Humberto Coelho	Portugal	1968–1975 1977–1984		[24]
	Eusébio	Portugal	1962–1975		[24]
	João Pinto	Portugal	1981–1997		[24]
	António Veloso	Portugal	1980–1995		[24]

Top goalscorers

Rank	Name	Nationality	Years	Goals	Ref
1	José Águas	Portugal	1950–1961	17	[2]
2	Eusébio	Portugal	1962–1974	16	[2]
3	Joaquim Teixeira	Portugal	1938–1946	12	[2]
4	Julinho	Portugal	1942–1953	11	[2]
5	Monteiro da Costa	Portugal	1949–1961	10	[2]

Players who played for both clubs