Benfica defeat: Braga loss marks unwanted record for José Mourinho | OneFootball

Benfica missed out on reaching the Allianz Cup final and the chance to lift the trophy for the 9th time after suffering, against Braga (1-3), what was their first defeat of the season in domestic competitions, leaving fans and the technical staff concerned about the current situation.

Benfica - Braga marked the end of domestic invincibility

Until last Wednesday’s match, the team from Luz had an impeccable record in the three domestic competitions — League, Portuguese Cup, and League Cup. However, this setback on Portuguese soil represents a hard blow for a group that prided itself on its national dominance.

The elimination at the hands of the Arsenalistas also prevents the Eagles from reclaiming the Winter Champion title, but it is the defensive aspect that most worries José Mourinho. For the second time in the entire 2025/26 campaign, Benfica conceded three goals in a single match. The only previous instance had occurred last October, in the Champions League, in the heavy defeat at Newcastle (3-0).

Mourinho slammed the team: "Absolutely incredible mistakes"

The coach did not hide his dissatisfaction, pointing to the first half in Leiria as the "worst performance" of the season: "From a technical point of view, a disaster. Players making absolutely incredible mistakes. Anyone who plays such a poor first half does not deserve to win. It wasn’t Braga who won, it was us who lost."

With the League Cup dream over and the first domestic defeat of the season, the focus now shifts to the clásico against Porto, which will take place next Wednesday, January 14, at 8:45 pm. The match is for the quarter-finals of the Portuguese Cup and the Eagles are solely focused on securing the win.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.