Eagles' draw at Tondela mirrors 17-year-old scenario | OneFootball

The draw in Tondela (0-0) once again halted the Eagles' progress in the Liga Portugal Betclic and confirmed a trend that has been recurring throughout the season. By the 20th round, Benfica has already accumulated seven draws, a record not seen for 17 seasons at this stage of the championship, despite the team remaining undefeated in the competition.

Benfica has already squandered 14 points in the current edition of the League, due to the seven draws recorded, three away and four at Estádio da Luz. Nevertheless, the team has 46 points, two more than they had at the same time last season. In 2024/25, under Bruno Lage, the Eagles had only two draws but suffered four defeats, which widened the gap to the leadership.

The result also prevented the Clube da Luz from achieving a goal set for this round: to secure four consecutive victories in the championship, something they have not yet achieved this season. After victories against Estrela da Amadora, Rio Ave, and Estoril, the team led by José Mourinho dropped points again, maintaining a series that contrasts with the last prolonged winning streak, recorded between February and April of last season.

The draw also had historical significance for Tondela. For the first time, the Beira team managed to score against Benfica - which is at risk of losing a winger - at Estádio João Cardoso, after seven consecutive defeats as hosts. After the 3-0 defeat in the first round, at Luz, the Beira team managed to reverse the trend.

For the Italian coach, the match also represents a personal milestone. At 50 years old, Cristiano Bacci scored his first point against one of the three giants of Portuguese football, after seven games against Benfica, Sporting, and Porto throughout his career.

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