on 7 may, benfica played their final match of the season at estádio da mata real. benfica's manuel fernandes scored first but could not prevent paços de ferreira scoring three second-half goals, thus losing the game. benfica ended the season in third place, missing out on the title and an automatic place in the 2006–07 uefa champions league. despite winning both games against porto, the closest benfica had come from them was on the 18 and 19 match-days, with only three points. benfica closed the season 12 points behind the leader and five from sporting. of the big three, benfica conceded the most goals (29) and scored the second-highest number of goals (51), with the worst goal-average (+22). koeman wanted to fulfil his contract with benfica, but after negotiations with the management and sudden interest from psv, benfica opted to release him on mutual terms. koeman thanked luís filipe vieira and josé veiga for their support in face of repeated criticism, and said, "this is very big club, but you cannot win all the time, although i admit, that in the primeira liga, he did not do everything he could. we could have done better. but i say, it was a pleasure being here, now my career will continue elsewhere."