benfica started the domestic season by winning their fourth supertaça cândido de oliveira, beating vitória de setúbal one-nil. in the primeira liga, benfica struggled initially, making their worst entry ever. results improved following a european win against lille, with benfica climbing several places and defeating porto in the clássico. in late october, the team experienced a drop in form, going a month without a win. in december, benfica's results improved in december, qualifying for the knockout stages of the uefa champions league for the first time in eleven years and winning nearly ten matches in a row, allowing them to get within three points of the top of the league.