Benfica is a four times Portuguese champion. This season, Encarnados got hold of the first ‘Tetra’ of their history. And all thanks to yet another good season, where the Eagles demonstrated to be the best team in Portugal at the moment. At one point, around the 20th and 27th rounds, Benfica had Porto’s hot pursuit, and the championship gained some interest. But, in overall season, Benfica was arguably the best side. In the last 10 rounds, there was a bit of a noticeable decrease in the levels of quality, mostly due to tiredness in some key players. But, even in those moments, Benfica knew how to overcome each obstacle and gather the required points for the title.
The departures of Renato Sanches and Nico Gaitan were not noticed at all, as Benfica signed in a significant amount of attacking players of quality, giving Rui Vitória many options for that area. In the midfield, first the youngster André Horta and, for most part of the season, the very reliable Pizzi were arguably even better options than Sanches had been in the previous season. Key forward Jonas had some physical problems that forced him to be out for a good part of the season. Most of his games out with injury were before January, when Gonçalo Guedes was still around, before leaving to join PSG, and the youngster was always able to provide the quality that Benfica usually trusts Jonas to deliever. At the back, captain Luisão surprised many fans by grabbing a great season after it has been said, at the beginning of the campaign, that he would be leaving the club; he helped his partner of central defence Lindelof to have a great season and be a hot target for many European top teams in the next summer. At the very back, goalkeeper Éderson was a monster rock, and no one should doubt about him being currently one of the top goalkeepers in Europe already.
In addition, Benfica also conquered the Portuguese cup, by defeating Guimarães in the final, making the year of the Tetra an evem more memorable one, by making it a "Dobradinha" (The Double) year.
