Benfica vs FC Porto | Primeira Liga | O Clássico | Predictions, Tips & Odds

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

You would almost forget, but Benfica and FC Porto have both won the European Cup I / Champions League twice. They are the two biggest clubs in Portugal, from the two biggest cities: Lisbon and Porto.

How much do you know about these two clubs and how successful they are in Portugal? Don’t worry, we dive deep into the matter of o clássico and explain everything to you!

Benfica – FC Porto | O Clássico

When betting on football, we often look at the Eredivisie, Premier League, La Liga, Serie A or Bundesliga. Or we take a peek at Lionel Messi and Paris Saint-Germain in the Ligue 1. But often we forget the Portuguese league, the Primeira Liga.

There are three clubs there that call the shots: FC Porto, Benfica and Sporting Portugal. The first two are the most successful, sharing no less than 67 league titles together. We find out who is the strongest in this classic of Portugal, O Clássico!

O Clássico history

The two clubs first met in 1912. A practice match then ended in 8-2 for Benfica. Both clubs played mainly in their regional leagues until the 1930s, it was only in 1934 that the national Portuguese league was established. Until then, Benfica won the Lisbon championship nine times, FC Porto became champions of the Porto region 19 times.

After the creation of the Primeira Liga in 1934, these two clubs proved to be the strongest of all. They shared the first six national titles until 1940 fairly, three to three. Between 1940 and 1954, they had to watch Sporting Portugal become champions nine times, with a few titles for Benfica in between.

European Cup I / Champions League for Benfica and Porto

From the mid-1950s, Benfica dominated again and became a European superpower with the likes of Eusébio. In 1961 and 1962, under coach Béla Guttmann, they won the European Cup I twice, after Real Madrid had won the first five editions.

In 1977, Benfica stood on 23 national titles, FC Porto on five. The blue and white returned with dominance from the mid-1980s until 2013. The European crowning glory came in 1987 and 2004 with wins in the European Cup I / Champions League.

Since 2014, Benfica has added five league titles to its long list of honours, taking the club to 37 (with the cup 26 times). FC Porto won its 30th national title in 2021-2022, in addition to 18 times the national cup. But the blue and whites also won the Europa League in 2003 and 2011. While Benfica still suffer from the Curse of Béla Guttmann. A little further on, we look at who is best in the duels between them.

Betting on O Clássico

This classic is always played on the edge, because the players know that honour is at stake – in addition to three points, of course. In recent years, they concede little to each other in duels between them. But what all can you bet on in such a top match like this?

Betting on winner

The Mobile Wins Sports naturally has the odds ready for a match like this. In recent years, FC Porto have had the slight upper hand, but Benfica never let themselves be led to the slaughter. Fairly often it ends even. Dare you bet on those often nice odds of a draw?

Betting on goal scorers

It is far from always the strikers who score the goals in this Portuguese classic. In recent years, for example, midfielders have been relatively often responsible for the goals. If you can pick out a player in form, you could grab a nice profit if they score.

Betting with special odds

Betting on football with free bets, profit boosts or other promotions is of course even more fun! Mobile Wins Sports has various weekly betting promotions to choose from. Will you bet on this classic with a free football bet or, for example, part of your welcome bonus?

What makes Benfica – FC Porto unique?

Simply put, the honour roll of both clubs is the main reason this match is such a classic. In 88 years of Primeira Liga, Benfica won the national title a total of 37 times, 30 times it went to FC Porto. They also came second 29 and 28 times respectively.

With a combined total of 89 other national cups and prizes and both twice the European Cup I / Champions League, they make their fans more than proud. Benfica had Eusébio, FC Porto had Fernando Gomes.

Mutual standings

These two legendary clubs have played a total of 251 matches against each other. FC Porto have won more: 100 to 89 with an additional 62 draws. Interestingly, the goal difference is in Benfica’s favour: 386-365. This is probably because Benfica were the better of the two in the days of many goals (before the 1970s). Benfica has 84 national prizes, FC Porto 82. Porto does have seven international prizes, against Benfica’s two.

Legendary players

In the 1960s and 1970s, Benfica dominated this duel. That was mainly because of two players: José Águas scored 17 goals in O Clássico between 1952-1961, Eusébio scored 16 between 1962-1974. Benfica player Nené played the most classics, 30 in total. At FC Porto, goalkeeper Vitor Baía was a major force from 1988-1996 and 1999-2006, playing 24 Clássicos. In between, he played for FC Barcelona.

Several players have played for both clubs. In 2002, Maniche (the scourge of Oranje in 2004) made the sensitive move from Benfica to FC Porto. In recent years, two South Americans have eaten from both sides.

Uruguayan Maxi Pereira played for Benfica from 2007-2015 and 2015-2019 for FC Porto, he scored once in O Clássico for both clubs. Argentina international Nicolás Otamendi played for FC Porto from 2010-2014 and for Benfica since 2020.

Classic Top-4

7 November 2010: FC Porto – Benfica 5-0

In the 2010-2011 season, FC Porto were fantastic. Led by coach André Villas-Boas, the club became champions with 21 points ahead of Benfica and 36 ahead of number 3 Sporting. Moreover, Porto also won the Europa League. The early icing on the cake was a 5-0 beating of Benfica with two goals for both Radamel Falcao and Hulk.

March 2, 2012: Benfica – FC Porto 2-3

Over a decade ago, but some of the goal scorers you should still know. Óscar Cardozo from Paraguay was Benfica’s go-to striker from 2007-2014, scoring 172 goals in 292 games. He scored twice, but could not prevent FC Porto from winning 2-3. The goals came from Hulk again, James Rodriguez and Maicon.

March 2, 2019: FC Porto – Benfica 1-2

FC Porto took the lead through a debatable goal, which reeked of offside. But Benfica turned the game around with a goal from João Felix, now Chelsea player on loan from Atlético Madrid. Just after half-time, the 1-2 fell, giving Benfica the win. In the end, the Lisbon club became champions with two points ahead of FC Porto.

February 8, 2020: FC Porto – Benfica 3-2

In the 2019-2020 season, FC Porto were victorious twice in O Clássico. First 0-2 on visit to Benfica, then 3-2 at home. Current Manchester City defender Rúben Dias scored an own goal in Benfica’s service. Partly due to the two wins, FC Porto became champions that season.