Benfica’s Champions League campaign went from bad to worse after a narrow 0–1 defeat to Bayer Leverkusen on Matchday 4. Despite dominating large parts of the game, José Mourinho’s men once again left the pitch empty-handed, extending their losing streak in the tournament.
After the match, Mourinho expressed both frustration and confidence in his team’s performance.
“Benfica did everything except score,” he said. “The better team lost tonight. The team that created chances lost. To win matches, you must score goals, and that was the only thing missing from our game.”
The Portuguese coach praised his side’s approach and intensity, emphasizing that their overall play was at a very high level.
“We started our attacks fantastically and controlled several of Bayer’s counterattacks. It was a performance of high quality. We hit the post, we shot straight at the goalkeeper, and we missed several big opportunities. We tried to beat their keeper, but we couldn’t succeed in that crucial part of the match.”
Mourinho remains optimistic about the future, insisting that the results will come if the team continues playing the same way.
“I believe in our future. We have to keep playing like this. If we play this way, we will start winning. We lost tonight, but if we played this match ten times, we would win nine of them,” he said confidently.
However, Benfica’s position in the Champions League table paints a grim picture. The Lisbon club have lost all four of their group-stage matches — against Qarabağ (2–3), Newcastle United (0–3), Chelsea (0–1), and now Bayer Leverkusen (0–1). Mourinho, who took charge on September 18, has suffered three defeats out of three in the competition since his arrival.
With zero points from four games, Benfica are at the bottom of the overall standings, facing an uphill battle to qualify for the next stage. Their next fixture will be a crucial away match against Ajax, where they will hope to finally earn their first points of the campaign.
Despite the difficult start, Mourinho’s words reflect his trademark resilience and belief. For now, Benfica’s fans can only hope that the team’s improved performances will soon turn into results — before it’s too late to save their European season.
