Sport Lisboa e Benfica (), commonly known as Benfica, is a professional volleyball team based in Lisbon, Portugal, that plays in the Portuguese First Division.

Founded in 1939, Benfica have won 12 Portuguese league titles, a record 21 Portuguese Cup and a record 12 Portuguese Super Cup. , Benfica is ranked 30th in the men's European clubs ranking.Eurotopteam

History

Beginning Founded on 31 May 1939, Benfica is one of the oldest Portuguese volleyball teams. Not having the success and notability of other club sections such as basketball and roller hockey, Benfica's volleyball team won their first title 27 years after being founded.

Road to the first title From 1965–66 to 1979–80, Benfica played ten Portuguese Cup finals, winning seven. In 1980–81, led by coach Fernando Luís, Benfica finally achieved their first league title, with players such as Luís Quelhas, Manuel Silva, Jorge Infante, José Barros, João Abelho, Pedro Barros, Ilídio Ramos, and already with a young José Jardim appearing in some matches.

Second title and disbandment In a vibrating match against local rivals Sporting CP, trailing 2–0 at Nave de Alvalade, Benfica, now led by captain José Jardim, alongside teammates Nuno Brites, Luís Quelhas, Nilson Júnior, Eduardo Gallina, Miguel Silva, Márcio Karas, Davidkov, and Radoslav Peytchev, managed to recover the disadvantage and win the match 3–2, claiming their second title.

In the 1993–94 season, then club president Jorge de Brito decided to disband the volleyball team. The following president, João Vale e Azevedo, restarted it in 1996–97 but in the Third Division. Former player José Jardim led Benfica back to the first tier in 2000 with the help of players such as André Cabacinha, Nuno Brites, António Silva, and captain José Fernandez.

Third title In 2004–05, with coach José Jardim and players such as Brazilians Adriano Lamb, Renato Júnior, André França, Roberto Purificação, André Lukianetz, as well as Portuguese players André Lopes, Carlos Teixeira, António Silva, Rui Guedes, António Seco, José Simões, Bruno Feteira, and Pedro Fiúza, Benfica won the third title for the section, plus their 11th Portuguese Cup.

Between championships The next season, important players, such as Adriano Lamb, Renato Junior and André França, left, and Benfica only managed to win the Portuguese Cup and reach the quarter-finals of CEV Top Teams Cup.

In the 2006–07 season, Benfica won their third Portuguese Cup in a row and 12th overall.

Three years later, in 2010–11, Benfica signed Hugo Gaspar and Flávio Cruz, who were later joined by Roberto Reis in 2011–12, all players from the Portugal national team. In spite of these investments, the team failed to win the league, coming runners-up to Fonte Bastardo in the first season, and then to Sporting de Espinho in the second one. Nevertheless, Benfica managed to win the Portuguese Cup and Super Cup in 2010–11, and another Portuguese Cup in 2011–12.

Back-to-back titles In 2012–13, Portuguese international Flávio Cruz left for Espinho and was replaced by Brazilian Willian Reffati. A new setter, Brazilian Rafael "Vinhedo", was also contracted to replace Ronaldo "Royal" and Robert Koch. Benfica started the season by winning their third Super Cup, defeating Espinho 3–0.

On 4 May 2013, Benfica defeated league title holders Espinho 3–2 and conquered their fourth championship, after a seven-year wait and three consecutive second places. After SC Espinho protested at the Portuguese Volleyball Federation on a basis of a technical error, the final match was annulled and scheduled to be replayed on 12 May. Still, Benfica won the replay match 3–1. In the following season, on 4 May 2014, Benfica successfully defended their league title by defeating Fonte Bastardo 3–1; consequently, they secured their first back-to-back titles ever.

On 9 May 2015, Benfica won a third consecutive league title for the first time in their history, winning away 3–0 away to Fonte Bastardo in the fifth and final match (3–2). Moreover, Benfica also won the Portuguese Cup and Super Cup, thus winning all domestic competitions. On 3 October 2015, Benfica won a fifth consecutive Super Cup and became the club with most trophies in that competition (6).

Mixed Success In the following four seasons, Benfica won two league titles (2016–17 and 2018–19) and finished runners-up in the other two (2015–16 and 2017–18). The team also claimed three Portuguese Cups (2015–16, 2017–18, and 2018–19) and three Super Cups (2015–16, 2016–17, and 2018–19).

Dominance under Marcel Matz After winning the 2018–19 league title, Benfica, under the guidance of coach Marcel Matz, established itself as the dominant force in Portuguese volleyball, securing four consecutive league titles (2020–21, '21–22, '22–23, and '23–24), two Portuguese Cups (2021–22 and 2022–23), and three Super Cups (2019, '20, '21).

In 2024–25, Benfica won both the Portuguese Cup and the Super Cup, but after five consecutive league titles the team lost the championship to Sporting CP, finishing as runners-up for the first time in six years.

Seasons

Season Cup Super Cup European competitions Other competitionsLeagueCompetition ResultCompetition Result 1938–39 1939–40 1940–41 1941–42 1942–43 1943–44 1944–45 1945–46 1946–47 1947–48 1948–49 1949–50 1950–51 1951–52 1952–531st 1953–54 1954–55 1955–56 1956–57 1957–58 Campeonato Regional de LisboaTaça de Encerramento da AVL WW 1958–59 Campeonato Regional de LisboaTaça de Encerramento da AVL WW 1959–60 Campeonato Regional de LisboaTaça de Encerramento da AVL WW 1960–61 Campeonato Regional de LisboaTaça de Encerramento da AVL WW 1961–62 1962–63 Taça de Encerramento da AVLW 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 W 1966–67 RU 1967–68 Taça de Abertura da AVLW 1968–69 RU 1969–70 RU 1970–71 Campeonato Regional de LisboaW 1971–72 RU Campeonato Regional de LisboaW 1972–73 Campeonato Regional de LisboaW 1973–74 W 1974–75 W Cup Winner's Cup 1R Campeonato Regional de LisboaW 1975–76 W Campeonato Regional de LisboaW 1976–77 Cup Winner's Cup 1R Campeonato Regional de LisboaW 1977–78 W Campeonato Regional de LisboaW 1978–79 W Campeonato Regional de LisboaW 1979–80 W Campeonato Regional de LisboaW 1980–811st Campeonato Regional de LisboaW 1981–82 European Cup PR Campeonato Regional de LisboaW 1982–83 Taça de Encerramento da AVLW 1983–84 SF Campeonato Regional de LisboaW 1984–85 Campeonato Regional de LisboaW 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 Taça de Abertura da AVLW 1988–89 Cup Winner's Cup 1R 1989–90 WW Taça da FederaçãoW 1990–91W 1R RU Cup Winner's Cup GS 1991–92 W RU European Cup R16 1992–93 RU Cup Winner's Cup R16 Taça de Honra da AVL W 1993–94 Challenge Cup 1R 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–981st 1R Campeonato Regional de LisboaTaça de Honra da AVL WW 1998–99 QF 1999–00 Taça de Honra da AVL W 2000–01 Taça de Honra da AVL W 2001–02 7th QF 2002–03 5th R16 Taça de Honra da AVL W 2003–04 7th R16 2004–051st W 2005–06 4th W CEV Top Teams Cup QF Taça de Honra da AVL W 2006–07 4th W Taça de Honra da AVL W 2007–08 4th 1R Taça de Honra da AVL W 2008–09 3rd SF 2009–10 2nd RURU 2010–11 1st RU W 2011–12 2nd RUW W 2012–13 1st W R16 W 2013–14 1st W SF W Taça de Honra da AVLW 2014–15 2nd W W W CEV Challenge Cup RU Taça AVLW 2015–16 1st RUW W CEV Challenge Cup SF 2016–17 1st W RU W CEV Challenge Cup R16 2017–18 2nd RUW RU CEV Challenge Cup QF 2018–19 1st WW W CEV Challenge Cup R16 2019–20 1st N/A N/A W CEV Champions League GS 2020–21 1st W RU W CEV Challenge Cup R16 2021–221st W W W CEV Champions League GS 2022–23 1st W W RU CEV Champions League GS 2023–24 1st W SF W CEV Champions League GS Iberian Cup RU 2024–25 1st RUW W CEV Champions LeagueCEV Cup 1RR16 Iberian CupRU 2025–26 2nd RURU RU CEV Challenge Cup Round of 16

International competition results

Note: Benfica score is always listed first.

SeasonCompetitionRoundOppositionScoreAggregate 1974–75 Cup Winner's Cup Qualification round ASUB Bruxelles 1–3 (H) 1–3 (A)2–6 1976–77 Cup Winner's Cup Qualification round Sokol Wien 3–2 (H) 1–3 (A)4–5 1981–82 CEV Champions Cup Qualification round Olympiacos S.C. 0–3 (H)0–3 (A)0–6 1988–89 Cup Winner's Cup Qualification round CV Guaguas 0–3 (H) 1–3 (A)1–61990–91CEV Cup Winners' CupGroup Stage Knack Roeselare 1–3 (H) Panathinaikos V.C. 1–3 (H) Frejus 3–0 (A) Panathinaikos V.C. 3–0 (A) Frejus 1–3 (H) Knack Roeselare 3–0 (A) 1991–92 CEV Champions Cup First qualification round Lausanne UC 1–3 (A)3–0 (H)4–3 Second qualification round OK Partizan 1–3 (A)3–2 (H)4–5 1992–93 CEV Cup Winners' Cup R16 CD San José 3–2 (H)0–3 (A)3–5 1993–94 CEV Cup Winners' Cup First qualification round Grupo Duero Soria 2–3 (H)0–3 (A)2–6 2005–06 CEV Top Teams Cup Group C OK Vojvodina 2–3 (H)1–3 (A) Vegyész RC-Kazincbarcika 3–1 (H)3–2 (A) C.V.M. Tomis Constanța 0–3 (A)3–0 (H) Quarter-final CV Palma 0–3 (A)1–3 (H)1–6 2014–15 CEV Challenge Cup Round of 32 OK Partizan 3–1 (A)3–1 (H) Round of 16 Fonte Bastardo 3–2 (H)3–0 (A)6–2 Quarter-final Ethnikos Alexandroupolis 3–0 (H)3–2 (A)6–2 Semi-final CMC Ravenna 3–0 (H)2–3 (A)5–3 Final Vojvodina NS Seme Novi Sad 1–3 (A)3–2 (H)4–5 2015–16 CEV Challenge Cup Second qualification round Biogas Volley Näfels 3–0 (A)3–1 (H)6–1 Round of 32 Topvolley Antwerpen 3–1 (H)2–3 (A)5–4 Round of 16 Istanbul BBSK 1–3 (A)3–0 (H)4–3 Quarter-final Ethnikos Alexandroupolis 3–1 (H)3–2 (A)6–3 Semi-final Calzedonia Verona 3–2 (A)1–3 (H)4–5 2016–17 CEV Challenge Cup Round of 32 Biogas Volley Näfels 3–2 (H)3–2 (A)6–4 Round of 16 Chaumont VB 52 0–3 (H)3–2 (A)3–5 2017–18 CEV Challenge Cup Second qualification round C.S. Remat Zalău 3–1 (H)3–2 (A)6–3 Round of 32 UVC Holding Graz 3–0 (H)3–0 (A)6–0 Round of 16 Steaua București 3–2 (A)3–1 (H)6–3 Quarter-final Bunge Ravenna 1–3 (A)2–3 (H)3–6 2018–19 CEV Challenge Cup Second qualification round Pafiakos Pafos 3–0 (H)3–0 (A)6–0 Round of 32 Iraklis V.C. 3–0 (H)3–0 (A)6–0 Round of 16 VM Zalău 3–0 (H)3–1 (A)6–1 Quarter-final Belgorie Belgorod 0–3 (A)3–1 (H)3–4 2019–20 CEV Champions League First qualification round Mladost Brcko 3–0 (A)3–0 (H)6–0 Second qualification round OK Budva 3–0 (H)3–1 (A)6–1 Third qualification round Mladost Zagreb 3–0 (H) 3–1 (A)6–1 Group Stage Umbria Volley Perugia 1–3 (A) Projekt Warsaw 3–1 (H) Tours VB 1–3 (H) Projekt Warsaw 1–3 (A) Umbria Volley Perugia 1–3 (H) Tours VB 1–3 (A) 2020–21 CEV Challenge Cup R32 Vegyész Kazincbarcika 3–0 (A) 3–0 (H)6–1 R16 Halkbank Ankara 1–3 (A)1–3 2021–22 CEV Champions League First qualification round Tartu Volleyball 1–3 (A)3–1 (H)4–4 Second qualification round VaLePa Sastamala 3–0 (H)3–1 (A)6–1 Third qualification round VK ČEZ Karlovarsko 2–3 (H) 3–1 (A)5–4 Group Stage VC Zenit Saint Petersburg 0–3 (A) BR Volleys 1–3 (H) BR Volleys 0–3 (A) VC Zenit Saint Petersburg 0–3 (H) OK Vojvodina 1–3 (A) OK Vojvodina 3–2 (H) 2022–23 CEV Champions League Second qualification round Dynamo Apeldoorn 3–1 (A)3–0 (H)6–1 Third qualification round VaLePa Sastamala 1–3 (A) 3–1 (H)4–4 Group Stage Volley Lube 3–2 (A) K.S.V. Roeselare 2–3 (H) K.S.V. Roeselare 0–3 (A) Volley Lube 0–3 (H) Tours VB 0–3 (A) Tours VB 1–3 (H) 2023–24 Iberian Cup Semi-Final CDV Río Duero 3–0 (N)3–0 Final CV Guaguas 1–3 (N)1–3 CEV Champions League Group Stage BR Volleys 0–3 (A) Volley Piacenza 1–3 (H) Halkbank Ankara 0–3 (A) Volley Piacenza 0–3 (A) BR Volleys 1–3 (H) Halkbank Ankara 2–3 (H) 2024–25 Iberian Cup Semi-Final CDV Río Duero 3–0 (N)3–0 Final Sporting 1–3 (N)1–3 CEV Champions League 1R CV Guaguas 1–3 (A) 3–2 (H)4–5 CEV Cup 1R Haasrode Leuven 3–0 (A) 2–3 (H)5–3 2R Calcit Volley 3–0 (A) 3–0 (H)6–0 R16 Trentino Volley 0–3 (H) 3–2 (A)2–5 2025–26 CEV Challenge Cup 1R OK Medjimurje 3–0 (A) 3–0 (H)6–0 R32 Arcada Galati 1–3 (A) 4–1 (H)5–4 R16 Altekma SK 3–2 (H) 2–4 (A)4–5

Players

Men's Current squad