Benfica Women's Historic Sixth Title: The Unbeaten Run That's Redefining Portuguese Football

Sport Lisboa e Benfica's women's football squad has clinched its sixth consecutive national championship, defeating SC Braga 3-1 on April 25, 2026, and cementing a historic run that positions the Lisbon club as the second-most successful in Portuguese women's football history. The triumph arrives with two matchdays still remaining in the Liga BPI season, underscoring the dominant margin the team has maintained throughout the 2025-2026 campaign.

Why This Matters

• Historic achievement: The hexacampeonato makes Benfica only the second club to win six consecutive titles in Portuguese women's football, trailing 1.º Dezembro's legendary 11-title streak from 2001-2012.

• Undefeated record: The squad remains invincto with 13 wins and 3 draws across 16 league matches, boasting the league's best attack (54 goals) and stingiest defense (10 conceded).

• Dobradinha ambition: The team now sets its sights on completing the domestic double by defeating FC Porto in the upcoming Taça de Portugal final, a rare achievement previously secured only once by the club.

• Derby showdown: The next fixture sees Benfica host Sporting at Estádio da Luz, where coach Ivan Baptista aims to preserve the perfect league record and widen the 8-point gap over their capital rivals.

A Transition Year That Delivered

Ivan Baptista inherited the coaching reins this season after Filipa Patão led the club to five consecutive titles, a handover that introduced uncertainty into what had become a predictable dynasty. The first-time champion coach acknowledged the difficulty of sustaining excellence under scrutiny: "Winning isn't easy, and winning six times is something unimaginable," he said immediately after the Braga victory, before being mobbed by celebrating players. "Being champions for Benfica is the greatest pride we have. Objective accomplished."

Despite the headline success, analysts have noted the squad appeared desencontrada—somewhat disjointed—throughout the season, with performances lacking the offensive fluidity and intensity that previously defined the team. The campaign produced fewer standout attacking displays, with central defender Carole Costa unexpectedly emerging as the squad's leading scorer with 8 goals, an unusual statistic that reflects the redistribution of goal-scoring responsibility. Meanwhile, forward Cristina Martín Prieto had a quieter season than anticipated.

Yet Baptista deflects credit from himself, insisting the infrastructure deserves recognition: "This team is prepared to win regardless of who occupies this coaching position, because it has a group of players who breathe victory and the most professional staff I've ever seen," he explained, referencing the multiple injuries that tested squad depth throughout the year.

The Championship-Clinching Performance

The decisive encounter at Estádio Amélia Morais in Braga unfolded with urgency after Sporting had defeated Rio Ave 2-1 moments earlier, placing pressure on Benfica to secure three points. The response was emphatic. Brazilian forward Nycole Raysla needed just five minutes to open scoring, capitalizing on a turnover forced by Lúcia Alves against Braga's Alícia Correia.

Benfica controlled proceedings throughout, with referee Ana Afonso disallowing a Diana Silva goal at the 26-minute mark for offside before the Portuguese international found the net legitimately three minutes before halftime, converting after Marit Lund's cross and Raysla's crucial intervention in the box.

The second half saw Benfica dominate possession, with goalkeeper Iris Esgueirão forced into crucial saves against efforts from Lúcia Alves (47'), Catarina Amado (49'), and Caroline Moller (60'). Braga finally created danger through Malu Schmidt's over-the-bar attempt at 68 minutes before Maribel Flores struck a spectacular long-range goal at the 70-minute mark to reduce the deficit.

The hosts briefly threatened an improbable comeback when Margaret Detrizio forced Lena Pauels into an alert save at 73 minutes, but Costa's header from a lateral free kick three minutes later restored the two-goal cushion and effectively sealed the title. Approximately 400 Benfica supporters who made the journey north witnessed the celebrations as their team lifted the trophy on rival territory.

What This Means for Portuguese Women's Football

The hexacampeonato solidifies Benfica's position in the historical hierarchy of Portuguese women's football. The club now sits second on the all-time championship list with six titles, behind 1.º Dezembro's 12 trophies but ahead of Boavista's 11. Notably, 1.º Dezembro's legendary run included an unprecedented 11 consecutive titles spanning 2001-2012 before financial difficulties forced the closure of their women's section in 2014.

Benfica's dominance since establishing its women's team in 2018 has reshaped the competitive landscape, though this season's Liga BPI campaign proved less straightforward than previous years. The club's broader ambitions extended beyond domestic competition, with the squad participating in the UEFA Women's Champions League, though setbacks in the Supertaça (a loss) and Taça da Liga (semi-final elimination) demonstrated the challenges of competing across multiple fronts.

For SC Braga, the defeat extended a winless streak to five matches, including the Copa de Portugal semi-final elimination by these same opponents. With two rounds remaining, the Minho-based club has yet to secure Liga BPI survival mathematically.

The Dobradinha Challenge Awaits

Baptista's immediate focus shifts to the Taça de Portugal final against FC Porto, a recently promoted side that secured its return to Portugal's top division on the same weekend Benfica claimed the league title. The coach emphasized his squad's original season ambition: "We set out to win all four domestic trophies. We didn't capture two of them, but anyone connected to this club understands that expectation, along with a strong Champions League campaign."

The final presents an opportunity for the club's second-ever domestic double, a rarity that underscores the difficulty of maintaining peak performance across parallel competitions. Baptista welcomed Porto's elevation to the top flight, suggesting their presence will "raise the level" of Portuguese women's football.

Before that cup showdown, however, comes the Lisbon derby at Estádio da Luz, where Benfica will aim to protect its unblemished league record. "The objective is always to win. We haven't suffered any defeat, and that's something important to us. We want to increase the advantage over our opponent," Baptista stated, noting the team has played three times at the iconic stadium this season, always backed by robust supporter turnout.

The coach's emotional approach this week—unusual for someone who describes himself as typically "cold" and unemotional—reflected his desire to reward squad players who contributed from the bench throughout the campaign. That rotation philosophy may have cost some tactical fluidity but demonstrated the organizational depth that defines championship-caliber squads.

For residents tracking Portuguese football, the next fortnight will determine whether Benfica's women can convert a historic hexacampeonato into an even rarer double, or whether the physical and mental toll of a long season finally catches up with a team that has redefined expectations since its relatively recent founding eight years ago.