The 'Classico' history

Sunday night in Portugal sees the clash of the titans as Benfica travel to FC Porto.

Benfica are currently in second place and seven points behind their opponents FC Porto. Benfica can close the gap to four points, if they manage to win. FC Porto could make their season this Sunday, if they topple Benfica, the ten point gap will take a miracle, or indeed some naivety to allow their opponents to catch up.

Benfica will by inspired by the magical match winning performance over Lyon where they ran out 4-3 winners in Tuesday night in the Champions League.

FC Porto will want to improve on their draw with Beskitas on Thursday, so they are sure to be in their bullish mood.

The ‘Classico’ dates as far back as 1912 and the great rivalry, which more to do with regions then football at times, brings out the passion and hostility from both the players and the supporters.

Benfica have acquired 2,500 tickets for their travelling fans. Last season for the same fixture, FC Porto supporters bought 3,500 Golf balls, and we can safely say there are not that many golfers in the city of Porto.

But this game will bring the whole football loving supporter in Portugal, to a sofa, stool, empty space or even from the relaxing bed, to watch one of the most hated rivalries in world football.
Below is a story on the ‘Classico’, but take into account that this same term can be adapted into a Sporting-FC Porto match, and is referred to as a ‘derby’

The first Match

The first ever match between Porto and Benfica was a friendly played on 28th of April 1912, having secured the Lisbon Championship title, Benfica arranged to travel to Porto to play a double header friendly against FC Porto: In the morning the reserves played, with Benfica winning 2-1; in the afternoon, it was to be the first ever FC Porto and Benfica, with both sending out their first teams, Benfica came away winners over the northerners, with an impressive 8-2.

The first official game between the two is registered on the 28th of June 1931, a game for the final of the Portuguese Championship 1930/31 at the Campo Amado, in Coimbra, Benfica won that game 3-0 goals from Vitor Silva (2) and Denis.
The 'Classico' in the league

Both teams faced each other in the north, in Porto, to record the first ever 'Classico' game in the history of the league, and it was for the 3rd game of the league season, the game was held at Estadio Lima, on the 3rd of February 1935, the game kicked off at 14.40pm, ten minutes later then scheduled. The match referee was Manuel Oliveira from Conimbriga.

FC Porto won that first game, 2-1, with striker Lopes Carneiro scoring on the 15th minute, with the first half finishing 1-0.

In the second half Benfica tried their best to equalize, but on the 58th minute, a penalty was awarded to FC Porto, Pinga stepped up, and missed it, the referee, despite some protest from Benfica, allowed the penalty to be re-taken, Pinga stepped up again, and missed it a second time. Allowing for Augusto Amaro to enter the hall of fame, as being the first Goalkeeper, to save a penalty in the league, but that did not stop Pinga from scoring on the rebound and Porto went 2-0 ahead.

Alfredo Valadas, the Benfica striker, scored two minutes later to reduce the damage.

Porto held on until the final whistle. The result left FC Porto on par with Belenesnes on points, and benfica with two points behind.
FC PORTO: Soares dos Reis - Avelino Martins, Jerónimo Faria - João Nova, Álvaro Pereira, Carlos Pereira - Lopes Carneiro, Waldemar Mota, Acácio Mesquita, Pinga, Carlos Nunes.

Manager: Joseph Szabo.

BENFICA: Augusto Amaro - Gatinho, Gustavo Teixeira - Francisco Albino, Álvaro Pina, Gaspar Pinto - Domingos Lopes, Luís Xavier, Torres, Rogério Sousa, Alfredo Valadas.

Manager: Vítor Gonçalves.
GOALS: 15' Lopes Carneiro (1-0), 60' Pinga (2-0), 62' Alfredo Valadas (2-1).

The 'Classico' in Lisbon

It was on the 24th of March 1935, where Benfica and Porto played each other in Lisbon, the game was held at Benfica’s first ground, Campo das Amoreiras, for precisely the 10th game of the league season.

Porto was three points ahead of Beleneses and four points ahead of Sporting and Benfica.

The Classico was a sell out, with 20,000 people packing Campo das Amoreiras, Porto had sent two trains full of supporters to Lisbon.

The reception FC Porto received when they entered the pitch, was that of intimidation. This was due to Sporting and Beleneses supporters joining the Benfica crowd. The atmosphere inside the Estadio das Amoreiras was very aggressive, supporters shouted "Out Out Out".

Benfica won 3-0, midfielder Gaspar Pinto scored the first, benefiting from a deflection off FC Porto defender Jeronimo. Striker Rogerio Sousa put Benfica further ahead on the 30th minute to guarantee Benfica finished the first half two goals ahead.

With the game going into the 33rd minute, striker Vitor Silva made it 3-0, re-launching the title race, as Sporting had beaten Academica do Porto in the Estadio do Lima, 3-2, and Belenenses beat Academica, at the Salinas, 4-0, benefiting from the slip up of FC Porto.

After the game FC Porto's manager, Portuguese-Hungarian, Joseph Szabo, complained of the hostile atmosphere created by the supporters of the three biggest clubs in Lisbon.

However, Szabo guaranteed that the title did not escape from FC Porto, on the last day of the season, FC Porto drew with Sporting at Campo Grande, to win the league

BENFICA: Augusto Amaro - Gatinho, Gustavo Teixeira - Francisco Albino, Lucas, Gaspar Pinto - Torres, Fernando Cardoso, Vítor Silva, Rogério Sousa, Alfredo Valadas.

Manager: Vítor Gonçalves.
FC PORTO: Soares dos Reis - Carlos Pereira, Jerónimo Faria - João Nova, Álvaro Pereira, Raul Castro - Waldemar Mota, António Santos, Lopes Carneiro, Pinga, Carlos Nunes.

Manager: Joseph Szabo.

GOALS: 32' Gaspar Pinto (1-0) ; 40' Rogério Sousa (2-0) ; 78' Vítor Silva (3-0).

 Below find some head to heads and also a Summary.