# 2010–11 S.L. Benfica season

The 2010–11 season was Sport Lisboa e Benfica's 107th season in existence and the club's 77th consecutive season in the top flight of Portuguese football. It involved Benfica competing in the Primeira Liga, Taça de Portugal, Taça da Liga and the group stage of the UEFA Champions League. Benfica qualified for the Champions League by winning the previous Primeira Liga.
In Jesus' second season, the loss of Ángel Di María and Ramires was devastating to the team. He moved Carlos Martins to the right wing as a substitute to Ramires. Nicolás Gaitán freshly landed in Europe to replace Di María. These changes had the immediate effect of breaking the high-pressure, high-tempo football of the previous years. By late September, Benfica was already trailing nine points from Porto, a difference it never recovered.
In December 2010, Eduardo Salvio replaced Carlos Martins and Benfica changed to a more common 4–4–2 formation, with two out-and-out wingers to provide width, a pure attacking midfielder combined with a defensive midfielder. That decision left to a good winning streak and Jesus surpassed the record held by Jimmy Hagan's 1972–73 team, with 16 consecutive wins, including a 2–0 win at VfB Stuttgart for the season's Europa League (4–1 on aggregate), Benfica's first ever victory in Germany. As fatigue started to influence the most used players, in the only competitions the club were actively competing, Benfica was unable to maintain a 2–0 lead against Porto, and lost the chance to go the Portuguese Cup final. A 1–0 loss in Braga prevented Benfica from reaching the Europa League final. Domestically, Benfica won their third League Cup, beating Paços de Ferreira.
In January, the Portuguese winter transfer record fee was broken when David Luiz went to Chelsea for £21 million. The record was later surpassed on 31 January 2014 by another Benfica player, when Rodrigo's economic rights were sold to an investment firm for €30 million.

## Competitions

Win  Draw  Loss  Postponed

### Primeira Liga
#### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Porto (C) | 30 | 27 | 3 | 0 | 73 | 16 | +57 | 84 | Qualification to Champions League group stage |
| 2 | Benfica | 30 | 20 | 3 | 7 | 61 | 31 | +30 | 63 | Qualification to Champions League third qualifying round |
| 3 | Sporting CP | 30 | 13 | 9 | 8 | 41 | 31 | +10 | 48 | Qualification to Europa League play-off round |
| 4 | Braga | 30 | 13 | 7 | 10 | 45 | 33 | +12 | 46 | Qualification to Europa League play-off round |
| 5 | Vitória de Guimarães | 30 | 12 | 7 | 11 | 36 | 37 | −1 | 43 | Qualification to Europa League third qualifying round |

#### Results by round

| Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
| Ground | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H |
| Result | L | L | W | L | W | W | W | W | W | L | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | L | D | W | L | L | W | D | W | D |
| Position | 11 | 14 | 11 | 13 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |

#### Matches
### Overall record

| Competition | First match | Last match | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record |
| Competition | First match | Last match | G | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % | Source |
| Primeira Liga | 15 August 2010 | 14 May 2011 | 30 | 20 | 3 | 7 | 61 | 31 | +30 | 066.67 | |
| Taça de Portugal | 16 October 2010 | 20 April 2011 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 17 | 4 | +13 | 083.33 | |
| Taça da Liga | 2 January 2011 | 23 March 2011 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 4 | +9 | 100.00 | |
| Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira | 7 August 2010 | 7 August 2010 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | −2 | 000.00 | |
| UEFA Champions League | 14 September 2010 | 7 December 2010 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 12 | −5 | 033.33 | |
| UEFA Europa League | 17 February 2011 | 5 May 2011 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 15 | 8 | +7 | 062.50 | |
| Total | Total | Total | 56 | 37 | 5 | 14 | 113 | 61 | +52 | 066.07 |

## Player statistics

    As of 29 November 2012.
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | Primeira Liga | Primeira Liga | Portuguese Cup | Portuguese Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Europa League | Europa League |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Goalkeepers ||||||||||||||
| 1 | GK | POR | José Moreira | 6 | -5 | 2 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | -3 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | GK | ESP | Roberto | 41 | -46 | 25 | -23 | 1 | -2 | 1 | -1 | 14 | -20 |
| 13 | GK | BRA | Júlio César | 10 | -10 | 4 | -6 | 6 | -4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Defenders ||||||||||||||
| 14 | DF | URU | Maxi Pereira | 49 | 1 | 26 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 14 | 1 |
| 22 | DF | POR | Luís Filipe | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | DF | BRA | Luisão | 46 | 6 | 23 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 14 | 3 |
| 23 | DF | BRA | David Luiz | 28 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| 33 | DF | BRA | Jardel | 16 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 1 |
| 27 | DF | BRA | Sidnei | 28 | 3 | 16 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | POR | Fábio Faria | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | DF | POR | Roderick Miranda | 6 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | DF | POR | Fábio Coentrão | 45 | 5 | 23 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 14 | 2 |
| 25 | DF | POR | César Peixoto | 36 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| 24 | DF | FRA | Lionel Carole | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Midfielders ||||||||||||||
| 6 | MF | ESP | Javi García | 45 | 8 | 24 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 13 | 1 |
| 2 | MF | BRA | Airton | 28 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 5 | MF | POR | Ruben Amorim | 18 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 10 | MF | ARG | Pablo Aimar | 46 | 7 | 23 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 12 | 1 |
| 16 | MF | BRA | Felipe Menezes | 17 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| 17 | MF | POR | Carlos Martins | 46 | 3 | 25 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | ARG | Eduardo Salvio | 39 | 10 | 19 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 11 | 3 |
| 20 | MF | ARG | Nicolás Gaitán | 48 | 9 | 26 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 13 | 1 |
| 28 | MF | ARG | José Luis Fernández | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Strikers ||||||||||||||
| 7 | FW | PAR | Óscar Cardozo | 42 | 23 | 22 | 12 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 5 |
| 30 | FW | ARG | Javier Saviola | 47 | 14 | 24 | 9 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 12 | 1 |
| 11 | FW | ARG | Franco Jara | 43 | 11 | 26 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 2 |
| 19 | FW | BRA | Weldon | 8 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 21 | FW | POR | Nuno Gomes | 9 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 31 | FW | BRA | Alan Kardec | 24 | 6 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 1 |
* 1.^ Includes 2010 Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira.
* 2.^ Includes 2010-11 UEFA Champions League

## Transfers
### In
#### Summer

| No. | Pos. | Name | Age | Moving From | Type of Transfer | Contract Ends | Transfer fee | Notes |
| 12 | GK | Roberto | 24 | Atlético Madrid | Transfer | 2016 | €8,500,000 | N/A |
| 20 | MF | Nicolás Gaitán | 22 | Boca Juniors | Transfer | 2016 | €8,400,000 | N/A |
| # | FW | Rodrigo | 19 | Real Madrid | Transfer | 2016 | €7,000,000 | N/A |
| 11 | FW | Franco Jara | 21 | Arsenal de Sarandí | Transfer | 2016 | €5,500,000 | N/A |
| 8 | MF | Eduardo Salvio | 20 | Atlético Madrid | Loan | 2011 | €2,500,000 | Benfica bought 25% economic rights |
| # | GK | Jan Oblak | 17 | Olimpija Ljubljana | Transfer | 2016 | €1,700,000 | N/A |
| 3 | DF | Fábio Faria | 21 | Rio Ave | Transfer | 2015 | €2,100,000 | N/A |
| 15 | DF | Roderick Miranda | 19 | SL Benfica | Promoted | 2018 | Free | N/A |
| 26 | MF | Hassan Yebda | 26 | Portsmouth | Loan return | 2014 | Free | |
| # | DF | Rafik Halliche | 23 | Nacional | Loan return | 2015 | Free | |
| # | DF | Marco Zoro | 26 | Vitória de Setúbal | Loan return | 2011 | Free | |
| # | FW | Ishmael Yartey | 20 | Beira-Mar | Loan return | 2013 | Free | |
| # | DF | Leandro da Silva | 21 | Vitória de Guimarães | Loan return | 2014 | Free | |
| # | MF | Fellipe Bastos | 20 | Servette | Loan return | 2012 | Free | |
| # | DF | Rúben Lima | 20 | Vitória Setúbal | Loan return | 2012 | Free | |
| # | FW | André Carvalhas | 20 | Fátima | Loan return | 2011 | Free | |
| # | MF | Miguel Rosa | 21 | Carregado | Loan return | 2012 | Free | |
| # | FW | Ariza Makukula | 29 | Kayserispor | Loan return | 2013 | Free | |
| 3 | DF | José Shaffer | 24 | Banfield | Loan return | 2013 | Free | |
| # | FW | Jonathan Urretavizcaya | 20 | Peñarol | Loan return | 2013 | Free | |
| # | FW | Javier Balboa | 25 | Cartagena | Loan return | 2013 | Free | |
| # | FW | Nélson Oliveira | 18 | Rio Ave | Loan return | 2018 | Free | |
| # | DF | Abel Pereira | 21 | Tondela | Loan return | 2012 | Free | |
| # | FW | Ivan Santos | 21 | Atlético CP | Loan | 2011 | Free | |
| # | FW | Hélio Vaz | 19 | Tondela | Loan return | 2012 | Free | |
| # | FW | André Soares | 20 | Atlético CP | Loan return | 2012 | Free | |
| # | FW | José Coelho | 20 | Paços Ferreira | Loan return | 2012 | Free | |
| # | MF | David Simão | 20 | Fátima | Loan return | 2015 | Free | |
| # | MF | Leandro Pimenta | 19 | Beira-Mar | Loan return | 2013 | Free | |
| # | MF | Gilles Binya | 25 | Neuchâtel Xamax | Loan return | 2012 | Free | |
| # | DF | João Pereira | 20 | Fátima | Loan return | 2012 | Free | |

#### Winter

| No. | Pos. | Name | Age | Moving From | Type of Transfer | Contract Ends | Transfer fee | Notes |
| 28 | MF | José Luis Fernández | 23 | Racing Club | Transfer | 2015 | €1,858,789 | N/A |
| 24 | DF | Lionel Carole | 19 | Nantes | Transfer | 2015 | €1,400,000 | N/A |
| 33 | DF | Jardel | 24 | Olhanense | Transfer | 2016 | €375,000 | N/A |
| # | MF | Elvis | 20 | Paraná Clube | Transfer | 2016 | €580,000 | N/A |
Spend : €37,950,000

### Out
#### Summer

| No. | Pos. | Name | Age | Moving to | Type of transfer | Transfer fee |
| 9 | FW | Mantorras | 28 | - | Retirement | - |
| 20 | MF | Ángel Di María | 22 | Real Madrid | Transfer | €25,000,000 + €11M add-ons |
| 8 | MF | Ramires | 23 | Chelsea | Transfer | €22,000,000 |
| # | DF | Rafik Halliche | 23 | Fulham | Transfer | €1,500,000 |
| # | FW | Ariza Makukula | 29 | Manisaspor | Transfer | €2,000,000 |
| # | DF | Leandro da Silva | 21 | Paraná Clube | Contract terminated | Free |
| # | GK | Quim | 34 | Braga | Transfer | Free |
| # | DF | Rúben Lima | 20 | Beira-Mar | Transfer | Free |
| # | DF | João Pereira | 20 | Beira-Mar | Transfer | Free |
| # | MF | Gilles Binya | 25 | Neuchâtel Xamax | Transfer | Free |
| # | FW | Ishmael Yartey | 20 | Fátima | Loan | Free |
| # | GK | Jan Oblak | 17 | Beira-Mar | Loan | Free |
| # | DF | Hassan Yebda | 26 | Napoli | Loan | Free |
| # | FW | Rodrigo | 19 | Bolton Wanderers | Loan | Free |
| # | FW | Urreta | 20 | Deportivo La Coruña | Loan | Free |
| # | DF | José Shaffer | 24 | Rosario Central | Loan | Free |
| # | MF | Fellipe Bastos | 20 | Vasco da Gama | Loan | Free |
| # | FW | Éder Luís | 25 | Vasco da Gama | Loan | Free |
| # | FW | Nélson Oliveira | 18 | Paços Ferreira | Loan | Free |
| # | MF | David Simão | 20 | Paços Ferreira | Loan | Free |
| # | FW | José Coelho | 20 | Fátima | Loan | Free |
| # | FW | Ivan Santos | 21 | Espinho | Loan | Free |
| # | DF | Abel Pereira | 21 | Fátima | Loan | Free |
| # | FW | André Carvalhas | 21 | Fátima | Loan | Free |
| # | MF | Miguel Rosa | 21 | Belenenses | Loan | Free |
| # | MF | Lassana Camará | 18 | Servette | Loan | Free |
| # | FW | Hélio Vaz | 19 | Tondela | Loan | Free |
| # | FW | André Soares | 20 | Servette | Loan | Free |
| # | FW | Evandro Brandão | 19 | Fátima | Loan | Free |
| # | MF | Leandro Pimenta | 19 | Fátima | Loan | Free |
| # | DF | Mário Rui | 19 | Fátima | Loan | Free |
| # | DF | Miguel Vítor | 21 | Leicester City | Loan | Free |
| # | DF | Jorge Ribeiro | 28 | Vitória de Guimarães | Loan | Free |

#### Winter

| No. | Pos. | Name | Age | Moving to | Type of transfer | Transfer fee |
| 23 | DF | David Luiz | 23 | Chelsea | Transfer | €25,000,000 + Nemanja Matić |
| 2 | DF | Patric | 21 | Atlético Mineiro | Transfer | €1,300,000 |
| # | DF | Marco Zoro | 27 | Universitatea Craiova | Loan | Free |
| 3 | DF | José Shaffer | 24 | Banfield | Loan | Free |
| # | FW | Urreta | 20 | Peñarol | Loan | Free |
| # | FW | Freddy Adu | 21 | Çaykur Rizespor | Loan | Free |
| # | FW | Javier Balboa | 25 | Albacete | Loan | Free |
| # | FW | Marcel | 29 | Vasco da Gama | Loan | Free |
| # | FW | Ishmael Yartey | 20 | Beira-Mar | Loan | Free |
| # | GK | Jan Oblak | 17 | Olhanense | Loan | Free |
| 3 | DF | Fábio Faria | 21 | Real Valladolid | Loan | Free |
| # | DF | Abel Pereira | 21 | Gondomar | Loan | Free |
| # | FW | Evandro Brandão | 19 | Gondomar | Loan | Free |
| # | FW | Hélio Vaz | 20 | Casa Pia | Loan | Free |
    Transfer income: €76,800,000