For the new season former assistant manager, Toni remained in charge of the team after leading them to the European Cup Final. The off-season was marked by tension between Porto and Benfica, after the first signed Rui Águas and Dito, breaking a 20-year gentlemen's agreement of not signing each other's players. The dispute boiled down to the signing of Ademir Alcântara, with Porto accusing Benfica of stealing the player. It became known as the "Ademir affair". To replace Águas and Dito, Benfica signed Vata and Ricardo Gomes, and added Brazilian international Valdo Filho, amidst several others, including the aforementioned Ademir. The pre-season began on 18 July, with medical tests. The next day, Benfica travelled to Lamego for eleven days of training sessions. Afterwards, they embarked on a tour to the Netherlands, where they competed in the Amsterdam Tournament from 5 to 7 August. Their presentation game occurred on the 11 with Grêmio, and they closed the pre-season with a second tournament, the Marlboro Cup in New York. This caused the opening game with Penafiel, scheduled for 21 August to be postponed to 14 September.