By Melody Gross 
Since 2015/2016 – six years ago – then under Rui Vitoria, Benfica have not reached the Champions League quarter-finals. An achievement Nelson Verissimo has earned the name associated with leaving Ajax along the way, now joining the restricted group of teams reaching Friday’s draw in Nyon. This is the draw in which Benfica will be, in detail, the only representative of the league outside the so-called Big Five (England, Spain, Germany, Italy and France).
In the current Champions League form (officially since 1992/93), Benfica reached the quarter-finals for the fifth time yesterday, a stage they have not gone beyond since. Milan (1994/1995), Barcelona (2005/2006), Chelsea (2011/2012) and Bayern Munich (2015/2016) were Eagle Executors, led by Artur Jorge (1994/1995), Ronald Koeman (2005/1995). 2006), Jorge Jesus (2011/2012) and Roy Vitoria (2015/2016).
Combining the entire history of the main European Club Championship, this will be Benfica’s 19th presence in the quarter-finals of the tournament. Combining all UEFA competitions, Benfica have now reached the quarter-finals of 32: five in the Cup Winners’ Cup; Three in the European Cup. Five in the European League and 19 in the Champions League.
The victory away from home, yesterday in Amsterdam – a stadium where Benfica has won only once but against a team they have never eliminated – was the third of the five times the Eagles have reached this stage in the competition (the eighth): Liverpool (2006), Zenit ( 2016) and yesterday Ajax. The Dutch team was empty again, after 21 games they always score goals: the last time they didn’t celebrate a goal was in November 2021, with the Go Ahead Eagles (0-0). On the other hand, Benfica achieved its 120th victory in the main European competition in 270 matches played yesterday.