Manny Ita –
Manager José Mourinho was sent off following a heated confrontation with opposition staff as SL Benfica fought back from two goals down to secure a dramatic 2–2 draw against league leaders FC Porto in a tense edition of “O Clássico” in the Primeira Liga.
Porto made a strong start to the encounter, taking the lead in the 10th minute through Danish midfielder Victor Froholdt. The visitors extended their advantage shortly before halftime when Polish player Oskar Pietuszewski doubled the lead, putting Porto in firm control as they headed into the break.
Benfica responded strongly in the second half as they pushed forward in search of a comeback. Norwegian forward Andreas Schjelderup pulled one back for the hosts, raising the intensity of the contest and setting up a tense finale at the stadium.
The drama escalated late in the match when midfielder Leandro Barreiro scored an 89th-minute equaliser for Benfica, completing a remarkable comeback that sparked chaotic scenes on the touchline. In the aftermath of the goal, Mourinho became involved in a heated exchange with members of the Porto bench.
The Portuguese coach was subsequently shown a red card by the referee and was seen making a provocative gesture as he walked down the tunnel. Mourinho later disputed the reason for his dismissal, insisting the decision was based on an incorrect interpretation of his actions.
“The referee said he sent me off because I kicked a ball towards the FC Porto substitutes’ bench. That’s completely false,” Mourinho said after the match. “Many times, in our goals, I kick the ball towards the stands to give a lucky fan a chance. I know I’m not very good technically, but it was meant for the stands. I was wrongly sent off. The fourth official did a terrible job throughout the game and continues to do so when I told the referee that.”
Mourinho also revealed that his confrontation involved a Porto staff member he identified as Gonzalez, accusing the official of repeatedly insulting him during the heated exchange.
“He called me a traitor 50 times,” Mourinho said. “I’d like him to explain to me, a traitor to what? I went to FC Porto, I gave my soul to FC Porto, I went to Chelsea, I went to Inter, to Real Madrid, I went around the world and gave 24 hours of my life every day. That’s called professionalism.”
The 63-year-old manager added that he viewed the remark as a direct attack on his professional integrity.
“When he went to Marseille, was he a traitor? A traitor to what? He could have insulted me in a way that I would have accepted better, but I think it was an attack on my professionalism, which is something I value so much,” he said.
Despite Benfica’s late comeback, Mourinho acknowledged that Porto were the stronger side for much of the match and praised the structure and intensity of the league leaders.
“Regarding the game, for a large part of it FC Porto was closer to winning than we were,” he said. “You can like them a lot, dislike them or even hate them, but FC Porto built a team with an idea. That’s what they want, the way they play, the profile suited to that style of play.”
He also highlighted the physical strength and attacking speed of the Porto squad, noting the challenge his team faced throughout the match.
“They are a team with tremendous physicality. It’s very difficult to play against FC Porto. They have four wingers, and which one is the fastest? They are far superior to us in the intensity of the game,” he said.
The result leaves the standings at the top of the league unchanged, with Porto maintaining their position as leaders on 66 points and preserving a four-point advantage over second-placed Sporting. Benfica remain seven points behind Porto in the title race.
Mourinho, however, said the championship contest is not yet decided, noting that a significant number of points remain available in the season.
“There are 27 points left. I consider it difficult to recover seven points,” he said. “But as long as it’s mathematically possible, anything can happen.”
