Stalemate at Do Dragão as Mourinho’s Benfica Hold Unbeaten Porto to Goalless Draw

Key Takeaways:

• Porto and Benfica ended their derby on Sunday, 5 October 2025, with a 0-0 draw at Do Dragão
• The draw preserved Porto’s unbeaten league run this season, though it marked their first dropped points after seven consecutive wins
• This fixture represented José Mourinho’s return to Porto, facing his former club as Benfica’s head coach

Derby Day Reveals Unyielding Defences

On Sunday night, Porto and Benfica contested a fiercely anticipated Liga Portugal derby, ending in a goalless stalemate at Do Dragão. All eyes had been on José Mourinho as he returned to the stadium where he previously forged his managerial legacy at the start of the 21st century, now leading the “Eagles” against his former side, the “Dragons.”

Neither side was able to break the deadlock as the match concluded 0-0. The result meant the four-point gap between Porto and Benfica remained unchanged, with both clubs retaining their unbeaten league status. For Porto, this encounter signified their first points dropped of the campaign, having triumphed in their previous seven matches.

🚨 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗧: FC Porto won 9 games in a row and needed 1 more victory to write club history, but then José Mourinho's Benfica came along! pic.twitter.com/fgXjGPmugg

— The Touchline | 𝐓 (@TouchlineX) October 5, 2025

Historical Context and Recent Encounters

This marks the first league draw between the historic rivals since the 2020/2021 season, a year when both derbies also finished level at 1-1. The last instance of a scoreless draw in this classic fixture occurred in December 2017, nearly eight years ago. Notably, in their spring 2024 meeting, Porto overwhelmed Benfica with a 5-0 victory – the most recent derby where either side failed to find the net.

Key Players and Tactical Battles

Porto enjoyed the continued goal threat of Samu Omorodion, who entered the tie with five goals in seven league appearances. Meanwhile, Benfica benefitted from the leadership and experience of 37-year-old Nicolás Otamendi, ever-present in their back line for all seven matches this season.

The opening period saw the “Dragons” push closer to a breakthrough. Gabriel Veiga produced a notable run past the Benfica rearguard in the 34th minute, driving a shot just wide of the left post. On 42 minutes, Alan Varela’s effort took a deflection off a defender before Veiga again forced a corner, his follow-up attempt also blocked. The critical incident of the first half arrived just before half-time, when Porto’s appeals for a penalty were dismissed by referee Miguel Nogueira.

Second-Half Shift and Late Drama

After the interval, Mourinho’s Benfica displayed greater attacking intent, with Sudakov and Pavlidis particularly involved in stretching the home defence. On one occasion, their pressure nearly produced an own goal from Porto. In the 68th minute, William Gomes came close to a decisive strike for Porto but sent his shot over the bar.

The hosts threatened again in the 88th minute through Gomes, although Benfica’s defence intervened. In a swift counter, Broreiro saw his opportunity similarly thwarted. Porto almost snatched victory during stoppage time when Rodrigo Moura unleashed a powerful shot from the box’s edge, rattling the crossbar.

The closing moments featured a minor altercation near the corner flag, resulting in yellow cards for three involved players, but tempers ultimately did not boil over. Neither team was able to engineer a late winner, and the match concluded in a scoreless draw.

Full Match Details