Benfica vs Real Madrid 

©TM/IMAGO

Less than a month since one of the most dramatic finishes to a Champions League game in history, Benfica and Real Madrid will battle again. They meet in the first-leg of the play-off clash tonight in Lisbon tonight with memories of that famous encounter in January still fresh. Benfica secured their passage to the play-offs in the most unthinkable manner when goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin headed a late winner to spark pandemonium in the Estadio du Luz.

Not only did Trubin’s goal book Benfica’s place in the play-offs, it also knocked Real Madrid out of the top eight places and deprived them of automatic qualification to the last 16. All eyes will be on José Mourinho tonight as he takes on his former club and the enigmatic boss believes Madrid will be hurting. “They are wounded,” said Mourinho. “And a wounded king is dangerous. We will play the first leg with our heads, with ambition and confidence. We know what we did to the kings of the Champions League.” Mourinho is unquestionably one of the most iconic and decorated coaches of his generation and we’ve analysed his record across his managerial career.

José Mourinho: Managerial record by club

Mourinho’s distinguished managerial career actually began at Benfica after replacing Jupp Heynckes for a short 10-game spell in 2000 before he eventually became a household name after winning back-to-back European trophies with Porto. The 63-year-old has managed 1,228 games and we’ve analysed his points per game record at each club. And Mourinho’s best record, perhaps unsurprisingly, arrived at Porto. The Portuguese boss won 91 of his 127 matches in charge with a ppg of 2.32 as he lifted the Champions League and UEFA Cup.

As the graphic above illustrates, Mourinho’s spell at Real Madrid was his second most successful in terms of ppg (2.30) despite failing to win the Champions League. The ‘special one’ did lift the most coveted trophy in club football at Inter Milan in 2010 and his ppg record at I Nerazzurri ranks third. Mourinho’s ppg record at Fenerbahce and Chelsea eclipses his spells at Manchester United and Tottenham. His lowest ppg record was at Leiria and Roma but he still enjoys hero status in the Eternal City after leading them to their first ever European title.