Results

Portugal 2a Divisao 05/31 17:00 - AD Carvalhos v SL Benfica B L 31-26
Portugal 2a Divisao 05/24 19:00 - SL Benfica B v S'avikovics/V-Mas L 27-28
Portugal 2a Divisao 05/17 16:30 - SL Benfica B v CD Feirense D 25-25
Portugal 2a Divisao 05/03 17:30 - AC Fafe v SL Benfica B L 32-23
Portugal 2a Divisao 04/26 19:00 - SL Benfica B v CDC Santana W 34-32
Portugal 2a Divisao 04/12 16:30 - SL Benfica B v AD Carvalhos W 27-26
Portugal 2a Divisao 04/05 18:00 - Estrela Amadora v SL Benfica B W 22-24
Portugal 2a Divisao 03/29 20:30 - CD Feirense v SL Benfica B L 29-26
Portugal 2a Divisao 03/22 17:30 - SL Benfica B v AC Fafe W 29-28
Portugal 2a Divisao 02/15 15:00 - SL Benfica B v Estrela Amadora W 28-27
Portugal 2a Divisao 02/01 15:00 - SL Benfica B v Club Naval Setubalense W 25-23
Portugal 2a Divisao 01/30 21:30 - CA Rangers Telherias v SL Benfica B W 27-37

Sport Lisboa e Benfica (Portuguese pronunciation: [sɨˈpɔɾ liʒˈβoɐ i βɐ̃jˈfikɐ] ), commonly known as Benfica, is a professional handball team based in Lisbon, Portugal.

Benfica play in the top tier domestic league, Andebol 1, and hold home matches at the Pavilhão da Luz Nº 2. Since its inception in 1932, Benfica have won 7 Portuguese League titles, 6 Portuguese Cups, 2 Portuguese League Cups, and 7 Portuguese Super Cups. Internationally, Benfica won the EHF European League in 2021–22, becoming the first Portuguese club to win the competition.

In addition to the club's men's reserve team, Benfica B, playing in the second division, Benfica also has a women's team, who are the current Portuguese champions, having won 11 League titles, 9 Cups, 1 Federation Cup and 4 Super Cups.

History

Beginning

Founded on 8 May 1932, Benfica's handball section endured a troubled start shortly after being founded. It was inactive from 1939 to 1942–43 because of a conflict between Benfica and the Portuguese Handball Federation. Until the 1960s, handball was played by eleven players, and after 1962–63, in another dispute with the federation, Benfica closed the eleven players team and opted for the current team handball. The handball section did not achieve success until 1961–62, being overshadowed by the football, cycling, basketball and roller hockey sections of the club during that time.

Golden years

After a period of dominance by crosstown rivals Sporting CP, Benfica experienced great success in the 1980s and early 1990s, when was led by coach Eugene Troffin, and later by Ângelo Pintado, along with players such as Paulo Bunze, Swedish international Fredrik Appelgren, Dogărescu, Covaciu and Drăgăniță, goalkeeper João Santa Bárbara, wingman Mário Gentil, Vasco Vasconcelos, Luís Lopes and Rui Ferreira; Benfica won four national championships, three Portuguese Cup and two Portuguese Super Cup.[]

Decay

In the 1997–98 season, club president João Vale e Azevedo decided to shut down the section. It was restarted in the next season, but from the Regional Championship, four divisions away from the top flight.

Rebuilding years

In 2005, after years in anonymity, Benfica hired former ABC Braga coach Aleksander Donner on a three-year deal. Because of a dispute between Liga and the Handball Federation, which managed the Divisão de Elite, there were two simultaneous championships. In the 2005–06 season, Benfica played in the Divisão de Elite. In 2006–07, Benfica joined the Liga Portuguesa de Andebol along with Sporting CP. During that season, Benfica won their first title since 1994, the League Cup. In the following season, Benfica finally achieved their first league title since 1990. Despite the success, Aleksander Donner did not renew his contract at the end of the season.

Recent years

To replace Donner, Benfica hired José António Silva, who won three titles in three years: the 2008–09 League Cup, 2010–11 Portuguese Cup and 2010 Super Cup. In the 2010–11 season, Benfica reached the final of the EHF Challenge Cup, but lost to Slovene side RK Cimos Koper. In 2011–12, José António Silva was replaced by another former ABC Braga coach, Jorge Rito. With him, Benfica finished fourth in league for the first time. On 2 September 2012, Jorge Rito won Benfica's fourth Super Cup trophy. The season ended with only a second place in the league. In 2013–14, Benfica's performances worsened, and the team finished the league in fourth place. Jorge Rito did not renew his contract and was replaced by Mariano Ortega. On 3 April 2016, Benfica, who had beaten rivals FC Porto in the semi-finals the day before, beat Lisbon rivals Sporting in the final and conquered their fifth Portuguese Cup, ending a four-year trophy drought.

SL Benfica B is the reserve handball team of the renowned Portuguese sports club Sport Lisboa e Benfica. Based in Lisbon, the team serves as a developmental squad, nurturing young talent and providing a pathway to the senior team. Known for their disciplined play and strong team spirit, SL Benfica B competes in Portugal's national handball leagues, showcasing the club's commitment to excellence and the growth of handball in the country. With a focus on skill development, tactical awareness, and sportsmanship, the team plays a vital role in Benfica's overall handball program and continues to contribute to Portugal's handball scene.