Mourinho's Benfica on track for invincible season but out of Portuguese title race

Jose Mourinho's Benfica stands two games from completing an unbeaten season in Portugal's top flight but will finish without the league title.

Porto clinched the championship over the weekend, pulling nine points clear of second-place Benfica. Under president Andre Villas-Boas, a former Chelsea and Tottenham manager, Porto has lost just one of its 32 matches this season.

Benfica remains winless in defeats but has 10 draws, six more than the champions. The team can seal an invincible campaign with wins or draws against Braga on Sunday and Estoril Praia on the final day.

This would not be the first time Benfica went unbeaten yet trophyless. In the 1977-78 season, Porto drew two fewer games and took the title on goal difference.

Mourinho's side would join FC Sheriff in Moldova for 2024-25 and Red Star Belgrade in 2007-08 as the only European clubs this century to go a full league season without a loss but miss the championship.

Benfica could even drop to third. Sporting trails by three points but holds a game in hand and better goal difference.

Portuguese sports publication A Bola said Benfica gifted Porto 12 points by letting leads slip in six of their 10 draws.

Benfica president Rui Costa pointed to officiating after Saturday's 2-2 draw at Famalicao ended title hopes. "No-one has the right to decide who wins championships or who goes to the Champions League other than the players and coaches on the field, and what happened here today was not that," Costa said.

He complained that Famalicao received an unfair penalty and that their second goal came from a corner that was not a corner. "It unequivocally explains what this referee came here to do today. Trying to make sure Benfica got beaten here."

Portuguese sports newspaper Record reported that the Portuguese Association of Football Referees plans to file a complaint against Costa over his comments.

Mourinho also criticized the officiating. "This game is a good reflection of what has happened in this championship," he said.

The Portuguese manager has been linked to the Real Madrid job this summer if the club parts with Alvaro Arbeloa. O Jogo reported that Benfica plans to offer Mourinho a new contract this week.