Lage sacked by Benfica after Qarabag defeat, Mourinho set for return

Benfica’s club president, Rui Costa, confirmed the departure of Bruno Lage following their shock defeat to Qarabag in their Champions League opener on Tuesday.

Having led by two goals thanks to Enzo Barrenechea and Vangelis Pavlidis, Benfica were beaten 3-2 by Qarabag, who picked up their first ever win in the competition.

The result meant Benfica have now failed to win their last six games at home in the Champions League for the first time in their history (D2 L4), resulting in Lage’s sacking.

Lage was appointed in September 2024, marking his second stint with the club, and led Benfica to victory in the Taca da Liga (Portuguese League Cup) last season.

The 49-year-old won 26 of his 34 matches (five draws, three losses) during his most recent spell, winning 76.5% of his games and seeing his side score 86 goals in that time.

Quick take: Match context: momentum and small details could decide this one, especially set-pieces and transitions. Form and fitness will matter; expect managers to rotate carefully around the congested schedule. We’ll keep an eye on confirmed details as the story develops from official sources.

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Lage sacked by Benfica after Qarabag defeat, Mourinho set for return