Despite having won the Portuguese title the previous season, Benfica’s coach Toni was replaced by the bigger name of Artur Jorge. This was a season of major change in the playing squad with two major stars in Rui Costa and Stefan Schwarz moving on. Arrivals included Paulo Bento and the Belgian international keeper Michael Preud’homme, plus the loan acquisitions of forwards Edilson and Claudio Caniggia. This pair had fine seasons with 33 League goals between them, but Benfica’s mixed League campaign saw them end in a distant third place, leaving a run to the Quarter-Finals of the Champions League as the season highlight.