2005 Taça de Portugal final

As a Primeira Liga team, Benfica entered the 2004–05 Taça de Portugal in the fourth round, where they were drawn in a home tie against Portuguese Second Division side Oriental. Benfica defeated their opposition 3–1, thanks to a brace from Croatian striker Tomo Šokota and goal from Brazilian midfield ace Geovanni on the hour mark.[16] The fifth round saw the Encarnados be pitted in another tie at the Estádio da Luz against Terceira Divisão side AD Oliveirense. The fourth tier side threatened an upset when Pedro Fidalgo scored in the 25th minute. However, in the second half, Benfica were awarded a penalty which Simão Sabrosa converted to tie the game in the 50th minute. The score remained tied until the end of the game. The 1–1 tie after 90 minutes would require extra-time to settle a winner of the match. As Benfica piled on the pressure in extra-time, they took the lead for the first time in the match after Cristiano Hummel scored an own goal in the 95th minute. Following Benfica's second, the visitors then pushed for an equaliser, which would allow Benfica to brake and open the floodgates for Benfica's third and fourth goals. Tomo Šokota would score Benfica's third and Geovanni Benfica's fourth to make the final score 4–1.[17]

In the sixth round, Benfica were again at home, and faced rivals Sporting CP. The first twenty two minutes of the game saw four goals. Geovanni would open the scoring on three minutes, with the Leões equalising on 15 minutes through Hugo Viana. Sporting CP would take the lead two minutes after Viana had equalised, through striker Liédson. Geovanni would double Benfica's tally to tie the game 2–2. The lively first half saw both teams not replicate their goal scoring form in the second half which led to both teams taking more precautions and less risks when going forward. This resulted in the game being tied after 90 minutes. The stalemate after 90 minutes required extra-time to settle a winner of the tie. Sporting's left back Paíto would give the Leões the lead in the 110th minute, after he picked up the ball in his own half and ran past Benfica's João Pereira and Luisão on the wing and slotted the ball past an on rushing Quim. Two minutes from the end of extra-time, Simão Sabrosa was played the ball outside the penalty box and curled the shot past Ricardo to tie the game and thus allow the tie to be settled in a penalty shootout. After each side had taken six penalties each, the score was tied 6–6. Benfica's Alcides would convert his penalty whilst Sporting's Miguel Garcia missed and thus granted Benfica passage to the next round.[18]

For the quarter-finals, Benfica were drawn in a fourth consecutive home cup tie against fellow first division side Beira-Mar. A first half strike from full-back João Pereira saw Benfica qualify for the semi-finals.[19] Benfica's quarter final win over Beira-Mar would mark the first clean sheet that Benfica had obtained in the 2004–05 Taça de Portugal. For the semi-finals, Benfica were drawn away from home against Estrela da Amadora who at the time were the only second division side still in the competition.[20] Benfica defeated the Amadora side 3–0, with a brace from Nuno Gomes and a second half strike from Nuno Assis which would give Benfica a ticket to the cup final for a consecutive season.[21]