Over 60,000 fans packed into the Estádio da Luz as the Eagles safely negotiated what could have been a potentially tricky game against the Arsenalistas.
Benfica had won fourteen, drawn one and lost just one of their previous sixteen games as they racked up another three points with keeper Júlio César not being called upon to make a serious save all match.
The pick of the home side was the silky, talented Jonas who opened the scoring midway through the first-half after a quick interchange of passes between Lima and Gaitán.
Benfica were close to doubling their lead shortly afterwards as Pizzi’s shot drew a superb goal-line clearance from centre-back Santos.
Fifteen minutes after the break Braga lost Tiago Gomes to a second yellow card, after a clumsy tackle on Salvio, and it was game over.
Almost immediately Lima seemed set to score, but Braga goalkeeper Matheus pulled off a tremendous reflex save to deny him.
Benfica left-back Eliseu is at his best going forward and the former Malaga man let off three rocket shots from distance. The first forced Matheus into a fine save, the second flew narrowly over the bar, and it proved third time lucky as his rasping drive beat the beleaguered keeper.
In the post match press conference manager Jorge Jesus said, “We are playing better now than we were three months ago. We were completely dominant, both attacking and defending, against a good Braga team who are having an excellent season.”
With no European commitments the Lisbon club look set to retain their title in impressive fashion. FC Porto were down to ten men after just eleven minutes of their home game against lowly Arouca.
Keeper Fabiano saw red after tripping André and Ricardo was sacrificed to make way for Helton to take over in goal. Aboubakar is doing a fine job of replacing the injured Jackson Martinez.
He scored the final goal in FC Porto’s comprehensive 4-0 victory against Basel in the UEFA Champions League and followed it up with the all-important winner against Arouca.
Sporting won 1-0 against Marítimo in Madeira with a goal from Adrien after half-an-hour. In the end the visitors just hung on to all three points as they picked up three yellow cards in the last five minutes for time wasting. Sporting will have to settle for a Europa League place as they trail second place Porto by eight points with SC Braga a further seven points behind in fourth place.
In the Second Division, Portimonense have virtually given up on promotion as they suffered a 3-0 home defeat to Beira-Mar and followed it up with a drab 0-0 draw against Vitória de Guimarães B.
SC Farense have dropped down the league after two successive defeats away to Guimarães 2-0 and then a 3-0 reversal at home to Benfica ‘B’.
The third Algarve team, SC Olhanense, has had a more productive period with a spirited 2-2 home draw against FC Porto ‘B’ and then a 1-0 victory away at Beira-Mar.
On Sunday Portimonense entertain a rejuvenated Olhanense in Portimão, kick-off 4pm.