Sporting took advantage with a single goal victory that was enough to take them level on points with Porto at the top.
Porto boss, Sérgio Conceição, turned to his regular big-game plan with a packed three-man midfield whilst Rui Vitoria played Jonas as a lone striker supported by Eduardo Salvio and Franco Cervi.
It was through Jonas that Benfica found their first glimpse of goal within the first three minutes, as the off-balance Brazilian aimed to direct a header in from a corner but his effort was comfortably palmed away by José Sá.
The next twenty minutes were littered with a succession of fouls by both teams but on the half-hour mark Yacine Brahimi slid a perfect through pass to Moussa Marega who shot wide from a promising position.
The Mali international, who scored thirteen goals in twenty-five outings whilst on loan at Vitória de Guimarães last season, went on to miss golden opportunities in the 58th, 86th and 90th minutes. Porto were the more dominant side in the second-half but Benfica weathered the storm although they were reduced to ten men in the eighty-second minute when substitute Zivkovic picked up two yellow cards in the space of seven minutes.
The Eagles had their best opportunity three minutes later when José Sá somehow managed to keep out Krovinovic’s goal bound effort. Sporting Lisbon beat local Lisbon rival Belenenses courtesy of a Bas Dost thirteenth minute spot-kick.
Bas Dost’s tenth league goal of the season took his total to fifty goals in sixty-two games across all competitions for the Lions since signing in August last year. Jorge Jesus’ men distanced themselves from third-placed Benfica, with the latter lagging behind the two league leaders by three points at the top of the Primeira Liga. Portimonense continue to improve and have now gone four games undefeated in the Primeira Liga after their 0-0 draw at bottom club Estoril on Monday evening.
It was the Portimão club’s second consecutive clean sheet after conceding in their previous ten league games this season. The point gained lifts Portimonense into the top half of the league standings.