A draw at Rio Ave, a lucky home win against lowly Portimonense and then defeat at home against CSKA Moscow in the Champions League had left Benfica looking for a vast improvement in Oporto against Boavista.
Early indications were good as Jonas nipped in to give the visitors the lead after just seven minutes but it all turned sour in the second-half.
Ten minutes after the interval Renato Santos levelled matters and twenty minutes later a fatal goalkeeping error by Bruno Varela handed all three points to the home side.
Fábio Espinho’s free-kick from some thirty metres out appeared to be covered by Varela but he allowed the ball to slip through his hands and into the corner of the net. Back in Lisbon, the Sporting faithful gave Cristiano Ronaldo a hero’s welcome as the former Manchester United forward sat out the final weekend of his five match ban for pushing a referee moments after being sent off during Real Madrid’s win over Barcelona in August.
The 32-year-old was part of Sporting’s famous youth academy from 1997 to 2002 before playing a season for the first team in 2002-03.
Ronaldo, accompanied by girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez, watched from the best seats in the house as Sporting summarily dispatched Tondela with goals from Mathieu (12’) and Bruno Fernandez (71’).
Following their home defeat to Besiktas (Turkey) in the Champions League, FC Porto were made to work hard to overcome a resolute Rio Ave in Vila do Conde.
Danilo gave the visitors the lead six minutes after the interval and Mali international Marega added a second fifteen minutes later.
Nuno Santos pulled a goal back for Rio Ave ten minutes from time. Porto remain top of the Primeira Liga on goal difference from Sporting.
The two teams meet in Lisbon on 1 October for the first Clássico of the season.
CS Marítimo have had a spectacular start to the Primeira Liga season, winning five of their opening six games but controversy surrounded the latest win against CD Aves in Madeira.
The visitors were shocked to see the poor state of the pitch at the Estádio do Marítimo and warned the LPFP (Liga Portuguesa de Futebol Profissional) in writing the week before the game. Despite the protests the game went ahead with CD Aves losing former Dundee United star Ryan Gauld after just seven minutes and Vitor Gomes shortly after the break with both injuries being blamed on the poor surface.