It was virtually one way traffic as goals from Gonçalo Guedes (26’), Salvio (63’) and Pizzi (87’) gave the Eagles their seventh consecutive league victory and their fourth successive clean sheet.
Guedes, a product of the Benfica youth scheme, has now represented Portugal at all age levels from U15 up to his full international debut against Russia twelve months ago.
FC Porto, despite having nineteen shots to Setúbal’s two, could not find a way past a resilient defence and have now dropped seven points from five away outings.
To add to Porto’s woes, news has emerged that the club needs to raise a staggering €116 million in player sales in the next nine months.
A forecast in the consolidated financial accounts for 2016/17, lists this massive figure which is required to cover costs. Even if this sum is achieved, Porto’s expenditure is so high that it will lead to a profit of barely €3 million.
Three years of under-performing and no trophies has resulted in a reduction in operating income whilst the wage bill has risen. The results for the last financial year show a loss of €58m and there are concerns that the club will fall foul of UEFA’s financial fair play rules.
Porto coach Nuno Espírito Santo insists the news about possible player sales will not affect his work. “This is something that has no bearing on the coaching staff. Our job is to prepare the players as well as we can to make sure we have a competitive team.”
But Santos and the fans must be concerned, and will be fervently hoping to reach the knockout stages of the Champions League to generate extra income.
Equally Sporting Lisbon will be worried about their dip in form having drawn the last three league games to leave themselves seven points behind archrivals Benfica. Despite having nearly two-thirds of the possession in Madeira they could not pierce a Nacional defence that threw their bodies in front of the constant barrage of shots.
Sunday’s Clássico battle between FC Porto and Benfica at the Dragon Stadium, just days after both teams have played in the Champions League, is awaited with relish.