At the Estádio da Luz both sides were forced to make defensive changes, with 19-year-old Nigerian Chidozie and Martins Indi combining for an unfamiliar centre-back partnership for Porto in the absence of the injured Marcano and Maicon, while for Benfica, Lindelöf continued to deputise for Lisandro López.
Spanish international keeper Iker Casillas, often criticised by FC Porto fans, had an incredible game with his heroics being mainly responsible for the Dragons securing all three points. The home side took an eighteenth minute lead through Kostas Mitroglou.
Young midfielder Renato Sanches, one of the revelations of the season, laid on an exquisite dinked pass for the Greek international, currently on loan from Fulham, to score his thirteenth goal of the season.
Herrera levelled matters ten minutes later when he was given too much space on the edge of the area and drilled a low diagonal shot wide of Júlio César. At the other end Casillas then sprang into action as he prevented Benfica taking a half-time lead by tipping a powerful Jonas drive over the bar.
The former Real Madrid keeper again came to the rescue early in the second period when he brilliantly stopped Nicolas Gaitan as he bore down on goal.
In the sixty-fifth minute Aboubakar burst through a static Benfica defence and buried an angled shot past Júlio César. It was that man Casillas again who then twice denied Benfica an equaliser, saving from Bruno Martins Indi and making a point-blank stop with his feet from Mitroglou.
This season Benfica have now lost all five encounters against Sporting and Porto which does not auger well for their visit to Sporting on 5 March which could determine where this season’s title ends up.
Sporting travelled to Madeira hoping to get back to winning ways after their 0-0 draw with Rio Ave.
Jorge Jesus made one significant change with Rúben Semedo selected to partner new Sunderland loan signing Sebastián Coates, at centre-half in place of Paulo Oliveira.
The visitors took the lead after just three minutes when Islam Slimani headed home a João Mário corner at the near post. It was the Algerian’s twenty-first goal in all competitions. Former Olhanense favourite Salvador Agra went closest for Nacional as he fired just over from a free-kick on the edge of the box. Five minutes after the break, former Fulham man Bryan Ruiz - he made ninety-seven appearances for the west London club - won a penalty for the visitors which Sporting captain, Adrien Silva, powered past Gottardi.
Sporting added a third goal when João Mário slotted home the rebound after Islam Slimani’s shot cannoned off the crossbar. Sporting continued to dominate and Nacional had no answer to the silky skills of Slimani.
With the clock winding down, Argentina-born Italian international Ezequiel Schelotto, strode into the Nacional box only to be brought down by Sequeira. Bruno Paixão pointed to the spot for the second time in the game and the penalty was duly dispatched by Slimani, sending Gottardi the wrong way. Sporting move back to the top of the Liga NOS table, three points clear of local rivals Benfica, and six points clear of third placed FC Porto. Nacional, on the other hand, see their three game unbeaten run come to an end and now sit just three points clear of the relegation zone.