Sporting have cut the gap between fourth and third place to four points after a 3-0 victory at Alvalade saw them down Sporting de Braga, on Sunday.
Goals from Bruno Fernandes and Bas Dost ensured the Lions’ hopes of automatic Europa League qualification were kept alive, whereas further north, at the Estádio do Dragão, FC Porto safeguarded their lead at the top of the table with a 2-0 win over Vitória de Setúbal.
Benfica replied to the results on Monday night, bringing Matchday 22 to a close by remaining just a point off top spot with a win 3-0 over Desportivo das Aves. PortuGOAL has the latest action from the top of the Primeira Liga.
FC Porto 2-0 Vit. Setúbal
The pressure’s increasing at the top of the table after Porto’s slip-up last week away to Moreirense, drawing 1-1, allowed Benfica to come within touching distance of first place.
Sérgio Conceição’s men were out to ensure a different outcome early at the Estádio do Dragão to the one experienced in Moreira de Cónegos, making way for victory in the 15th minute from Héctor Herrera’s close-range header, benefitting from Adrián Lopez’s blocked effort.
[To watch highlights of the match click on the screen below]
After a positive first half from Porto, their task was made a little easier earlier in the second period following Éber Bessa’s second bookable offence for simulation inside the box, leaving Setúbal with 10 men in the 53rd minute.
Porto landed the decisive blow in the 65th minute through Tiquinho Soares, attaining a fine view of Alex Telles’ in-swinging cross from the right flank to head in a second across Cristiano’s goal and secure a 2-0 win.
Sporting 3-0 Sp. Braga
The stakes were high at the Alvalade following yet another disappointing performance in midweek for Sporting versus Villarreal, reapplying the pressure on under-fire Marcel Keizer, as they came up against a Braga side keen to shake off a string of poor results against the so-called ‘Big Three’.
The former Ajax manager surprised all with a three-at-the-back formation, supplemented with wing-backs, allowing Sporting to edge proceedings in the early stages.
After a couple half-chances from the Lions, Bruno Fernandes handed his side its just reward for their early work with yet another goal from a free-kick, putting his side a goal up in the 33rd minute.
[To watch highlights of the match click on the screen below]
The hosts came into the second period with a prime opportunity to make it two after Abdoulay Diaby was brought down inside the box to earn his side a penalty, subsequently reuniting Dost with goals after picking his spot from the 12-yard mark in the 50th minute.
The Dutchman took advantage of a sleepy Braga backline in the 65th minute to attack Bruno Fernandes’ cutback and slot in goal number three for Sporting, leaving Braga without response come full-time.
Desp. Aves 0-3 Benfica
It seems Bruno Lage can do no wrong in charge of Benfica at the moment, as he followed up last week’s ten-goal mauling over Nacional with a more modest triumph against Galatasaray in the Europa League, coming away from Turkey with a 2-1 advantage.
Next on the agenda was 16th-placed Aves, succumbing to Benfica’s firing attack just three minutes in after Haris Seferovic killed Andreas Samaris’ ball into the box on his chest before coolly lobbing the ball over the home goalkeeper.
[To watch highlights of the match click on the screen below]
Rafa Silva was on hand to work a yard for himself inside the box and curl in a second goal for Benfica in the 36th minute, as the Eagles headed into the break with a comfortable 2-0 lead.
Ferro amplified the score on the hour mark for Lage’s men, directing a half-volley goalwards into a semi-empty net as a result of Aves’ failure to clear their lines from a corner. The young centre-back attracted the wrong kind of attention in the 64th minute, however, as a last-man pull-back on Derley earned him a red card and left Benfica reduced to ten men, but the visitors held on to their lead comfortably until the final whistle.
By Patrick Ribeiro
Matchday 22
Rio Ave 2-1 Santa Clara
Nacional 4-0 Feirense
Vit. Guimarães 2-0 Portimonense
FC Porto 2-0 Vit. Setúbal
Moreirense 2-0 Tondela
Belenenses 0-1 Marítimo
Chaves 1-1 Boavista
Sporting 3-0 Sp. Braga
Desp. Aves 0-3 Benfica
