The win sees the Lisbon side remain four points clear of FC Porto. The Oporto side stayed in touch with their arch-rivals after returning from their cross town derby with all three points in the bag after a 2-0 win at Boavista.
Sporting stayed in touch with the top two after beating Gil Vicente 2-0 at the Alvalade Stadium.
This weekend’s pick of the fixtures comes on Sunday evening when second-placed FC Porto host third-placed Sporting (kick-off 7.15pm) in a match which could see one or both of these teams fall out of the championship race.
A day earlier, Benfica will have the opportunity to put pressure on the chasing pack by looking to win against Estoril in another Lisbon derby. Victory against the men of Cascais will see Benfica open up a seven-point gap over FC Porto before their match against Sporting.
In the Second Division, the best result for Algarve teams was a goalless home draw against Santa Clara for Olhanense. Portimonense lost to Sporting B, while Farense did the same against FC Porto’s second-stringers.