Benfica ended the season in style by beating their visitors from Madeira 4-1 to claim their 35th league title.

While 65,000 fans celebrated the victory inside the packed stadium, millions of Benfica supporters across the country and the Portuguese-speaking world were dressed in red in anticipation of victory for Portugal’s best supported club.

Goals by Pizzi, Jonas and a brace by captain Nicolas Gaitan sealed the Liga for the Lisbon club, who needed to win to ensure that they did not relinquish Portugal’s most coveted silverware to neighbours Sporting.

Sporting ended two points behind Benfica, despite winning by a margin of four unanswered goals at Sporting de Braga, who played much of the match with ten men.