There were also wins for Vitória Guimarães and SC Braga. Jorge Jesus’s team is by no means the strongest in his six years in charge at the Estádio da Luz but in the league they have been almost unstoppable.
Ola John, Lima and a brace from Salvio gave the Eagles a 4-0 win in Madeira. Once again The Eagles kept their eyrie intact and it is now thirteen-and-a-half hours since a league opponent has found the back of the Benfica net.
The victory means that Benfica have amassed a record points haul from the Primeira Volta (first half) of the season. One defeat, one draw and fifteen wins sees the reigning champions looking down on the rest with 46 points out of a possible 51.
The Lisbon club have a great chance of securing back-to-back championships for the first time in three decades. In addition Benfica captain Luisão played his 440th competitive game for the club, equalling the same number as Eusébio.
Jackson Martínez, the Liga’s most formidable goal scorer, netted his fourteenth Liga goal of season at a rainy and windswept Penafiel as FC Porto wrapped up a comfortable 3-1 victory. Martinez also had a hand in the other two goals scored by Herrera and the impressive Óliver.
Sporting clocked up an eighth straight win in all competitions, and their fourth in the Liga, but were made to work hard in an enthralling match against Rio Ave.
Goals from Nani (penalty), Montero, João Mário and Tanaka eventually killed off the challenge of an enterprising Rio Ave team, for whom the excellent Del Valle and Hassan scored. Vitória Guimarães bounced back from their defeat at Benfica last week with a 4-0 thumping of Académica. Goals from Ricardo Valente, André André (penalty), Tomané and Hernâni kept the northerners in the hunt for a top five finish.
Without the financial clout of his rivals, no praise is high enough for the magnificent job Rui Vitória is doing at the club. After a stuttering start to the season, Braga have impressed in recent months. Second-half goals from Danilo, Vernâncio and Zé Luis saw the Arsenalistas come from behind to beat Vitória Setúbal.
With former Olhanense coach Sérgio Conceição continuing to bristle with passion, earning the wrath of many a referee in the process, Braga, who are the only team to have beaten Benfica this season, will continue to challenge for a Europa League place.