The last time Benfica lost a league game was back in early December when Marítimo ran out 2-1 victors in Funchal but there was to be no repeat in the return game in the capital.
The islanders gifted the reigning champions the lead when a cross from the left by Rafa caused danger and was diverted into his own net by Luís Martins with keeper Charles stranded. Within sixty seconds, it was 2-0 as Jonas found space on the edge of the box to fire low past Charles.
The Brazilian international added a third, on the stroke of half-time, as he hooked Luisão’s flick-on towards goal before slamming home the subsequent rebound.
SC Braga, battling with V.Guimarães for fourth spot in the Primeira Liga, needed the points as they entertained FC Porto and within five minutes the ‘Os Arsenalistas’ were a goal up as winger Pedro Santos headed past Iker Casillas in the Porto goal.
Tiquinho Soares should have levelled matters at the other end but scuffed his shot at the vital moment much to the relief of keeper Matheus.
Óliver Torres looked like he had plunged the Dragons into an even bigger conundrum when he was spotted handling the ball inside his own box, but Pedro Santos’ penalty miss on the brink of half-time handed Nuno Espírito Santo a lifeline.
The visitors equalised when Soares headed home fifteen minutes after the interval for his eighteenth goal of the season. Five minutes from time Danilo Pereira missed a glorious opportunity to win the game for Porto, who have now drawn three of their last four league games.
Sporting made the short trip across the Tagus and duly wrapped up three points at Setúbal.
Gelson Martins netted in the twentieth minute and when William Carvalho headed home from Bruno César’s fifty-fifth minute set-piece, it was game over. Six minutes later, Alan Ruiz’s measured cross-field pass was guided into the back of the net by none other than Bas Dost for his twenty-eighth league goal. The prolific Dutch striker is now just a goal behind Lionel Messi in the race for the European Golden Shoe.