Portimonense have been fearless on their return to the Primeira Liga, failing to find the back of the net on just one occasion this season, but they found themselves three goals down within a five minute period midway through the first-half at the Estádio do Dragão.
Iván Marcano, Vincent Aboubakar and Moussa Marega were on hand to beat visiting keeper Ricardo Ferreira. New arrival Shoya Nakajima, on loan from FC Tokyo, had impressed scoring both goals in Portimonense’s recent 2-1 victory over Feirense.
He made it three in three games as he reduced the arrears on thirty-seven minutes. Four minutes after the break Porto restored their three goal cushion through Yacine Brahim.
The Algerian went on to bag his brace, making full use of a neat Aboubakar back-heel and a Héctor Herrera dummy before Ruben Fernandes’ consolation goal concluded the 5-2 result. Benfica manager Rui Vitória was under a great deal of pressure and nothing but a win would do for the Benfiquistas against Paços de Ferreia.
The home team hit the woodwork twice before Mário Felgueiras’ wonder strike on twenty minutes calmed the nerves. Jonas doubled the Eagles lead in the sixty-first minute, meeting Haris Seferovic’s glancing header to finish from close range. But for poor finishing in front of goal, the final result could have been considerably more.
Sporting took their eye off the ball, could the Champions League meeting with Barcelona have been to blame, as they started tentatively at lowly Moreirense.
The Moreira de Cónegos team shocked the Lisbon outfit as Rafael Costa picked up a loose ball on the edge of Sporting’s box.
The Brazilian midfielder looked up before pinging an effort across Rui Patrício’s goal and into the top corner. Jorge Jesus’ men were back on level terms on the hour mark thanks to a Mohamed Abarhoune own goal as he attempted to block a William Carvalho shot.
Gelson Martins came close to snatching all three points for Sporting but his close range effort rebounded to safety off the underside of the bar.
Marítimo’s great start to the season came to grinding halt as they lost 2-1 at Vitória de Guimarães. FC Porto remain top, two points ahead of Sporting, with Benfica back in third some five points off the pace.