FC Porto, having lost their midweek Taça de Portugal semi-final against Sporting were in no mood to take it easy against Vitória de Setúbal.
The Dragons roared into a three goal lead after just sixteen minutes through Moussa Marega, Ivan Marcano and Yacine Brahimi.
The visitors pulled a goal back through João Amaral on twenty-four minutes but FC Porto’s three-goal lead was soon restored by Jesús Corona’s deflected effort ten minutes before the break.
FC Porto took their foot off the gas in the second-half and it was left to Alex Telles to add number five with a pin-point accurate free-kick after seventy-two minutes. Sérgio Conceição’s men now face a difficult trip to Madeira on Sunday where they have failed to win against Marítimo on their last five visits.
Bottom club Estoril entertained Benfica knowing they needed points if they were to avoid the dreaded drop.
Likewise Benfica, two points behind FC Porto, were desperate for victory. The Eagles scored after nine minutes when Rafa Silva latched onto Andrija Zivkovic’s through ball before firing home.
Rafa and Raúl Jiménez maintained the pressure on Estoril as they searched for a second goal but the visitors only had the one goal to show for their efforts come the half-time break.
Rui Vitória’s men paid the price for their wasted opportunities when Rafik Halliche volleyed home the equaliser just after the hour mark.
Lucas Evangelista nearly completed the turnaround for Estoril four minutes later, when his shot deflected off Ruben Dias, leaving Bruno Varela beaten before clipping the outside of the post and bouncing wide of the mark.
Two minutes into stoppage time and a glancing header by Salvio, from Alejandro Grimaldo’s cross, secured victory for Benfica and severely dented Estoril’s hope of survival. Sporting, who will meet D.Aves in the Portugal Cup Final, still have hopes of catching Benfica and acquiring automatic qualification for the Champions League next season.
The Lions took the lead against Boavista when Robson handled in the box and Bas Dost calmly slotted home the spot-kick after twenty-six minutes.
Vagner, in the visitor’s goal, was in stunning form as he denied Bas Dost a second goal and then two minutes before the break saved Gelson Martins goal bound shot.
The single goal victory keeps Sporting three points behind Benfica with the teams going head-to-head at the Alvalade on 5 May.