Benfica faced a tough game at Rio Ave but a third minute opener from Rafa Silva plus a João Félix strike on the stroke of half-time should have settled the issue.
That was all to change as a blistering start by Rio Ave after the interval resulted in them pulling a goal back through Tarantini.
Six minutes later Pizzi restored Benfica’s lead after receiving Alex Grimaldo’s pull-back and picking his spot from the edge of the box with a clinical side-footed finish, in off the post.
Second-half substitute Galeno picked out the head of Ronan inside the box for Rio Ave to reduce Benfica’s lead and set up a nervous closing period before the Benfica fans could begin to start their celebrations.
Nacional (Madeira) knew they had to conjure up a spectacular result against reigning champions FC Porto if they were to have any hope of staying in the top flight.
The hosts could and should have taken the lead as early as the twelfth minute through Brayan Riascos, taking advantage of Eder Militão’s blind nod back past his own goalkeeper before firing his shot into the side-netting with the entire goal at his mercy.
Alex Telles made the forward pay for his miss just two minutes later with a well-taken free-kick. Óliver Torres took the opportunity to make it 2-0 in the twenty-seventh minute, roaming into the box relatively unchallenged and dampening Nacional’s hopes of escaping the drop with a low strike into the back of the net.
Jesús Corona made it three fifteen minutes after the break before Moussa Marega’s penalty, three minutes from time, rounded off a comfortable 4-0 victory for the Dragons. Sporting could only draw at home to lowly Tondela who were fighting for their Primeira Liga survival.
The Lions took the lead as early as the sixth minute. Sporting were reduced to ten-men when Stefan Ristovski received his marching orders eight minutes before the break. Bruno Fernandes, Luiz Phellype and Mathieu missed golden opportunities in front of goal just past the hour-mark, proving costly for Sporting after Tomané reacted first to Xavier’s sixty-seventh minute corner to turn in a crucial equaliser from close range. SC Portimonense secured their top flight place for next season with a 3-2 home win against Maritimo (Madeira) thanks to goals from Henrique Custodio, Dener Clemente and a Jackson Martinez winner two minutes from time.