Fresh from beating Besiktas to qualify for the Europa League knock-out stages, Sporting welcomed Moreirense to the nation’s capital as Os Leões endeavoured to continue their six-game winning run.
Sporting started the stronger with Bryan Ruiz and Gelson Martins missing chances within the first ten minutes. Minutes later Moreirense had a good chance when Luis Carlos found space on the edge of the Sporting box but fired his effort just over Rui Patrício’s bar. With half-an-hour gone Sporting took the lead from a set-piece.
Bryan Ruiz released Gelson Martins who found space on the right and darted into the box to calmly slot the ball past Serbian goalkeeper, Igor Stefanovic, in the visitor’s goal.
Seven minutes later, one became two when Adrien Silva squared the ball across the box for Alberto Aquilani to fire home. In the second-half, Islam Slimani was felled in the box by Rafa Sousa and the Algerian stepped up himself and hit the penalty to Stefanovic’s left.
The big man was equal to it but Slimani reacted quickest to the rebound and finished the job to make it 3-0.
Moreirense continued to search for a way back into the game but had to wait until ten minutes from time to get their consolation goal when Rafael scored from the penalty spot after he was upended by Naldo.
Sporting remain top of the table and march onwards and upwards as Jorge Jesus continues to work his magic. FC Porto remain in second place, two points behind Sporting, after the elements interrupted their game in Madeira against Nacional.
The match was postponed with roughly fifteen minutes of normal time left on the clock as Funchal once more became enveloped in fog. Fresh from their elimination from the Champions League the Dragons were looking to get their fans back onside by pushing on in the league.
Julen Lopetegui made changes, bringing back Aboubakar to lead the forward line with Brahimi and Corona providing the width. Rúben Neves was also restored to the midfield. The game started at a fast pace with all three goals coming in the first fourteen minutes.
Marcano headed home a Layún corner to give Porto the lead after six minutes but two minutes later Nacional were level through Brazilian forward, Willyan.
The former Beira Mar man met Salvador Agra’s corner with a header that was then deflected off Layún on the post. Casillas was unable to keep the ball out and it was 1-1. Six minutes later there was more goal action.
Layún’s cross from the left found its way to Herrera whose shot was palmed away by Rui Silva in the Nacional goal. However, the ball went only as far as Yacine Brahimi and the Algerian was on hand to tap the ball into the empty net to make it 1-2.
It stayed that way until the referee called a halt to proceedings. The teams returned the following day to play the remaining quarter-of-an-hour with Porto holding on to all three points.
Vitória Setúbal, undefeated at home in the league this season, welcomed Benfica in a game with plenty of action and six goals.
The Lions 4-2 victory rather flattered them as Setúbal gave as good as they got.
Benfica opened the scoring ten minutes before the break through Pizzi. The winger picked up a ball into the box by André Almeida and shot low towards Setúbal’s stand-in ‘keeper, Ricardo. What looked like being a routine save managed to squirm under the stopper’s body and creep over the line.
The 33-year-old former Portugal international had a night he will want to forget. Minutes later Benfica doubled their lead when Jonas, the league’s top scorer on ten, headed home.
After the break, a high through ball by Jonas found Kostas Mitroglou who fired home with a low drive that gave Ricardo no chance. Just as Setúbal looked out of the game, a lifeline presented itself through good work from Suk.
The Korean striker cut inside from the right before firing a low drive against Júlio César’s near post. The rebound fell kindly for Vasco Costa who was waiting unmarked in the six-yard box to tap home and make it 1-3.
Kostas Mitroglou slotted home a fourth for Benfica before Suk added a second for Setúbal.
Elsewhere Braga won 1-0 at bottom side Tondela whilst Paços de Ferreira ran six in, without reply, at home to União Madeira. Marítimo won 4-3 at Vitória Guimarães thanks to a Fransérgio winning goal in the ninetieth minute.