Elsewhere, SC Braga kicked off their post-Rúben Amorim era with a 3-1 victory at home against Portimonense, meanwhile the man himself, now wearing the Sporting crest, saw his Lions win 2-0 against nine-man CD Aves.
Benfica found themselves a goal down as Carlinhos’ clean first touch and finish gave V.Setúbal the lead just after interval. The Eagles response was prompt, equalising from the spot via Pizzi in the 51st minute. Pizzi could have done it all again twenty-five minutes later but the Benfica captain blasted the spot-kick wide; his second penalty miss in consecutive matches.
FC Porto took the lead against Europa League hopefuls Rio Ave after eighteen minutes through Chancel Mbemba, the former Newcastle United defender and DR Congo international.
Rio Ave were back level in the thirty-third minute as Mehdi Taremi, with his back to goal, set up a quick give-and-go before finding the back of the net to make it 1-1. Rio Ave were left reliant on goalkeeping heroics from Pavel Kieszek in a 78th-minute double stop from Sérgio Oliveira and Soares strikes, but the Polish keeper would not keep out Marega before the VAR rescued the visitors with a marginal offside call. A goal-a-piece is how things would end at the Estádio do Dragão, keeping Porto just a point ahead of Benfica in first place in the Primeira Liga.
SC Braga’s 3-1 win over Portimonense has pushed the Algarve outfit a step near relegation. With only two league victories all season they are now six points from safety with ten games to play but having picked up only four points in their last ten games their survival chances look very slim.
SC Farense, who drew 1-1 at Leixões with Ryan Gauld scoring the all important goal, stay on course to gain promotion from the Segunda Liga.
SC Olhanense, with new manager Felipe Moreira in charge of his first home game, returned to the top of the Campeonato Portugal Division D with an emphatic 5-0 victory over Olimpico Montijo thus keeping the Olhão in contention for the play-offs to determine promotion to the Segunda Liga. CW