Veterans turn in masterclass performances
The gap between Benfica and FC Porto at the top the table remains three points after both teams put in impressive performances to win their weekend fixtures.
Brazilian striker Jonas has proven to be an inspired signing for Benfica, and the 31-year-old striker scored a brace on Saturday to help the Eagles to a 3-1 win over Nacional.
Porto also won comfortably at home, dispatching Estoril 5-0 last night. Ricardo Quaresma was the star of the show, scoring two and providing two assists for the Dragons.
Benfica 3-1 Nacional
Without suspended captain Luisão and facing a resurgent Nacional team, Benfica were not expected to have an easy ride as they sought to get back to winning ways following defeat at Rio Ave in their previous game.
But Jorge Jesus's men put in another dominant performance at the Estádio da Luz where they have an almost perfect record in the Liga, winning 12 and drawing one of their 13 games in front of their own fans.
Jonas Gonçalves Oliveira, known in the football world by his first name, continues to enjoy the most prolific season of his career. An opportunist strike midway through the first half and a spectacular 20-yard finish that flew into the net off the underside of the bar on the hour mark was sandwiched by a Lima goal as the hosts overpowered the islanders.
The former Valencia striker has proved a more than adequate replacement for Oscar Cardozo and has brought a new dimension to Benfica in comparison to the big Paraguayan with his excellent link-up play and greater mobility.
Tiago Rodrigues pulled a goal back for the visitors with a fine long-range strike of his own, but the result was never in doubt.
FC Porto 5-0 Estoril
It was the Ricardo Quaresma show at the Estádio do Dragão with the Portugal winger rolling back the years to tear apart a hapless Estoril.
The visitors are now without a win in 9 games in a wretched run that has seen them concede 24 goals. And the only surprise last night was that it took Porto over half an hour to open the scoring.
Ricardo Quaresma was the architect of the goal, some typically dazzling wing play leading to a pinpoint cross that Óliver Torres neatly headed into the net. On the stroke of half time Quaresma repeated the trick, this time Aboubakar the benefactor to make it 2-0.
Quaresma dispatched a penalty in the 52nd minute before Danilo scored the goal of the night, slotting into the corner with aplomb after a superb move that featured an audacious back-heel by Aboubakar to set him up. Man-of-the-match Quaresma had the last word, rounding the goalkeeper to score into an empty net.
Porto's next three Liga games could well decide whether or not they can claw back Benfica to win the championship. On Saturday Porto travel to Rio Ave, then host Académica the following weekend, before travelling to the Portuguese capital for the big one on 26 April: Benfica-Porto.
And in the midst of this tough schedule Julen Lopetegui's side have the small matter of a Champions League quarter-final tie against Bayern Munich to play...
Round-up
Elsewhere, Sporting's remote chances of catching Porto in 2nd place all but ended as they could only draw 1-1 at Paços de Ferreira. Sporting took a first-half lead through Slimani and proceeded to spurn chance after chance - João Mário, Tóbias Figueiredo and André Carrillo guilty of especially glaring misses. The Lions were made to pay as Rodrigo Gallo equalised for the hosts with their only shot all game.
Sporting were thus the only top-six team not to win. Two early goals from Zé Luiz gave Braga victory at Gil Vicente, while Vitória Guimarães and Belenenses won at home against Arouca (1-0) and Moreirense (2-0) respectively.
by Tom Kundert
Results
Académcia 0-0 Rio Ave
Belenenses 2-0 Moreirense
Benfica 3-1 Nacional
FC Porto 5-0 Estoril
Gil Vicente 0-2 Braga
Marítimo 1-1 Vitória Setúbal
Paços de Ferreira 1-1 Sporting
Penafiel 2-2 Boavista
Vitória Guimarães 1-0 Arouca
