Benfica four points clear at table top going into international break
FC Porto edged past Braga in the match of the weekend at the Estádio do Dragão, winning an exciting encounter 2-1.
Sporting and Benfica both won 4-0 against Penafiel and Arouca respectively, thanks to a late flurry of goals in both matches.
On Friday Vitória Guimarães continued their superb start to the season, a 3-0 win over Boavista leaving Rui Vitória's men in third place in the table.
FC Porto 2-1 Braga
This fixture has produced plenty of goals and good football in recent years, and this weekend's clash was no different. Braga played their full part in an end-to-end clash with plenty of chances and the customary dose of controversy.
The visitors showed from early on that they were not content to sit back, Pedro Tiba and Rafa Silva combining well on the left flank and Zé Luís showing why he has relegated Éder to the bench. Porto were somewhat disjointed in the first half - a situation perhaps not unrelated to the fact that coach Julen Lopetegui selected his 11th different starting line-up in 11 matches this season.
Porto took the lead on 25 minutes thanks to their centre-backs, Maicon flicking on a corner for Martins Indi to finish at the far post. The Arsenalistas soon hit back though, as Brahimi was caught in possession by Ruben Micael, with Zé Luís getting the better of Indi and slotting past Fabiano.
There were plenty of chances at both ends in an electric first forty-five minutes, but in the second half Porto were clearly the superior side, Lopetegui's half-time substitutions bringing on Quintero and Ruben Neves clearly benefiting the team.
It was Colombian Quintero who scored what turned out to be the winner. Brahimi provided the assist and Quintero sped into the box, shimmied past a couple of Braga defenders and finished superbly from 15 yards. The result was in doubt until the very end, with chances at both ends and both sides having reasonable penalty shouts turned down.
Penafiel 0-4 Sporting
Sporting won 4-0 away from home for the second game running to move up to 4th place in the standings. The Lions were on top throughout but did not create too many clear chances until the last quarter of the match.
Marco Silva's substitutions, bringing on Adrien for the out-of-sorts William Carvalho, as well as Capel and Montero, all proved good moves. Two quick-fire goals from Slimani, a towering header and a rasping shot that flew into the net off the underside of the bar, put Sporting in control.
Fredy Montero then ended his long barren spell without a goal as he slid to turn in Diego Capel's low cross, triggering huge celebrations among his team-mates. Nani completed the rout with a classy dink over the goalkeeper from Montero's low cross.
Benfica 4-0 Arouca
It was a game of two halves at the Estádio da Luz. Arouca surprised the hosts with a strong showing in the opening 45 minutes, and only three excellent saves by Artur prevented the visitors going into the break with a deserved lead.
It was different story after the interval however, with Benfica's increasing pressure eventually telling. Talisca got the ball rolling in the 75th minute as he surged strongly into the box and lofted a fine finish into the top corner.
The goal opened the floodgates, with Derley, Salvio and Jonas all scoring in quick succession, the latter two after fine approach play by substitute Ola John. The champions remain top the table having accumulated 19 out of a possible 21 points so far in 2014/15.
Round-up
Vitória Guimarães got back to winning ways with a comfortable victory over Boavista at the Dom Afonso Henriques. A brace from Jonathan Alvez and a penalty from André André saw off the Axedrezados.
Paulo Fonseca continues to rebuild his reputation at Paços de Ferreira after his disappointing year as Porto coach last year. Two goals from Bruno Moreira and one from Paraiba gave the Castores victory over high-flying Marítimo in a five-goal thriller, Moussa Maazou scoring a brace for the islanders.
The other four matches all ended in draws, with no goals in the Académica-Moreirense and Nacional-Rio Ave matches, while Gil Vicente-Estoril and Belenenses-Vitória Setúbal both ended in 1-1 draws.
