Porto 1-2 Benfica; Sporting 3-1 Portimonense; Rio Ave 1-2 Braga
Benfica earned a 2-1 victory over Porto at the Dragão to secure a huge 3 points that sees Benfica jump above their archivals to 1st place in the league.
Benfica went into the game 1 point behind their opponents, knowing that anything short of victory would be insufficient to regain control of this season's Primeira Liga title race as we approach the business end of the campaign.
Both sides went into the game in terrific form, but it was the host's that struck first, Adrian Lopez's shot allowed to stands after a brief consultation with VAR.
That result would have seen Benfica slip a significant 4 points behind Porto which, with just 11 games remaining in the season, would have been very difficult to recover from.
Lage's side managed to get the game back on level terms before half time though, with Benfica capitalising on some uncharacteristically poor Porto defending to allow João Felix to slot the ball into the back of the very with a very tidy finish.
Benfica then earned all three points in Porto's backyard courtesy of a delightful Rafa finish from the edge of the box. just after half time.
Despite Benfica being reduced to ten men after Gabriel was sent off, Porto couldn't respond, leaving the title race out of their hands.
Meanwhile, Sporting failed to impress in their 3-1 victory over Portimonense, Bruno Fernandes yet against being the outstanding performer to a fairly fortuitous three points to the Lisbon club.
They were unable to catch Braga in the table though, who came from behind to best 10-man Rio Ave 2-1 with a goal in injury time. That victory could prove crucial in Braga's bid to make automatic qualification to the Europa League group stage.
