Benfica win O Clássico to go top of the table

Benfica narrowly defeated Porto to jump to the top of the Primeira Liga, securing a 1-0 win courtesy of Seferovic's second half strike.

In a tense first half which was evenly matched, there was some surprise when Porto goakeeper Iker Casillas was booked for time wasting after just 20 minutes of the game, a statement that the referee was not to take any nonsense, while also perhaps illustrating that Porto were content with coming away from Lisbon with a point.

Despite the first half being close and with chances few and far between, it was Benfica that probably had the best chance of the half, with Seferovic firing his one-on-one opportunity wide of the post. 

He made up for it after putting Benfica in front after 62 minutes, getting on the end of Pizzi's headed pass to drill the ball past Casillas.

In front of a crowd of 61,567, Benfica just about managed to see out the victory, with centreback Lema getting a red card after a second bookable offence, making this the third game in a row that Benfica have been reduced to 10 men as a result of a sending off, with Conti sent off against Chaves a week ago in the Primeira Liga, and Ruben Dias sent off against AEK Athens midweek in the Champions League.

However, Benfica held firm despite an excellent effort from Brahimi which shaved the post towards the end of normal time, with the win seeing Benfica move to first in the table, leapfrogging Braga in the process.

This is the first time in eight fixtures - and the first time under Rui Vitoria - that Benfica have beaten Porto in the Primeira Liga.