Benfica ran riot away from home to keep up the pace with Portuguese Primera Division leaders FC Porto, with a routine 4-2 victory over bitter rivals Sporting Lisbon at Alvalde.
The away team were the rampant side for the entire 90 minutes of the game and were thoroughly deserved winners on the night, opening up an eight-point lead between themselves and their opponent Sporting.
Benfica started the game very much on the front foot, firing on all cylinders and the Sporting manager must have been scratching his head as we approached the half hour mark.
Haris Seferovic scored the first goal of the game inside 14 minutes, latching onto a Grimaldo pass from the left, to fire the Eagles ahead.
It wasn’t long before it was two, after a delightful through pass from Seferovic sent youngster Joao Felix through on goal, the Portuguese forward making no mistake with his finish.
Felix picked the top corner of the net to make it two. Many must have thought that Benfica will be taking the 2-0 lead into half time but the Eagles got pecked back just before the sound of the half time whistle.
Bruno Fernandes was the man that clawed a goal back for the Lions with a well-taken goal from close range. The second half of the game proceeded in similar fashion as the first period, with Benfica taking control once again.
Lage’s side reinstated their two goal lead soon after the second half whistle was sounded through Ruben Dias, escaping the attentions of Andre Pinto to head the ball into the top corner of the net with a sublime effort. It was game over in the 74th minute as Pizzi fired a penalty kick home to make it 4-1. There was to be another consolation for Sporting soon after, with Bas Dost blasting home a penalty to save face for the Lions.