FC Porto, Benfica and Sporting all won to restore the traditional big three in Portugal to the top three places in the standings.
Porto and Benfica both scored home wins to stay in the top two positions in Portugal, with the Dragons enjoying an 8-point lead over their great rivals from the capital.
Sporting beat struggling Portimonense and move up to third place in the standings after Vitoria Guimaraes dropped two points at home to Paços de Ferreira.
Elsewhere, Braga continue to struggle to recapture their league form of last season. Domingos Paciencia's team fell to defeat at Leiria, and to make matters worse had three man sent off.
Benfica came out on top in an entertaining game at the Estadio da Luz. Home goalkeeper Roberto had to be on top of his game to prevent the enterprising Algarve side from taking a surprise lead, producing an excellent save to deny Jorge Goncalves.
A clanger from Moretto handed the reigning champions the lead just before the break, as the Olhanense goalkeeper let an Oscar Cardozo header slip through his hands and into the net.
Benfica were dominant in the second half, and Saviola ensured victory by getting on the end of a corner that David Luiz had flicked on to head in the second goal on 80 minutes.
Vitoria Guimaraes created more than enough chances to comfortably win the match against neighbours Paços de Ferreira, but poor finishing, principally from Brazilian striker Edgar Silva, proved costly.
The beanpole forward did put one of his many chances into the back of the net to give the hosts a half-time lead. But try as they might, Vitoria could not kill off the game, and were made to pay when rising star Nelson Oliveira netted a late equaliser for Paços.
Braga’s form in the league remains a shadow of what it was last year, and another defeat left Domingos Paciencia’s side languishing in mid-table. Poor discipline has been a feature of the northerners’ campaign in 2010/11, and three more red cards (Miguel Garcia, Matheus and Mossoro – the latter sent off from the substitutes bench!) will severely weaken Braga for their next match.
Uniao de Leiria took full advantage of their opponents’ ill discipline, with the irrepressible Carlao notching another two goals to help his side up to 5th place in the league.
In a match played in difficult weather conditions, both teams deserve credit for putting on an entertaining encounter in the rain and wind. Yazalde put Rio Ave ahead shortly after the break, but Leandro Tatu equalised almost immediately, and a point each was a fair outcome.
Sporting continued their good recent form – four wins and one draw in their last five matches – to clock up a convincing away win at struggling Portimonense.
Helder Postiga followed up his sparkling displays so far this season with another fine showing. The Portugal striker scored one goal and set up another for Andre Santos, with Maniche also getting on the scoresheet in between.
Portimonense had briefly threatened to make a game of it when Pires scored an equaliser, but Sporting soon restored their lead, were two goals to the good by the break, and there was never any real doubt about the outcome.
A drab game at the Estadio do Dragao ended in controversy. Hulk gave Porto the lead on the stroke of half time as he converted a penalty after Collin was adjudged to have fouled Falcao in the box.
Porto were far from their best, but merited their lead after Falcao, Moutinho and Belluschi had all gone close.
The action did not improve in the second half, but with the final whistle approaching Fucile brought down Henrique in the box to gift Vitoria the chance to grab an unlikely point. Jailson dispatched the penalty into the net, but the referee ruled that it should be retaken as he had not blown his whistle. From his second attempt the Brazilian striker skied his spot kick high over the bar and Porto collected all three points.
Sporting beat struggling Portimonense and move up to third place in the standings after Vitoria Guimaraes dropped two points at home to Paços de Ferreira.
Elsewhere, Braga continue to struggle to recapture their league form of last season. Domingos Paciencia's team fell to defeat at Leiria, and to make matters worse had three man sent off.
Benfica came out on top in an entertaining game at the Estadio da Luz. Home goalkeeper Roberto had to be on top of his game to prevent the enterprising Algarve side from taking a surprise lead, producing an excellent save to deny Jorge Goncalves.
A clanger from Moretto handed the reigning champions the lead just before the break, as the Olhanense goalkeeper let an Oscar Cardozo header slip through his hands and into the net.
Benfica were dominant in the second half, and Saviola ensured victory by getting on the end of a corner that David Luiz had flicked on to head in the second goal on 80 minutes.
Vitoria Guimaraes created more than enough chances to comfortably win the match against neighbours Paços de Ferreira, but poor finishing, principally from Brazilian striker Edgar Silva, proved costly.
The beanpole forward did put one of his many chances into the back of the net to give the hosts a half-time lead. But try as they might, Vitoria could not kill off the game, and were made to pay when rising star Nelson Oliveira netted a late equaliser for Paços.
Braga’s form in the league remains a shadow of what it was last year, and another defeat left Domingos Paciencia’s side languishing in mid-table. Poor discipline has been a feature of the northerners’ campaign in 2010/11, and three more red cards (Miguel Garcia, Matheus and Mossoro – the latter sent off from the substitutes bench!) will severely weaken Braga for their next match.
Uniao de Leiria took full advantage of their opponents’ ill discipline, with the irrepressible Carlao notching another two goals to help his side up to 5th place in the league.
In a match played in difficult weather conditions, both teams deserve credit for putting on an entertaining encounter in the rain and wind. Yazalde put Rio Ave ahead shortly after the break, but Leandro Tatu equalised almost immediately, and a point each was a fair outcome.
Sporting continued their good recent form – four wins and one draw in their last five matches – to clock up a convincing away win at struggling Portimonense.
Helder Postiga followed up his sparkling displays so far this season with another fine showing. The Portugal striker scored one goal and set up another for Andre Santos, with Maniche also getting on the scoresheet in between.
Portimonense had briefly threatened to make a game of it when Pires scored an equaliser, but Sporting soon restored their lead, were two goals to the good by the break, and there was never any real doubt about the outcome.
A drab game at the Estadio do Dragao ended in controversy. Hulk gave Porto the lead on the stroke of half time as he converted a penalty after Collin was adjudged to have fouled Falcao in the box.
Porto were far from their best, but merited their lead after Falcao, Moutinho and Belluschi had all gone close.
The action did not improve in the second half, but with the final whistle approaching Fucile brought down Henrique in the box to gift Vitoria the chance to grab an unlikely point. Jailson dispatched the penalty into the net, but the referee ruled that it should be retaken as he had not blown his whistle. From his second attempt the Brazilian striker skied his spot kick high over the bar and Porto collected all three points.
