Clinical Sporting put three past Benfica in Estádio da Luz

Sporting pulled off a memorable 3-0 win in Estádio da Luz, on I Liga matchday eight. Téo, Slimani and Ruiz were all on target in the first-half for the team from Alvalade, in a match which saw Jorge Jesus’ side boss from start to finish with a performance that ends a win drought away to Benfica that stretched back to 2006.

With Gaitán down the right and Gonçalo Guedes on the left, it was immediately obvious that Benfica would be looking to strike early, but the surprising line-up did little to put Sporting off guard. Going forward Jesus’ side looked pragmatic and it was from the very first attack of the game that Sporting found the back of the net, when Adrien capitalised on some pressing defending to battle back possession and put a deadly pass across goal that Téo converted on in the 9th minute.

With so much pressure in the build-up to kick-off, the opening goal was always going to mix things up and that is exactly what happened, as Sporting smartly went about giving Benfica a true lesson in tactics all over the pitch. Both on and off the ball, Sporting were simply brilliant and a ruthless performance in front of goal tallied up another two strikes before half-time. Ruiz came close with a header that ended up the wrong side of the bar, before Slimani scored an absolute stunner of a header in the 21st minute after finding space between Benfica’s centre-backs. 15 minutes later, Ruiz capitalised on a shot from the big Algerian that Júlio César could only parry away to make it an almost unbelievable 3-0 going in at the break.

Both on and off the pitch, Sporting were putting on a memorable showing, while Benfica could do little more than bunker down and point the finger at referee Carlos Xistra, despite Rui Patrício not having been forced into a single stop for the first forty five minutes.

The introduction of Fejsa for Eliseu and André Almeida dropping into left-back did little to turn the tables and as Sporting continued to press, Benfica were frankly lucky to remain with 11 men on the pitch, with fouls from Jonas (aggression against William) and Samaris (who put in several hard tackles) seeing nothing more than yellow cards.

On 69 minutes Jiménez picked up possession after a slip-up by Naldo and called Patrício into action for the first time. Samaris followed up, but he did little more than blaze his effort over the bar. Possession was held down by Sporting in the midfield as the clock ticked down, with little more happening at either end aside from Júlio César having to scramble back to clear a back pass from Luisão off the line.

The result keeps Sporting top of I Liga with 20 points: three ahead of FC Porto who will host Sp. Braga later tonight.

Sporting are next in action next Saturday, taking on Estoril in Estádio José Alvalade.