Goals from Bruno César and Slimani secure top spot

Sporting claimed an important three points against a traditionally difficult Paços de Ferreira this weekend, in what was a solid reply to recent slip ups in the Liga NOS and the League Cup. Bruno César scored in the first-half, while Slimani grabbed two after the break.

Jorge Jesus' side traveled to Mata Real knowing that only a win was certain to maintain the hold on the Liga NOS top spot and it wasn't long before the evening's hosts were on the defensive, with Bruno César, João Mário and Bryan Ruiz leading the early charges in support of Slimani. The Algerian himself came close from the opening exchanges after a pass from Bruno César, but he came up just short of connecting. The first shot of the evening belonged to Adrien, but the Alvalade captain's 10th minute effort was deflected harmlessly away. Next it was Bryan Ruiz to try his luck after Naldo rose highest to a corner, but the Costa Rican nodded wide from point blank range.

Sporting were looking truly terrifying in attack and on 19 minutes it was João Mário's turn to wreak havoc in the Paços 18-yard box with a cross that found Paulo Oliveira, but the defender was unable to find the target. Bryan Ruiz was of course in his usual tantalising form playing off the back of the towering Slimani and in the 26th minute the CONCACAF runner up for Player of the Year blew past three defenders and cut a shot across goal, but Marafona made the save at a stretch to keep the scores blank.

Ten minutes later another chance for Adrien, after the Alvalade skipper wiggled an inch of room in the area, but Marafona was able to make the stop. It was only a matter of time before wave after wave of Sporting attacks broke the hosts and next to it was Slimani who tested the Paços keeper after a pass from William, but again Marafona pulled off a save. However, it was only delaying the inevitable and from the next attack Slimani was this time provider, intelligently picking up a throw in and delaying a cross for Bruno César, leaving the Brazilian with the enviable task of a close-range tap in. Sporting did rest their and a few minutes later João Mário nearly made it two with a fantastic solo run that ended with a shot curled onto the cross bar and away.

Sporting looked full of confidence coming out after the break, moving the ball around midfield and probing forward almost at will. Bruno César whipped a poisonous cross into the box that had the Paço defence scrambling, but Marafona turned away for a corner. Naldo rose highest to the set piece, but he was unable to keep his shot on target. With Adrien and João Mário impervious in the middle, Paços de Ferreira's attempts were pretty much stomped out while still in the build up, while Bryan Ruiz and Slimani kept the chances ticking over in front of goal. Another goal was always looking likely and it was Slimani who obliged with a thoroughly deserved strike after another tireless performance, linking up with a pass into space from João Mário to calmly slot past the keeper.

Paços de Ferreira finally managed their first effort on goal in the second-half after 71 minutes, but Rui Patrício comfortably intervened after being little more than a spectator for most of the evening. The hosts did get their reward for their spirited attempt, when an unusually long throw in was flicked on to the back post and looped over Rui Patrício by Bruno Moreira from the most unlikely of angles.

The goal did absolutely nothing to shake Jesus' side and Slimani was right back down the other end just seconds later to restore the two-goal cushion with a comfortable conversion from a pass by João Mário across the face of goal.