Match ends, Sporting Lisbon 0, Benfica 1.
SportingSporting Lisbon0BenficaBenfica1
Kostas Mitroglou scored the only goal as Benfica won 1-0 at derby rivals Sporting Lisbon to take over at the top of the Portuguese League.
The on-loan Fulham striker slotted home his 17th goal of the season after a 20th-minute ricochet fell at his feet.
Sporting's first home league defeat since May 2014 saw them go two points behind in the title race.
Mitroglou's former Fulham team-mate Bryan Ruiz missed two second-half chances to equalise.
Costa Rica international Ruiz twice failed to convert low crosses with his second miss, 18 minutes from the end, defying belief as he skied over an open goal.
Sporting captain Adrien Silva was sent off after being substituted for protesting against the referee's decision not to send off Benfica teenager Renato Sanches for a terrible challenge on Ruiz.
Defending champions Benfica have now won 11 of their last 12 league games.
Line-ups
Sporting
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Rui Patrício
- 21da Silva PereiraSubstituted forSchelottoat 77'minutes
- 13Coates
- 5Almeida Santos
- 4NascimentoBooked at 70mins
- 17João Mário
- 14William Carvalho
- 23Adrien SilvaBooked at 87minsSubstituted forGelson Martinsat 77'minutes
- 11César ZanakiSubstituted forGutiérrezat 59'minutes
- 9Slimani
- 20Ruiz
Substitutes
- 2Schelotto
- 6Aquilani
- 19Gutiérrez
- 26Jug
- 29Barcos
- 44Gomes Pereira
- 60Gelson Martins
Benfica
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Ederson
- 34Magalhães de Almeida
- 14Nilsson-LindelofBooked at 70mins
- 33Nivaldo Vieira
- 19Eliseu
- 21Afonso FernandesSubstituted forFejsaat 73'minutes
- 7Samaris
- 85Renato SanchesBooked at 87mins
- 10GaitánBooked at 52mins
- 17Gonçalves OliveiraBooked at 46minsSubstituted forSalvioat 78'minutes
- 11MitroglouBooked at 67minsSubstituted forJimenez Rodriguezat 67'minutes
Substitutes
- 5Fejsa
- 9Jimenez Rodriguez
- 13Pedro Lopes
- 18Salvio
- 20Gonçalo Guedes
- 30Souza Conceição
- 50Nélson Semedo
- Referee:
- Artur Dias Soares
- Attendance:
- 49,699
Match Stats
Home TeamSportingAway TeamBenfica
- Possession
- Home66%
- Away34%
- Shots
- Home9
- Away5
- Shots on Target
- Home2
- Away1
- Corners
- Home8
- Away1
- Fouls
- Home15
- Away20
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Sporting Lisbon 0, Benfica 1.
Post update
Attempt missed. Islam Slimani (Sporting Lisbon) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Bryan Ruiz.
Post update
Offside, Sporting Lisbon. Sebastián Coates tries a through ball, but Islam Slimani is caught offside.
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Post update
Delay in match Ederson Moraes (Benfica) because of an injury.
Post update
Offside, Sporting Lisbon. João Mário tries a through ball, but Jefferson is caught offside.
Dismissal
Adrien Silva (Sporting Lisbon) is shown the red card.
Booking
Renato Sanches (Benfica) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Bryan Ruiz (Sporting Lisbon) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Renato Sanches (Benfica).
Post update
Foul by Teófilo Gutiérrez (Sporting Lisbon).
Post update
Eliseu (Benfica) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Jefferson (Sporting Lisbon) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Andreas Samaris (Benfica).
Post update
Attempt missed. João Mário (Sporting Lisbon) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Bryan Ruiz.
Post update
João Mário (Sporting Lisbon) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Andreas Samaris (Benfica).
Post update
Foul by Ewerton (Sporting Lisbon).
Post update
Eduardo Salvio (Benfica) wins a free kick on the right wing.
