The game started evenly and with both teams looking for victory, but an excellent second half from Benfica unbalanced the classic against FC Porto. In a game where the greater experience of the “reds” was fundamental, at half-time the match was still level (1-1), but with an own goal from Nehuén Pérez and a double from Angel di Maria, the “eagles” thrashed the “eagles” Dragões”, by 4 to 1, a result that leaves the “reds”, with one game less, in third place in the I league, two points behind the Porto fans.
Without yet being aware that Sporting's 11th victory in the I League placed Benfica 11 points and FC Porto six points from the lead – the start of the match in Luz took place two minutes after the end of the “lions” match in Braga – , Benfica fans and Porto fans started the classic apparently without pressure.
After the exhibition disaster in Munich, Bruno Lage took advantage of Bah's return to place the expected “eleven”, with Florentino alongside Ausners, while Vítor Bruno's main novelty was the reinforcement of the team's “muscle”: Eustáquio alongside from Nico, in front of the defense.
In practice, the coaches' game plan was 4x2x3x1 and, in practice, what we saw at the start were two teams that didn't hide. With a high and “torn” rhythm, the classic had no obvious opportunities in the first half hour, but this was not synonymous with a boring show. On the contrary.
Without great defensive ties, Benfica and FC Porto played with their eyes on the opposite goal, but it was the “eagles” who started out being happier. At 29', a great pass from Tomás Araújo put Carreras in a good position and the Spaniard, after escaping Martim Fernandes, shot with his right foot and, with the precious help of a deflection off Varela, scored for the second round in a row.
With a young and inexperienced team – none of the starters in the defensive quartet had ever played in a classic in Luz –, FC Porto trembled. In the following minutes, only Benfica gave and the Reds' second goal came very close on a couple of occasions – Pavlidis hit the post. However, when the “dragons” were against the ropes, the throwing of pyrotechnic devices by Benfica fans allowed the Porto fans to breathe and, shortly after restarting, another valuable help arrived for Vítor Bruno's team: in an apparently harmless move, Otamendi missed the cut, offering Samu the opportunity to score an easy goal and take the tie into halftime.
The stop, however, was beneficial for Benfica. Upon returning from the dressing rooms, the “eagles” resumed the intensity they had before FC Porto's goal and, after two threats (Aursnes and Di María), in half a dozen minutes they dealt a fatal blow to the “dragons”.
At 54', Aursnes' third assist of the season and Dí Maria's second goal put Benfica back in front; At 61', Bah tried to serve Pavlidis and, when trying to cut, Nehuén Pérez introduced the ball into Diogo Costa's goal.
Without a leader on the field to take over the attempt to react, FC Porto proved unable to re-enter the discussion of the result and, in the 81st minute, a penalty committed by Varela was taken advantage of by Di María, to close the final score in 4-1.
