FC Porto beat Benfica and move five points clear at the top

FC Porto beat Benfica 3-1 in the Portuguese clásico on Sunday at the Estádio do Dragão, in the seventh round of the Primeira Liga. According to L'Équipe, the victory brought Benfica's unbeaten run to an end and allowed Francesco Farioli's men to surge to the top of the championship, five points clear. Before this clash, Porto had a perfect record of six wins in six matches, as reported by Foot Mercato.

A victory built with a numerical advantage

According to kicker, Porto took advantage of their numerical superiority to beat Benfica, with some “fine moves” and a “slap” inflicted on their opponents. The German daily describes a one-sided match after the dismissal of a Benfica player. Meanwhile, Mundo Deportivo highlights Samu's return and Veiga's goal, which enabled Porto to win 3-1. The Spanish outlet notes that the clásico went in the Dragons' favour.

André Silva the provider, Gimenez a substitute

According to Calciomercato.com, André Silva was decisive with an assist, while Santiago Gimenez remained on the bench. The Italian outlet confirms the 3-1 victory and Porto's five-point advantage at the top of the championship. The attacking roles were therefore filled by other players, with the dossier providing no further details about Francesco Farioli's choices.

Controversy over refereeing and exchanges between clubs

The match was followed by a controversy over the refereeing. According to Gazeta Esportiva, the refereeing in the classic dominated discussions after the Dragons' victory. The two clubs traded provocations on social media, fuelling the controversy. So Foot reports that Benfica responded to Porto's teasing and complained about the refereeing. The Brazilian media outlet says that Porto also accused Benfica, without providing any further details.

Reactions and upcoming fixtures

Francesco Farioli, Porto's head coach, came in for criticism after making notable comments about the refereeing, according to Voetbalzone. The Italian coach was not spared, although the report does not specify the exact content of his remarks. The Portuguese championship now pauses for the international break, as Ajansspor notes. Porto enter this interruption with a comfortable lead, while Benfica will have to respond to avoid letting the leaders slip away.