Benfica, Porto claim away wins

Porto, Portugal (SportsNetwork.com) - The top of the Portuguese Liga remained the same over the weekend as leaders Benfica and second-place FC Porto both earned three points away from home.

Benfica maintained its four-point lead on the defending champions with a 2-0 win over last-place Pacos Ferreira, while Porto held off Gil Vicente 2-1.

Pacos proved tough to break down for Benfica in the first half and it wasn't until the 54th minute that Ezequiel Garay found the net for the visitors by converting Ruben Amorim's cross.

Lazar Markovic doubled the lead 13 minutes later and Pacos dropped to the bottom of the table on goal difference.

Porto's Silvestre Varela netted both goals to put his side up 2-0 through 53 minutes before Gil Vicente pulled a goal back through Hugo Vieira in the 55th.

However, Porto held on to claim the win, keeping the club one point clear of third-place Sporting Lisbon, which secured a 1-0 win over Olhanense through a first-half goal from Carlos Mane.

Nacional ran its unbeaten streak to seven games but had to settle for a 1-1 draw at Arouca as the teams traded goals in the opening 31 minutes.

Belenenses and Academica played out a 0-0 draw, Jean-Pierre Barrientos scored in the ninth minute and Guimaraes held off Rio Ave, 1-0, Maritimo edged Setubal, 1-0, with a goal from Nuno Rocha in the 67th minute and Monday's contest saw Estoril claim a 2-1 win over Braga behind first-half goals from Carlitos and Evandro.