Benfica took the opportunity to brush aside league perennial league challengers Porto 2-0 at the Estadio da Luz and enhance their credentials for a first Portuguese title since 2010.
Porto’s Brazilian international defender Danilo was sent off for the visitors after 75 minutes for a second bookable offence as his side slipped to third at the halfway stage of the season.
Danilo joined the Dragao in 2011 having helped Santos win the Copa Libertadores and has thus far won the Portuguese league in 2012 and 2013, as well as representing Brazil at the 2012 Olympics.
The right-back has gained six full caps for the national team and is on the periphery of the current set-up, with World Cup call still a possibility, if only a slim one at that.
The Benfiquistas scored through Rodrigo and Ezequiel Garay to move onto 36 points, three ahead of the defending champions.
