There aren’t too many opportunities for both Porto and Benfica to drop points this season. The two teams arrived at the Estadio Da Luz with 49 point after 20 matches – one loss and four draws to go along with their 15 wins, with Porto holding the lead thanks to goal difference. Porto came out as winners of the O Classico, with a controversial late goal by Maicon to set a precious 3-2 away win.

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Porto went ahead very quickly, as Hulk scored a fantastic goal after 7 minutes. Porto were the better side, as they were in the first encounter of the season (2-2), but Oscar Cardozo scored his 15th goal of the season just before half time as Benfica turned it up a notch and took over the match in the final 15 minutes of half time.

Second half? More of the same. Pablo Aimar’s free kick landed perfectly on Cardozo’s head, who lit the stadium on fire with light and sound. Benfica kept looking for a third, but Porto literally stole a goal, as James Rodriguez made it 2-2. Emerson saw a red card, and 10-men Benfica couldn’t hold on as Maicon, who looked offside to me, scored the crucial winner for Porto, a goal that might turn out to be a championship goal, Porto’s sixth in seven seasons.

Looking ahead, with Braga also in the hunt, the title isn’t clinched yet, far from it, but as we’ve said, good teams don’t drop many points in the Primeira Liga. Porto still have to play at Braga and host Sporting, while Benfica also have to host Braga and an away fixture in the Lisbon derby.