Coming into this with an identical record over the last six league games (W5, D1), and having been level at the end of normal time in three of their last four meetings, there was evidently little to separate these two Portuguese giants.
However, the pattern of play during the first half-hour suggested anything but, as Sporting dominated at the Estadio da Luz.
The visitors opened the scoring after just 12 minutes thanks to a defensive lapse from Enzo Barrenechea, whose loose touch allowed Morten Hjulmand to pick his pocket and lay off for Pedro Goncalves to guide his effort into the bottom corner for his ninth league goal of the season.
Firmly in control, the Sportinguistas could have been celebrating a second as Maximiliano Araujo twice threatened in quick succession, first flashing a strike across goal before driving through the middle and unleashing a fierce shot narrowly off-target.
Jose Mourinho’s side had barely had a sniff by the time they levelled the scoring in the 27th minute, netting against the run of play as Heorhiy Sudakov bundled Amar Dedic’s low cross over the line.
The equaliser brought about a much-improved period of play for As Aguias, who were far more competitive throughout the remainder of the first period and into the second half. Sporting came close to retaking the lead just before the hour mark, but Geny Catamo’s cross evaded everyone before Benfica responded with several shots that were rather comfortably dealt with by Rui Silva.
Clear-cut chances were proving difficult for either side to manufacture, yet the hosts came inches from carving one out when Leandro Barreiro was well-placed in the area, only to be denied a shot at goal by a crucial Luis Suarez headed intervention.
Tensions were running high in the latter stages, encapsulated by a rash lunging challenge from substitute Gianluca Prestianni, who was sent off in stoppage time just 11 minutes after taking the field.
Ultimately, there was nothing to separate the two sides as Benfica recovered from a slow start to see out a home point that keeps them third in the table.
Three points further ahead, Sporting’s first blot on their away league record (W6, D1) sees them miss the chance to overtake Porto at the summit, trailing Os Dragoes by two points having played an extra game.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Amar Dedic (Benfica)