With a safe victory against Leixões, the fourth-placed team in the regular phase, Benfica came close to Sporting at the top of the League, with the lions only on Sunday (6pm) will they play on the 17th round, when they host Académica de São Mamede. As eagleswho were removed from the Challenge Cup in the middle of the week, controlled the game against the Matsinenses, who they defeated in just three sets by scores of 25-17, 25-17 and 25-19. Nivaldo Gomez stood out in the attack of the red with 13 points. Leixões fell to seventh place in the table due to the triumphs of Vitória (they recovered from two sets down to win 3-2 at the Madalena pavilion), Académica de Espinho (3-0 in Santo Tirso) and Sp. Espinho (3-2 against Castêlo da Maia), in a round in which Clube K beat Nun'Álvares 3-2. Classification of the first phase of the Volleyball League: 1st Benfica, 15 wins, 45 points (17 games) 2nd Sporting, 15 wins, 45 points (16 games) 3rd Académica de São Mamede, 10 wins, 30 points (16 games) 4th Victory, 10 victories, 28 points (17 games) 5th Académica de Espinho, 10 wins, 25 points (16 games) 6th Sp. Espinho, 9 wins, 28 points (16 games) 7th Leixões, 9 wins, 26 points (16 games) 8th Nun'Álvares, 7 wins, 21 points (17 games) 9th Madalena, 5 wins, 18 points (16 games) 10th Castêlo da Maia, 5 wins, 18 points (17 games) 11th Club K, 3 wins, 9 points (17 games) 12th Santo Tirso, 1 victory, 4 points (17 games)