Benfica needed the help of a penalty and a red card as they came from behind to salvage a point in their Liga opener against Braga today.

Salvio gave the hosts a 49th-minute lead early in the second half of the stand-out fixture of the league's opening weekend, but Lorenzo Melgarejo's own goal quickly brought Braga level.

They then took a 63rd-minute lead through Marcio Mossoro, but Douglao was dismissed and Oscar Cardozo scored from the spot to earn a 2-2 draw for Benfica.

In the day's other game, Joao Guilherme's 87th-minute goal was enough to earn Maritimo a 1-0 win away to Rio Ave.