Pavlidis' four-goal spree lifts Benfica against Zwitsers

Vangelis Pavlidis delivered a spectacular Thursday evening, netting four times for Benfica against the Zwitsers and propelling his side into the next round of the Europa League. The match update was posted Vandaag at 22:59, with a second timestamp at 23:13 confirming the timing.

De former striker of AZ and Willem II, Pavlidis had already demonstrated his scoring instinct last season, finding the net thirty times across all competitions. That prolific record set the expectation that he would continue to be a decisive goal‑getter for his new club.

The week before, Benfica suffered a surprising 2‑1 defeat to St. Gallen, with Pavlidis failing to score. The loss left Marco Silva’s side hungry for redemption and added pressure to restore pride in the Europa League campaign.

Pavlidis opened the scoring after just ten minutes, calmly slotting the ball past goalkeeper Lukas Watkowiak to give Benfica the lead. The early strike underscored his instinctive positioning and set the tone for the remainder of the match.

His second goal arrived shortly thereafter, again from a well‑timed run and precise finish, reinforcing his dominance in the attacking third. The quality of the finish, while not spectacular, highlighted his ability to exploit defensive lapses.

The third tally came in a chaotic sequence when several teammates missed clear chances, allowing Pavlidis to collect a loose ball inside the box and head home to make it 3‑0. This goal cemented his hat‑trick and further demoralised the opposition.

His fourth strike was converted from the penalty spot, after which he was substituted for defender Clement Lenglet, who later added the final goal of the night. With the quartet of goals, Benfica secured progression to the third round of the Europa League.