Benfica's latest European win was another reminder of what Vangelis Pavlidis has been doing all season. He scored against Celtic after seven matches without a goal, but the more telling detail is still the same one: 15 goals in 15 matches for Benfica this season.
Benfica's goal source
Pavlidis was introduced from the bench and scored Benfica's fourth goal in the 4-1 win over Celtic. He also reached 75 goals for the club in all competitions on the night, a milestone that fits the broader run he has put together since arriving from AZ Alkmaar.
That return is not just about finishing one chance. He has 8 goals in 8 Primeira Liga appearances and 3 assists in the league, which is why he keeps showing up as Benfica's main attacking reference even when the goals dry up briefly.
The scale of his season
His Europa League rating of 7.15 backs up the impression that he has delivered beyond Portugal too, and his 7.8 rating against Celtic came in only 23 minutes as a substitute. A short spell off the bench did not stop him from influencing the game again.
The seven-match goalless spell will get mentioned because it ended in a European win, but the larger point is his output across the full season. Benfica have a forward who is scoring, creating and reaching milestones at the same time, and the next chance to extend that run will come in their next Europa League outing.
Written by Sam Whitfield with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
