The Benfica striker only needs to score in the Champions League among the various UEFA competitions he has played in.
Benfica approaches their clash against Feyenoord with renewed confidence and a fully restored attacking lineup.
Leading the charge will be striker Pavlidis, who is not only looking to help the team secure a crucial win but is also pursuing a personal milestone. Among all the UEFA competitions he has participated in, the Champions League is the only one where he has yet to score. As he prepares for another opportunity to break that drought, Pavlidis has his sights set on making an impact.
The Greek international has built an impressive résumé in European competitions, particularly in the UEFA Conference League. Across 31 matches, mostly with AZ Alkmaar, he has recorded 16 goals and six assists, contributing to his team's success in both the qualifying stages and the group phase. While his appearances in the UEFA Europa League have been more limited, with just four matches played in the qualifying rounds, he managed to find the net twice. Pavlidis has also represented his national team in the UEFA Nations League and European Championship qualifiers, scoring in both competitions. He boasts three goals in the Nations League and one in the European qualifiers, though he has yet to play in the final tournament of Europe’s premier national team competition.
Since joining Benfica, Pavlidis has started making his mark in the Portuguese league. His first two goals for the club came in the league against Casa Pia and Boavista, respectively. Now, after debuting in the Champions League for Benfica and clocking 148 minutes in two matches, Pavlidis will aim to add his name to the scoresheet in Europe’s top competition. He’ll face a familiar opponent in Feyenoord, a team he has encountered ten times during his career with Willem II and AZ Alkmaar. However, success against the Dutch side has been elusive, with only one goal to his name across those meetings. His teammates Bah and Otamendi have also faced Feyenoord but, like Pavlidis, have yet to score against them. The Dutch club has proven to be a challenging adversary for the striker, who hasn’t celebrated a goal in 605 minutes, a drought stretching back to his time with Willem II.
Pavlidis’ record against Feyenoord is far from stellar. Out of ten games played, he has only tasted victory twice, a stark contrast to his record against PSV, where he has three wins from ten games and two goals. Ajax, however, is the Dutch club he has fared best against, with four goals and two assists in 11 encounters, winning four times. Despite these mixed results, Pavlidis remains a dangerous presence up front, and Benfica fans will be hoping he can rediscover his scoring touch in this critical Champions League tie.
Interestingly, Pavlidis has already scored against Feyenoord in a Benfica shirt, netting twice in the 5-0 victory during the Eusébio Cup in July. That pre-season triumph might give the striker the confidence he needs to break his official Champions League duck. With the stakes now higher, Pavlidis will look to replicate that performance in competitive action and contribute to Benfica’s campaign in the prestigious competition.
Off the pitch, Pavlidis has reportedly adapted well to life under Bruno Lage, the current Benfica coach who succeeded Roger Schmidt. Although Pavlidis was initially signed during Schmidt's tenure, he has expressed satisfaction with Lage’s methods and style of play. The striker has embraced the opportunities provided by the new coach, who praised Pavlidis following his goal against Boavista, highlighting the forward’s understanding of Benfica’s identity and attacking football. Pavlidis, in turn, is eager to repay Lage’s trust by delivering on the pitch.
Winning his first career title is also high on Pavlidis' list of ambitions. Having yet to secure silverware in his career, the striker is aware of the importance of lifting trophies with a club of Benfica’s stature. In the 2023/24 season, Benfica has only won the Super Cup, but Pavlidis is determined to help the team add more trophies to their cabinet as they compete on multiple fronts, including the Champions League. As Pavlidis continues to adapt to life in Lisbon and under Bruno Lage, the coming matches will be crucial in shaping both his individual success and that of his team.
