Vangelis Pavlidis immediately makes his mark during pre-season at Benfica. This has not gone unnoticed in the Portuguese press.
In all pre-season matches for his new club, the (joint) Eredivisie top scorer from last season found the net. He also scored against Brentford. "When you see him play, you feel that Benfica has a true striker again," writes A Bola. "He doesn’t remind us of Gonçalo Ramos, even though he also helps defend. Instead, he suggests a new style of attacking."
"He always gives you the sense that you know what you’re doing, whether you have the ball or not. He is very goal-oriented in his approach. He scored at the near post with a subtle movement, timing his run perfectly. With this Greek, the attack is no tragedy."
Record is also impressed by Pavlidis, who left AZ for eighteen million euros. "The way he appeared between the defenders to place the ball in the net may seem simple, but it reveals the Greek’s good game awareness and killer instinct. Pavlidis had already shown good things in earlier matches and yesterday, for the first time in front of the demanding Benfica crowd, he played with the same ease and scored again. It was his fifth goal in four pre-season matches, numbers that fans dream of."
Pavlidis's early impact at Benfica has caught the attention of both fans and analysts. His ability to consistently find the back of the net during pre-season has sparked excitement and optimism about what he can achieve in the upcoming competitive fixtures. The Greek striker’s performance is seen as a promising sign for Benfica’s attacking prospects.
Benfica’s investment in Pavlidis, a substantial fee of eighteen million euros, is already showing signs of paying off. The club’s decision to bring him in from AZ Alkmaar is being validated by his immediate contributions on the pitch. Pavlidis’s seamless adaptation to Benfica’s playing style and his instinctive goal-scoring ability highlight his potential to become a key player for the team.
The Portuguese media’s praise underscores the significance of Pavlidis’s performances. A Bola’s commentary on his new style of attacking suggests that he brings a fresh dynamic to Benfica’s forward line, contrasting with previous strikers. Meanwhile, Record’s focus on his game awareness and killer instinct points to his tactical intelligence and sharpness in front of goal.
As Benfica prepares for the new season, the anticipation surrounding Pavlidis continues to build. Fans are eager to see how his pre-season form translates into competitive matches, hoping that his goal-scoring prowess will help Benfica challenge for titles both domestically and in European competitions. Pavlidis’s early success serves as a testament to his talent and determination, setting the stage for what could be a standout season for the Greek forward at Benfica.
