José Mourinho continued his unbeaten run in the Portuguese Liga this year with another comprehensive performance that kept the Reds in contention for their 39th league title. After a disappointing defeat to Newcastle in England, Mourinho and his players responded with an emphatic 5-0 win to maintain the pressure on FC Porto and Sporting CP.
It was a memorable night for the supporters that made it out to the Luz this weekend. Benfica dominated the match from the kickoff, with Pavlidis in fine form as he guided the home side to their sixth win of the season. The Greek striker was in exceptional form, scoring Benfica’s first, second and fourth goals to produce a dominant 5-0 victory for Benfica. Captain Nicolas Otamendi also got his name on the scoresheet and Franjo Ivanovic managed to record a goal in the closing minutes.
For Mourinho, it was another clean sheet, and his side was hardly troubled on the defensive side. They will now look forward to Wednesday’s cup match against Tondela before visiting Vitória Sport Clube next weekend.
Arouca will have plenty to think about after a dismal performance that saw the club drop to 13th in the standings, just above the relegation zone. Arouca face a difficult run of games with Moreirense, Estoril Praia and SC Braga next on the schedule.
Pavlidis opens the scoring from the spot
Both sides kept their shape in the opening minutes, and there was little excitement for the supporters in the early stages. In the seventh minute, though, the game swung in Benfica’s favor after Espen van Ee was adjudged to have handled the ball in the box. That allowed Pavlidis to step up to the spot and give the home side an early lead.
Benfica didn’t take their foot off the gas. Mourinho had come out with an attacking lineup, opting to start with Gianluca Prestianni, Dodi Lukebakio, and Georgiy Sudakov. Prestianni was particularly lively, and it was the 19-year-old Argentine who earned his side a second penalty in the 21st minute. Pavlidis was called on once again, and the forward provided another composed finish, drilling the ball into the bottom left corner.
Arouca pushes back
Arouca needed to regroup quickly, and the visitors nearly pulled one back in the 29th minute. A sloppy back pass from Sudakov fell to Pablo Gozálbez, who found himself facing the goal with no-one ahead of him. The Spaniard decided to try his luck with a left-footed shot from just outside the box, but his effort drifted wide of the goal.
Nicolás Otamendi records his first goal of the campaign
Gozálbez’s attempt would turn out to be Arouca’s best chance of the half. From that moment on, it would be all Benfica. Pavlidis was inches away from completing his first-half hat-trick in the 41st minute. His attempted chip on keeper João Valido from outside the six-yard box bounced off the crossbar.
There was, however, enough time for Benfica to secure a third goal. Lukebakio’s in-swinging corner found Otamendi, and the Benfica captain showed tremendous strength and control to rise above a group of defenders and head in from close range.
Pavlidis and Ivanovic pile on with second-half goals
Arouca made changes in the second half with Taichi Fukui and Lee Hyun-ju coming on, but the two had little impact on the match.
Benfica kept pushing forward, and it was Pavlidis who continued his dazzling streak with another goal in the 49th minute. Prestianni was once again involved in the build-up, winning the ball and finding Pavlidis in the box. Some smart dribbling allowed the striker to break forward and hammer a right-footed shot in the left corner of the goal.
This was Pavlidis’ first hat-trick of the season, and his 12th goal in all competitions. The talented 26-year-old now leads the Portuguese league scoring table with eight goals.
To rub salt in the wounds of Arouca supporters, Benfica were awarded a third penalty in the final minute of the match. Pavlidis could have added to his goal tally, but chose to hand the ball to his colleague Ivanović. The Croatian slotted the ball into the right corner for his fourth goal of the season.
Benfica 5-0 Arouca highlights
Lineups:
Benfica: Anatoliy Trubin, Fredrik Aursnes, Nicolás Otamendi, Tomás Araújo, Samuel Dahl, Enzo Barrenechea, Richard Ríos (João Rego, 67’), Dodi Lukebakio (Ivan Lima, 77’), Georgiy Sudakov (Leandro Martins, 63’), Gianluca Prestianni (Andreas Schjelderup, 63’), Vangelis Pavlidis (Franjo Ivanovic, 77’)
Arouca: João Valido, Tiago Esgaio, Jose Fontán, Omar Fayed, Arnau Solà (Amadou Danté, 89’) , David Simão, Espen van Ee (Lee Hyun-ju, 46’), Alfonso Trezza (Naïs Djouahra, 62’), Pablo Gozálbez (Taichi Fukui, 46’), Miguel Puche, Barbero (Brian Mansilla 86’)
Goals:
[1-0] Vangelis Pavlidis (pen), 9’
[2-0] Vangelis Pavlidis (pen), 22’
[3-0] Nicolas Otamendi, 45’
[4-0] Vangelis Pavlidis, 50’
[5-0] Franjo Ivanovic (pen), 90’
