Pavlidis nets brace as Benfica beat Gil Vicente 3-1

Benfica fought back from an early setback to secure a 3-1 victory over Gil Vicente on Sunday in round six of Portugal's Primeira Liga. Vangelis Pavlidis led the response with two goals and Gianluca Prestianni added a third late on at the Estádio da Luz. The win keeps the Lisbon side on track ahead of a demanding week.

• Pavlidis equalized with a chip in the 29th minute and made it 2-1 from the penalty spot in the 88th.
• Prestianni completed the win with a solo effort in stoppage time and now has five league goals this season.
• Héctor Hernández gave Gil Vicente a seventh-minute lead after racing in behind the Benfica defence.
• Benfica travel to AC Milan in the Europa League on Wednesday and face Porto at Do Dragão next Sunday.

Gil Vicente strike early through Héctor Hernández

The game began badly for Benfica. In the seventh minute, Héctor Hernández latched onto a through ball between the home side's central defenders and beat the goalkeeper to make it 0-1. The Spaniard not only scored but also made a major contribution to Gil Vicente's defensive effort, which kept Benfica from creating clear chances for long stretches despite the hosts' growing pressure.

After falling behind, Benfica pushed forward with more urgency, but Gil Vicente's organized back line held firm. The visitors closed the central passing lanes and forced Benfica to attack down the wings, limiting their ability to generate dangerous situations in the first half.

Pavlidis levels before half-time with a chip

The equalizer arrived in the 29th minute, when Pavlidis anticipated a moment of confusion among the Gil Vicente defenders. The Greek forward found himself one on one with the goalkeeper and produced a delicate chip to make it 1-1. The goal punished Gil Vicente for their only lapse of concentration in an otherwise disciplined opening period.

Pavlidis was efficient when it mattered most. He did not need many touches to change the game, converting Benfica's first real opening and giving his side a foothold in a match that had looked frustrating up to that point.

Late penalty and Prestianni's solo finish settle it

The battle between Gil Vicente's defence and Benfica's attack lasted until the closing stages. In the 88th minute, Pavlidis stepped up from the penalty spot and fired home for his second goal of the afternoon to make it 2-1. With six minutes of added time to play, Gianluca Prestianni removed any doubt with an individual run that ended in a curling shot for the final 3-1.

The Argentine winger now has five goals in the Portuguese top flight this season, underlining his growing importance in Benfica's attacking rotation. His late arrival on the scoresheet provided the breathing room the team needed after a tense second half.

Argentine influence in the Benfica line-up

Benfica's starting eleven featured three Argentine players: Gianluca Prestianni, Enzo Barrenechea and debutant Claudio Echeverri. The presence of the trio reflects the club's continued investment in South American talent and gave the team additional options in midfield and across the forward line.

The win comes at a key moment. Benfica head to Italy on Wednesday to face AC Milan in the Europa League, followed by a trip to Do Dragão on Sunday for the classic against Porto in the next round of league fixtures.

What Benfica face in the next seven days

The schedule offers little time to rest. The Europa League meeting with Milan will test Benfica's ambitions in continental competition, while the domestic showdown with Porto will provide an early measure of where the team stands in the title race. Taking three points against Gil Vicente was an essential step before those two high-profile games.

Benfica showed resilience after conceding first and proved they have players capable of deciding tight matches late on. That character will be needed again as they prepare for two demanding away fixtures in the space of four days.