· 2 min readIn this Benfica vs St. Gallen match, I analyse the key tactical moments, individual performances and turning points of the game.
There was a clear obligation here. Not only to win, but to prove that the first leg had simply been an accident. Benfica stepped onto the pitch with that mindset, showing greater intensity and a completely different attitude, while also knowing that possession alone would not be enough. They had to turn it into goals.
The opening was strong, played at a high tempo with immediate pressure. St. Gallen tried to repeat the formula that had worked in the first match, focusing heavily on Baldé and constantly looking to break down the left. They even created an early chance when Trubin came off his line unnecessarily, but Baldé made the wrong decision and wasted the opportunity. It was an early warning.
Benfica responded almost immediately. In the 11th minute, a simple but revealing move saw a quick throw-in release Rafa, who found space before laying the ball into Pavlidis. The striker hit it first time without much placement, sending it straight down the middle. Watkowiak got a foot to it but allowed it to slip through. It was one of those moments where the goalkeeper’s mistake made all the difference. 1-0, and the tie was level on aggregate.
The goal brought calm, but it also reduced the urgency. Benfica settled into controlling possession, circulating the ball confidently but with less aggression. António Silva began to take charge at the back, even looking eager to join attacks, while Pavlidis regularly dropped deep to link play, although he was almost always tightly marked.
At the other end, St. Gallen stuck to their approach. Aggressive man-to-man pressing, full of risk. That naturally created spaces. Baldé struck the post during one of the few moments Benfica lost their shape, but overall St. Gallen lacked the quality to make the most of those situations. That difference became increasingly noticeable.
Benfica came out after the break with renewed intensity. In the 55th minute, a quick combination between Pavlidis and Kaminski ended with the striker receiving the ball inside the box before calmly finishing low into the corner. 2-0, and Benfica had completely turned the tie around. It was a well-worked goal that highlighted the gap in quality between the two sides.
Just two minutes later, the contest tilted even further in Benfica’s favour. Stanic received his second yellow card after stopping a counter-attack, leaving St. Gallen down to ten men. From that moment on, the outcome felt inevitable.
The third goal arrived in the 67th minute after a scrappy move. Bah kept the attack alive, the ball bounced around the area and eventually fell kindly for Pavlidis, who made no mistake. His hat-trick all but sealed the match. With St. Gallen offering little resistance, mistakes and open spaces became increasingly common.
In the 74th minute, Pavlidis completed his poker from the penalty spot, blasting the ball powerfully into the top corner. Full of confidence, everything seemed to be going his way. There was still time for one more.
In the 82nd minute, a short corner found Lukebakio on the right. He worked himself into space before delivering a cross, and Lenglet, with his back to goal, produced a clever flick that found the net. A subtle finish, almost effortless, but highly effective. 5-0.
St. Gallen pushed for a consolation goal before the final whistle and probably should have found one, but poor decisions and a lack of quality in the final third ensured they finished the night empty-handed.
Post-match
Benfica delivered exactly what was required, with Pavlidis the standout performer after a clinical display in front of goal. António Silva also showed encouraging signs of leadership. St. Gallen competed with determination, but their lack of quality at this level ultimately became impossible to hide.
