At the same press conference, Greek striker Vangelis Pavlidis assured that Benfica needs to be focused to avoid problems when hosting Real Madrid, in the play-off for access to the round of 16 of the Champions League.
“There are two games and two finals. If we win, we continue. If we lose, we go home. We have to be very focused. We saw some things from them and we know how we have to play to avoid problems and be comfortable”, he considered.
Pavlidis admitted that Benfica could present different things in the match, compared to the duel on January 28, in the final round of the league phase, when they won 4-2.
“It’s always good to score goals. When you score against teams of this size, it’s even better. I want to keep scoring goals and help my teammates. The most important thing is to win the game and stay in the Champions League”, he assumed.
The 27-year-old Greek international was pleased with the fact that Benfica’s squad is practically at full strength, he praised Rafa and also the young Anísio Cabral, who recently appeared in the first team with decisive goals.
“Rafa came to help and he has the quality to do so. He is very fast and a fantastic player. Anísio is an incredible talent. He has already shown what he can do, he still has to work hard and remain humble. In the future, he could be a great player”, said Pavlidis, who has 28 goals in 40 games played in 2025/26.
The center forward also said, jokingly, that he celebrated Trubin’s goal, which guaranteed qualification, more than his own goals, remembering that the striker doesn’t play alone and praising goalkeeper Courtois.
“I don’t know if, at the moment, he’s the best goalkeeper in the world, but he’s up there at the top. He’s a very good goalkeeper, he helps Real Madrid a lot. He was close to saving my penalty. It’s very difficult to play against him, as he’s very tall and the goal seems smaller behind him”, explained the goalscorer for Mourinho’s team.
Benfica and Real Madrid face each other on Tuesday, at 8pm, at Estádio da Luz, in Lisbon, in the first leg of the play-off to reach the round of 16 of the Champions League, which will be refereed by Frenchman François Letexier.
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