Benfica vs FC St. Gallen
On the night of July 31, 2026, the UEFA Europa League returned with a highly anticipated fixture between Portuguese giants Benfica and the Swiss visitors FC St. Gallen. Fans gathered to witness a tactical battle that promised high intensity and European drama.
Early Breakthrough in Lisbon
The match began with Benfica exerting immediate pressure, controlling the rhythm of the football from the opening whistle. It didn't take long for the deadlock to be broken. In the 11th minute, Rafa Silva played a pinpoint ball to Vangelis Pavlidis, who made no mistake in finding the back of the net. This early goal set the tone for the first half, as FC St. Gallen struggled to find their footing against a relentless home side.
The Swiss side faced further complications when Jozo Stanic received a yellow card early on, and a tactical substitution was forced in the 33rd minute as Joel Ruiz replaced Tom Gaal. Despite these setbacks, the visitors managed to keep the deficit to a single goal heading into the interval.
Turning Point and Disciplinary Woes
The second half saw the momentum shift decisively. Ten minutes after the restart, Jakub Kaminski provided a brilliant assist for Vangelis Pavlidis to double the lead. Just moments later, the game reached a critical turning point when Jozo Stanic was shown a second yellow card and subsequently a red card, leaving FC St. Gallen with ten men.
Exploiting the numerical advantage, Benfica continued their assault. Alexander Bah delivered a cross in the 66th minute that allowed Vangelis Pavlidis to complete a stunning hat-trick. The Greek striker wasn't finished yet; in the 74th minute, he converted a clinical penalty to score his fourth of the night, cementing his status as the standout player of the match.
Clinical Finish and Late Flair
With the result effectively sealed, both managers turned to their benches. Benfica introduced fresh legs including Dodi Lukebakio and Andreas Schjelderup. The substitutes made an immediate impact, with Lukebakio providing the assist for Clement Lenglet to add a fifth goal in the 81st minute. As the final whistle blew, it was a dominant display of sports excellence by the Lisbon side.
