Pavlidis’ Penalty Win Boosts Benfica’s Title Bid Against Famalicão

A sharp strike from the penalty spot and 90 minutes of measured pragmatism were enough to keep Benfica’s title ambitions on track. Roger Schmidt’s side edged Famalicão 1-0 in front of almost 58,000 supporters, thanks to Vangelis Pavlidis’ unflappable finish midway through the first half. It was far from a spectacle, but on a chilly December evening the three points mattered more than the glow.

The essentials at a glance

• Result: Benfica 1-0 Famalicão

• Decisive moment: Pavlidis converts a penálti at 34'

• Attendance: 57,894 at Estádio da Luz

• League context: Benfica stay within touching distance of the summit after Matchday 15

• Next stop: Trip north to face SC Braga this coming Sunday

Control from the spot

The contest was stuck in first gear until Nicolás Otamendi took an elbow from Justin de Haas inside the Famalicão area. After a lengthy VAR review, referee Tiago Martins pointed to the spot. Pavlidis, ice-cool and slightly angled to his left, lashed the ball beyond Ivan Carević for his 11th league goal of the campaign. Benfica seldom looked like surrendering the advantage, limiting the visitors—who arrived unbeaten away—to hopeful counters.

Schmidt’s pragmatism on display

Supporters expecting fireworks from a squad packed with flamboyant attackers instead witnessed Schmidt at his most pragmatic. The German coach praised “work rate, defensive organisation and humility” in a brief post-match chat. Those words reflected the numbers: the encarnados allowed only 4 shots, 2 of them on target, while committing just 10 fouls. It was safety-first football, but the Luz faithful applauded the clean sheet after a run of nervy finishes earlier in the autumn.

Pavlidis and the numbers

The Greek striker’s importance is growing by the week.

• He has scored 12 times in his last 14 club appearances across all competitions.

• His spot-kick was Benfica’s first penalty goal in the league since September.

• With 42 goals in the calendar year, he is now level with Eusébio’s best single-season haul from the 1960s, a stat that has the local press buzzing.

What it means for the title race

Porto’s draw in Faro earlier in the day meant Benfica could ill afford to slip. The narrow success keeps the Lisbon giants two points off leaders Sporting and three clear of Braga. Famalicão stay mid-table yet remain the league’s second-stingiest defence on the road, underscoring why breaking them down was never going to be a procession.

Stat box

| Category | Benfica | Famalicão ||------------------------|------------|-----------|| Shots / on target | 9 / 6 | 4 / 2 || Possession | 58% | 42% || Corners | 4 | 2 || Dangerous attacks | 37 | 23 || Substitutions used | 3 | 3 |

Looking ahead

Schmidt confirmed that António Silva’s precautionary substitution at 56' was “nothing serious,” easing fears before the weekend showdown in the Minho. Victory there would send Benfica into the New Year with momentum—and keep the pressure firmly on their cross-town rivals. For now, a single swing of Pavlidis’ right boot is enough to keep the dream alive.