Pavlidis Focused on Goals as Benfica Kicks Off Club World Cup Campaign
As the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 kicks off in the United States, all eyes are on Benfica as they face Boca Juniors in a high-stakes opener for Group C. One of the central figures in this encounter is Vangelis Pavlidis, the Greek striker who finished the domestic season on a high and now carries the responsibility of leading Benfica’s attack on the international stage.
Speaking ahead of the match, Pavlidis made it clear that he’s hungry to keep scoring. “Of course I want to continue this way,” he said. “I want to help my team. For a striker, it’s important to score goals and provide assists.” After a brief break due to national team duties and vacations, Pavlidis has rejoined his teammates and feels fully recharged. “In the last two or three days, I’ve been training again with the squad and I feel good,” he added.
It’s not just about him, though. Pavlidis stressed the strength and depth of Benfica’s squad, pointing out that goals can come from anywhere — whether it’s the forwards, midfielders, or even defenders. “We have quality all over the pitch,” he explained. “Everyone is dangerous.”
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Benfica finds itself in a challenging group alongside Boca Juniors, Bayern Munich, and Auckland City. While Bayern’s quality is well known — and Benfica already had a taste of their power in the Champions League — the immediate focus is on the South American giants. Pavlidis anticipates a tough, aggressive match. “Boca will come at us hard. But we need to focus on ourselves and not be distracted by their individual players. It’s a new experience for all of us, and we want to give everything to win.”
The match will be held at the iconic Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, a venue that’s no stranger to big moments. Kickoff is scheduled for 11 p.m. local time in Portugal. Fans can follow the action live on DAZN, with commentary from António Botelho and Tomás da Cunha.
Pavlidis isn’t the only star in Benfica’s lineup. Veteran Ángel Di María is also set to start, aiming to close his chapter with the club on a high note. The team, under the guidance of Bruno Lage, is expected to line up with three central defenders and wing-backs, with a dynamic midfield pairing of Florentino Luís and Renato Sanches.
On the Boca side, familiar names like Marcos Rojo, Rodrigo Battaglia, and Agustín Marchesín add spice to the encounter — especially for Portuguese fans who remember their stints in Liga Portugal. Miguel Merentiel will be a key attacking threat, supported by the creativity of Carlos Palacios and the leadership of Ander Herrera.
Benfica’s journey in this newly revamped Club World Cup continues after tonight with fixtures against Auckland City on June 20 and Bayern Munich on June 24. A good result against Boca is crucial for building momentum in a competition where the margin for error is slim.
With a history of tough encounters against South American sides, and the stakes higher than ever, Benfica will rely on the sharpness of Pavlidis, the experience of Di María, and the unity of the team to start their campaign with purpose. As Pavlidis summed it up: “It’s very important for us to be here. We want to go far.”
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