Benfica thrashed FC St. Gallen 5-0 in the Europa League second qualifying round, with Vangelis Pavlidis scoring four goals. The Portuguese side were already in control before St. Gallen had Jozo Stanić sent off for a second yellow card just before the hour mark.
Pavlidis opened the scoring in the 11th minute from Rafa Silva's assist. He added a second in the 55th minute, then completed his hat-trick in the 65th minute after Alexander Bah set him up. Pavlidis made it 4-0 in the 74th minute, and Clément Lenglet headed a fifth from Dodi Lukebakio's cross in the 82nd. Stanić was booked in the 21st minute and received a second yellow in the 57th, leaving the visitors with ten men.
Benfica dominated possession with 73% and had 10 shots on target to St. Gallen's 3, also winning 9 corners to 2. Pavlidis's four-goal haul was the standout performance, though the home side's overall control made the result inevitable.
