Benfica striker Pavlidis quickly scores a hat-trick against Barcelona in the Champions League

Associated Press

LISBON, Portugal (AP) – Benfica forward Vangelis Pavlidis has scored the third-fastest hat trick at the start of a Champions League game against Barcelona on Tuesday.

The Greece international scored two minutes into the game and then in the 22nd and 30th minutes as Benfica led Barcelona 3-1 at the break.

According to statistics provider OptaJoethe fastest hat-tricks were scored in 23 minutes by Robert Lewandowski with the Catalan club in 2022 and by Marco Simone in 24 minutes in 1996.

Lewandowski scored his 102nd Champions League goal in the 13th minute.

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