SL Benfica Football Formation

Starting Lineup

Vangelis Pavlidis (Zeki Amdouni) · Kerem Aktürkoğlu (Andreas Schjelderup) · Benjamín Rollheiser (Gianluca Prestianni) · Florentino (Leandro Barreiro) · Fredrik Aursnes (Renato Sanches) · Orkun Kökçü (Ángel Di María) · Tomás Araújo (Nicolás Otamendi) · António Silva (Adrian Bajrami) · Álvaro Carreras (Jan-Niklas Beste) · Alexander Bah (Issa Kaboré) · Anatoliy Trubin (Samuel Soares)

SL Benfica aims to dominate the pitch through a vertical attacking style using a 4-2-4. This formation is built to play with high intensity, looking to catch opponents out through quick transitions and direct movement. By utilizing a front four, the team intends to stretch the defence and pin the opposition back in their own half.

Anatoliy Trubin starts between the posts to provide security for the back line. The defensive unit operates with a flat back four featuring Alexander Bah and Álvaro Carreras as the wide defenders. Alexander Bah pushes up to provide width, while Álvaro Carreras can act as an attacking full back. In the middle, António Silva and Tomás Araújo function as the central pair. António Silva is known for his physical presence and reading of the game, helping to cover space when the team pushes high. This defensive group works to maintain a high line to squeeze the space between the lines.

The midfield consists of a double pivot designed to control the center of the pitch. Florentino acts as the primary shield for the defence, using his high pressing intensity to win the ball back. Fredrik Aursnes plays as the carrier, driving forward with the ball to connect the defensive unit with the attack. This duo must be disciplined to prevent counter attacks, as they are often outnumbered by three midfielders in a traditional setup. They work to recycle possession and find the players in advanced positions.

The attacking front line uses four players to create constant pressure on the opposition back line. Vangelis Pavlidis operates as a central striker, looking to find the feet of the striker and hold up the ball for others. Orkun Kökçü plays as a second striker in the hole, drifting between the lines to create chances. On the wings, Kerem Aktürkoğlu and Benjamín Rollheiser act as inverted wingers who cut inside to threaten the goal. This front four works to press from the front, forcing long balls and winning the second ball to keep the pressure high for SL Benfica.

This lineup offers significant advantages in terms of offensive numbers and wide overloads. By pushing Alexander Bah and Álvaro Carreras high, the team can create overloads with the wingers. The presence of four attackers also allows the team to press in coordinated waves, making it very difficult for the opponent to play out from the back.

The 4-2-4 formation provides a heavy offensive presence that is best suited for games where the team needs to break down a deep block. It is a high risk, high reward lineup that relies on the midfield pivot to protect the defence during transitions.