SL Benfica Football Formation

Starting Lineup

Anatoliy Trubin · António Silva · Tomás Araújo · Álvaro Carreras · Alexander Bah · Orkun Kökçü · Fredrik Aursnes · Florentino · Vangelis Pavlidis · Kerem Aktürkoğlu · Nicolás Otamendi

SL Benfica focuses on a high press and rapid transitions when playing in a 3-5-2. This formation allows the team to dominate the central areas and use verticality to catch opponents out of position. The lineup is built to squeeze the space in the middle of the pitch and use wide midfielders to stretch the opposition.

Anatoliy Trubin plays between the posts to oversee the defensive unit. The back line uses a back three where Nicolás Otamendi acts as the central figure, dominant in the air and organizing the line. To his left, Tomás Araújo plays as a wide centre-back to cover the space, while António Silva operates on the right to step up and intercept passes. This trio works as a cohesive unit to defend zonally and protect the space behind them.

The midfield relies on a three man midfield with a carrier to control the tempo. Florentino sits in the middle to shield the defence and win the second ball. On either side, Alexander Bah and Álvaro Carreras work to connect the defensive and attacking lines. Orkun Kökçü operates in the right half space to create from deep, while Fredrik Aursnes moves as an inverted eight to drive forward with the ball. This group works to compress the midfield and ensure they always have a passing option to recycle possession.

In the final third, SL Benfica uses two forwards in a partnership to pressure the back line. Vangelis Pavlidis acts as the target man to hold up the ball and win headers, while Kerem Aktürkoğlu plays as a second striker in the hole to find space between the lines. They press from the front to force a long ball from the opposition. The attackers combine in tight spaces to create runs in behind, often using the width provided by the midfield to switch play and isolate defenders.

A major tactical advantage for this Benfica side is the ability to press high in coordinated waves. By using the three central midfielders and the two forwards, they can swarm the ball carrier and win it back high up the pitch. They also benefit from numerical superiority in the central zones, making it difficult for opponents to play through the middle.

This 3-5-2 formation is built for controlling the center of the pitch through intense pressing and quick verticality. It is best suited for matches against teams that try to build play slowly from the back.