SL Benfica Football Formation

Starting Lineup

Trubin (S. Soares / D. Ferreira) · Dedic (Bah / L. Santos) · Antonio Silva (Tomàs Araùjo) · Otamendi (G. Oliveira / J. Wynder) · Dahl (R. Obrador) · Enzo Barrenechea (Manu / N. Fèlix) · Richard Ríos (D. Prioste / J. Veloso) · F. Aursnes (L. Barreiro) · Lukebakio (G. Prestianni) · Andreas Schjelderup (Bruma) · Pavlidis (F. Ivanovi / H. Araùjo)

SL Benfica plays a direct and counter attacking style of football with a 5-2-3 formation. This lineup focuses on defensive solidity and quick transitions to catch the opposition off guard. They use the width of the pitch to stretch the play when moving from a deep defensive position into the final third.

Trubin starts in goal to command the area. The defense works as a back five with Enzo Barrenechea acting as the central defender to anchor the unit. Otamendi plays as the left centre back, using his aerial strength and experience to lead the line, while Antonio Silva operates as the right centre back, using his recovery pace to cover space. Dahl acts as the left attacking wing back to provide width, while Dedic plays as the right attacking wing back. The unit stays compact to deny the turn and force the opposition wide.

In the middle of the pitch, SL Benfica uses a double pivot to control the center. Richard Ríos and F. Aursnes form this pairing. Richard Ríos works to shield the defence and win the second ball, while F. Aursnes connects the lines and carries the ball forward. They look to intercept passes and quickly switch play to the wide areas. This midfield duo must work hard to compress the midfield and stop runners from the opposition.

The attacking front line features three players. Pavlidis acts as the lone striker, working to hold up the ball and pin the last defender. Andreas Schjelderup plays as the left winger, looking to cut inside and find space in the half spaces. Lukebakio plays on the right wing, using his pace to run in behind the defense. The wing backs, Dahl and Dedic, push high to overlap the wingers and deliver crosses into the box. This creates chances through quick transitions, link up play between the lines, and attacking in combinations.

This formation offers great compactness when defending in a mid block. By having five defenders, SL Benfica can easily shift to cover the width of the pitch. Another strength is the speed of transition, as the wingers and wing backs can immediately exploit space once the ball is won. The combination of a strong back three and a mobile midfield allows the team to win the second ball frequently.

This 5-2-3 formation is built for a team that wants to sit deep and strike with pace. It is best suited for facing teams that play a high line and leave space behind their defenders.