SL Benfica Football Formation

Starting Lineup

Trubin (S. Soares / D. Ferreira) · Dedic (Bah / L. Santos) · Antonio Silva (Tomàs Araújo) · Otamendi (G. Oliveira / J. Wynder) · Dahl (R. Obrador) · Richard Ríos (Enzo Barrenechea / Manu) · Dodi Lukebakio (G. Prestianni) · Andreas Schjelderup (Bruma) · Sudakov (J. Rego) · Vangelis Pavlidis · Franjo Ivanovic (H. Araújo)

SL Benfica favors a direct and vertical style of play through a 5-3-2 formation. This lineup is built to sit in a mid-block and wait for the opposition to commit bodies forward before hitting them on the transition. The team focuses on winning the ball in central areas and quickly finding the two forwards to exploit the space behind the opposing defense.

Trubin guards the goal and acts as the last line of defense. The back line functions as a compact five, consisting of Otamendi, Richard Ríos, and Antonio Silva in the center, while Dahl and Dedic operate as wide wing backs. Otamendi provides leadership and aerial strength in the middle, while Antonio Silva uses his pace to cover space when the line steps up. Richard Ríos acts as a central anchor, and Dahl and Dedic are expected to push high to provide width and support the attack. This unit works to squeeze the space between the lines and protect the central zone.

The midfield is a three-man unit that connects the defense to the attack. Sudakov sits in the advanced hole to link play and find passes through the lines, while Dodi Lukebakio and Andreas Schjelderup operate as the two central midfielders. Lukebakio works to carry the ball forward into the half spaces, and Schjelderup helps to press in the mid-block to win the ball back high up the pitch. This group is tasked with recycling possession and making sure the team does not get caught in a turnover while moving from a defensive stance to an attacking one.

In the final third, SL Benfica utilizes a two-man forward partnership. Vangelis Pavlidis acts as a pressing centre-forward to harass the opposition back line, while Franjo Ivanovic works to find pockets of space and run in behind. The wing backs, Dahl and Dedic, pull wide to stretch the defense, creating space in the middle for the attackers to combine in tight spaces. The team builds attacks by using the wing backs to deliver crosses or by playing quick combinations between Pavlidis and Ivanovic to catch defenders out of position.

This formation offers several tactical advantages, such as the ability to achieve compactness when defending in a narrow block. By having three central defenders, the team is very strong at winning the second ball and defending crosses. Additionally, the wing backs allow for quick wide overloads when the team transitions into attack, forcing the opposition to run back toward their own goal.

This 5-3-2 lineup is a heavy, defensive unit that relies on the speed of the forwards. It is best suited for games against teams that dominate possession and leave large spaces behind their midfield.