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 (Manu Silva) · Enzo Barrenechea (Nuno Fèlix) · Sudakov (J. Rego / Gonçalo Moreira) · Dodi Lukebakio (G. Prestianni) · Andreas Schjelderup (Bruma) · Pavlidis (F. Ivanovic / H. Araújo)

SL Benfica want to play a high press, vertical game to overwhelm opponents in the final third. This team operates in a 4-2-4 formation. The identity is built to win the ball high up the pitch and move forward with pace to exploit any gaps left in the opposition.

Trubin stays between the posts to guide the back line. The defenders play in a flat back four that often pushes to a high line to squeeze the space. Antonio Silva plays as a ball playing defender who can carry the ball forward, while Otamendi is dominant in the air to win the header and defend zonally. Dedic and Dahl act as attacking wing backs to provide width, with Dedic looking to overlap the winger and Dahl to cover the left side. The defensive unit must stay compact to avoid being caught out when the team pushes forward.

The midfield consists of a double pivot that serves to connect the defence and attack. Enzo Barrenechea plays as a carrier to drive forward with the ball and break the line. Richard Ríos works to shield the defence and presses aggressively to win the ball high up the pitch. This pairing must be ready to recover quickly to prevent opponents from playing through the lines, as they are the only two players covering the central zone.

The front line is composed of attackers across the front. Andreas Schjelderup operates as an inverted winger on the left who will cut inside to find space. Dodi Lukebakio stays wide on the right to stretch the defence and whip it in towards the goal. In the middle, Sudakov and Pavlidis form a two forwards partnership. Sudakov often drops into the hole to link up play between the lines, while Pavlidis works as a pressing centre-forward to force a long ball from the opposition. They aim to hit in behind on the transition and create runs in behind to punish the back line.

This lineup offers significant numerical superiority in the attacking third, which helps to pin the last defender. The ability to press high in coordinated waves allows SL Benfica to win the ball back high up the pitch and launch attacks immediately. The speed of transition is a major advantage, as the four forwards can break quickly once the midfield recovers possession.

This formation defines an aggressive identity focused on attacking pressure. It is best suited for situations where the team faces an opponent that plays a high line or when they need to score multiple goals.