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) · Enzo Barrenechea (Richard Ríos / Manu Silva) · Dodi Lukebakio (G. Prestianni) · Andreas Schjelderup (Bruma) · Sudakov (J. Rego / Gonçalo Moreiro) · Franjo Ivanovic (H. Araújo) · Vangelis Pavlidis

SL Benfica aims to control the game through a high press and rapid transitions, utilizing a 5-3-2 formation. This lineup focuses on being defensively solid while maintaining the ability to hit teams on the break once the ball is won. The system relies on heavy physical presence and quick ball movement to unsettle the opponent.

Trubin guards the goal as the last line of defense. The defensive unit works as a back five with Enzo Barrenechea, Otamendi, and Antonio Silva forming the central core. Otamendi uses his aerial strength and experience to organize the line, while Antonio Silva acts as a ball playing defender to start attacks. Dedic plays as an attacking wing back on the right to provide width, and Dahl operates similarly on the left. This back five can shift into a narrow defensive block to deny space between the lines.

The midfield relies on a three man midfield with a carrier to bridge the gap between the defense and the attack. Andreas Schjelderup operates as an inverted eight on the left, while Dodi Lukebakio plays as an inverted eight on the right to help control the center. Sudakov operates as an attacking ten behind the strikers, looking to find pockets of space. Schjelderup and Lukebakio must work to press aggressively to win the ball high up the pitch and protect the central zone.

In the final third, SL Benfica uses two forwards in a partnership to stretch the opposition. Vangelis Pavlidis acts as a pressing centre-forward to harass the back line, while Franjo Ivanovic plays as a second striker to link up play. The wide players like Dedic and Dahl are expected to overlap the winger to provide crosses into the box. This setup creates runs in behind and forces the opposition to defend against both central combinations and wide deliveries.

This formation offers several tactical advantages, such as the ability to press high in coordinated waves when the front three trigger the press. The presence of three central defenders allows for compactness when defending against direct teams. Furthermore, the wing backs provide wide overloads that can catch the opposition out of position during a transition.

This 5-3-2 formation provides a balance of defensive security and attacking threat through the center. It is best suited for games against teams that play with a high line or those that struggle to deal with physical strikers.