SL Benfica Football Formation

Starting Lineup

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

The team plays a high pressing and vertical game using a 5-2-3 formation. SL Benfica aims to hit opponents on the break and win the ball high up the pitch to push quickly into the final third. This lineup is built to use quick transitions to catch the opposition out of position.

Trubin stays between the posts to anchor the back line. The defensive unit works in a back five that can shift to a narrow defensive block when the ball is on the opposite flank. Dedic operates as an attacking wing back on the right, while R. Obrador provides similar width on the left. In the center, Richard Ríos sits as the middle man to cover the space behind the others. Antonio Silva and Tomàs Araújo act as the side centre backs to defend zonally and intercept passes.

The midfield consists of a pairing of two with Leandro Barreiro and Fredrik Aursnes. These two work to compress the midfield and prevent opponents from playing through the lines. Barreiro looks to shield the defence and recycle possession, while Aursnes is tasked to drive forward with the ball and arrive late into the box. They must work hard to pick up runners and ensure they do not get bypassed during transitions.

Up front, the team uses three attackers to stretch the defence. Pavlidis acts as a lone striker to hold up the ball and find the feet of his teammates. On the flanks, Andreas Schjelderup and Dodi Lukebakio provide width and presence. Schjelderup often looks to cut inside to create chances, while Lukebakio uses his pace to run in behind the last defender. This combination allows SL Benfica to attack in combinations and exploit the space behind the opposition full backs.

A major strength of this formation is the ability to create wide overloads when Dedic and R. Obrador push high to overlap the wingers. The team also finds success with its ability to press in a mid block and then break quickly once the ball is won. The presence of three attackers ensures that the opposition back line is constantly pinned, creating space for the midfielders to advance.

This 5-2-3 formation relies on heavy work rates and quick movement to succeed. It is best suited for matches against teams that play with a high line and leave space behind their defenders.