SL Benfica Football Formation

Starting Lineup

1. Anatoliy Trubin (S. Soares / D. Ferreira)
17. Dedic (Bah / Kevin Pinto)
4. Antonio Silva (Tomàs Araújo)
30. Otamendi (G. Oliveira / J. Wynder)
26. Dahl (R. Obrador / J. Neto)
5. Enzo Barrenechea (Richard Rìos / Manu Silva)
25. Gianluca Prestianni (D. Lukebakio / R. Rego)
21. Andreas Schjelderup (Bruma / Ivan Lima)
10. Sudakov (J. Rego / Gonçalo Moreira)
9. Franjo Ivanović
14. Vangelis Pavlidis (Henrique Araújo)

SL Benfica looks to control the middle and defend in a compact block through a 5-3-2 formation. This lineup relies on a strong central presence to win the ball back and launch direct attacks. The team seeks to win territory through quick transitions once they regain possession in the middle third.

Anatoliy Trubin starts in goal to command the area. The back line functions as a three man unit with Otamendi acting as the leader while Enzo Barrenechea provides cover. Antonio Silva plays as the right center back to step up and intercept passes. Dedic works as the right wing back to provide width, while Dahl covers the left flank as the left wing back. This defensive group sits deep to deny space behind the defense and mark opponents tightly.

The midfield utilizes a diamond style setup to dominate the center of the pitch. Sudakov operates as the attacking midfielder to connect the lines and find passes into the final third. Gianluca Prestianni and Andreas Schjelderup occupy the central roles to press high and drive the ball forward. This trio works to shield the back three and break the line with vertical passes when the opponent pushes up.

The attacking unit consists of two forwards working in close proximity. Franjo Ivanović and Vangelis Pavlidis lead the line to hold up the ball and pressure the opposition defenders. These two strikers often rotate their runs to pull center backs out of position. They look to receive balls from the midfield or the wide wing backs to create chances in the box.

SL Benfica gains a massive advantage from the wing backs providing wide overloads. Dedic and Dahl can push high to cross the ball while the central players stay compact. This formation also allows for numerical superiority in the middle of the pitch to intercept play. The team can quickly shift from a deep block to a rapid counter attack using the pace of the wing backs.

This 5-3-2 formation is built for defensive stability and sudden verticality. It is best suited for facing teams that dominate possession and require a solid block to stop their momentum.