SL Benfica Football Formation

Starting Lineup

Samu Soares (D. Ferreira / A. Trubin) · Daniel Banjaque (Alexander Bah) · Tomàs Araújo (A. Circati / G ĺndío) · Clement Lenglet (J. Wander / J. Fonseca) · Jose Neto (S. Dahl) · João Palhinha (E. Barrenechia / R. Rìos) · Gianluca Prestianni (D. Lukebakio / T. Gouveia) · Gonçalo Moreira (H. Sudakov / J. Rego) · Andreas Schjelderup (J. Kamiński / J. Umeh) · Jhon Durán (A. Cabral / A. Saidi) · Vsngelis Pavlidis (F. Silva / O. Edokpolor)

SL Benfica focuses on a direct and vertical style of play using a 5-3-2 formation. This lineup aims to dominate transitions and hit teams quickly when they lose the ball. The team relies on a solid defensive base to absorb pressure before launching long balls or quick passes toward the strikers.

Samu Soares plays between the posts to manage the defensive line. The back five operates as a narrow defensive block with João Palhinha sitting in the center to win headers and organize the unit. Clement Lenglet acts as a ball playing defender on the left, while Tomàs Araújo provides cover on the right. The wing backs, Jose Neto and Daniel Banjaque, are tasked with providing width and stretching the opposition. Jose Neto pushes high to overlap, while Daniel Banjaque tracks back to support the center backs when the team is under pressure.

The midfield functions as a three-man midfield with a carrier. Gianluca Prestianni and Andreas Schjelderup work to win the second ball and drive the team forward through the center. Gonçalo Moreira plays as an attacking ten behind the strikers to connect the lines. He looks to find space between the lines and play through the lines to find the forwards. The midfield unit must press in a mid-block to deny the turn of the opposition playmakers and force a long ball.

In the final third, SL Benfica employs two forwards in a partnership. Jhon Durán and Vsngelis Pavlidis work together to pin the last defender and create chaos in the box. Jhon Durán acts as a pressing centre-forward to force mistakes, while Vsngelis Pavlidis looks to hold up the ball and lay it off to oncoming runners. The formation creates runs in behind and allows the wing backs to deliver crosses into the box. This attacking setup relies on the two strikers to combine in tight spaces and finish chances created by the advancing midfield.

This formation offers great compactness when defending, making it hard for opponents to play through the middle. The presence of two mobile strikers allows for quick transitions and isolates wide players in one on one situations once the wing backs arrive. The tactical setup also provides numerical superiority in the central areas when the team transitions from a deep block into an attacking phase.

The 5-3-2 formation provides a very solid defensive foundation while remaining lethal on the break. It is best suited for games against possession heavy teams that leave space behind their high defensive line.