Benfica vs OFI Predicted Lineups and Team News – UEFA Europa League
Benfica host OFI in Lisbon in the final matchday of the UEFA Europa League League Stage, with both sides looking to confirm their status in the upper half of the overall league table. Benfica come into this fixture ranked 4th in the League Round standings, while OFI sit 25th. Although both teams are yet to register points or goals in the official league table (no games played so far in this stage), recent form in all Europa League fixtures suggests this could be a high‑tempo encounter.
Benfica’s broader Europa League record is strong: four wins, one draw and one defeat from six matches, with 19 goals scored and only six conceded. Their form string of LWWDWW underlines how quickly they recovered from an early setback. OFI, by contrast, have played only two Europa League fixtures but have won both, with a perfect defensive record and a form string of WW. With progression and seeding implications on the line, predicted lineups and the expected starting lineup choices will be crucial in determining who controls this League Stage – 6 clash.
Predictions lean slightly towards Benfica as winners, but with the model giving 35% home, 35% draw and 30% away, this is far from a foregone conclusion. That balance, combined with Benfica’s attacking firepower and OFI’s defensive solidity, makes the team news and lineups today one of the most interesting subplots ahead of kick‑off.
Benfica Team News & Expected Lineups Today
There are no listed injuries or suspensions for Benfica ahead of this Europa League tie. With no significant absences reported, the manager can select from a full-strength squad, which is a major advantage this deep into the League Stage. Given their excellent attacking numbers – 19 goals in six Europa League outings and an average of 3.2 goals per game – an aggressive, front-foot approach is expected again in Lisbon.
Benfica’s recent form of LWWDWW, combined with a last-five record that includes 18 goals scored and only four conceded, points towards continuity in selection. The expected setup should feature a compact defensive base with technically secure midfielders and a very dynamic front line built around their top scorer V. Pavlidis and creative outlets like Rafa and A. Schjelderup. With predicted lineups likely to mirror their most used attacking-minded shapes, rotation should be minimal for such an important fixture.
Benfica Predicted Lineups & Starting Lineup
Predicted Starting XI:
GK: A. Trubin
DF: A. Bah; C. Lenglet; Tomás Araújo; S. El Karouani
MF: João Palhinha; E. Barrenechea; H. Sudakov; J. Kamiński; Rafa
FW: V. Pavlidis
This predicted starting lineup leans heavily on Benfica’s proven Europa League performers. In goal, A. Trubin is the logical choice from the goalkeeper group, offering stability behind a back line anchored by C. Lenglet and Tomás Araújo, both of whom have contributed at the attacking end as well – Lenglet and Araújo have each scored once in this competition. A. Bah, who has provided an assist and features prominently in both assists and card statistics, is expected to operate as an aggressive right-sided defender, with S. El Karouani a natural fit on the opposite flank from the available defenders.
In midfield, João Palhinha provides the physical screening and ball-winning presence that allows Benfica’s more creative players to push higher. E. Barrenechea, H. Sudakov and J. Kamiński all appear in the top assists listings, each with at least one assist, underlining their importance in ball progression and chance creation. Rafa, with two goals and one assist, is a key link between midfield and attack, drifting into pockets to combine with V. Pavlidis, who is the standout star: five goals and one assist in just three Europa League appearances. With Pavlidis also leading the yellow-card and red-card disciplinary charts for Benfica, his aggressive style will be central to how Benfica press and attack OFI’s back line.
OFI Team News & Expected Lineups Today
OFI also come into this match with no listed injuries or suspensions, meaning no significant absences reported from their squad list. That clean bill of health is vital for a side that has relied on a settled core to start their Europa League campaign with two wins from two, scoring five and conceding none. Their league form string of WW reflects a compact and well-organised unit that has so far combined efficiency in front of goal with outstanding defensive discipline.
Given their Europa League lineups so far, OFI are expected to maintain an organised, balanced shape that can quickly transition from a disciplined defensive block into a direct attacking threat. With lineups today likely to be built around experienced defenders such as N. Marinakis and A. Poungouras and creative forwards like Aitor Cantalapiedra and T. Fountas, OFI should pose a real counter-attacking threat even away in Lisbon.
OFI Predicted Lineups & Starting Lineup
Predicted Starting XI:
GK: N. Christogeorgos
DF: N. Marinakis; A. Poungouras; Borja González; D. Nikolaou
MF: T. Androutsos; A. Bouchalakis; G. Kanellópoulos; Z. Karachalios
FW: Aitor Cantalapiedra; T. Fountas
OFI’s predicted lineup is constructed around a solid defensive spine and a technically strong midfield. In goal, N. Christogeorgos is a leading candidate from a deep goalkeeper pool that also includes P. Katsikas and K. Lilo, but Christogeorgos’ age profile and squad number make him a plausible first choice. The back line combines the experience of N. Marinakis and A. Poungouras with the defensive presence of Borja González and D. Nikolaou, providing both aerial strength and the ability to defend the box against Benfica’s prolific attack.
In midfield, T. Androutsos and A. Bouchalakis bring energy and control, with G. Kanellópoulos and Z. Karachalios expected to add balance and ball circulation in the centre of the pitch. This unit will be tasked with disrupting Benfica’s creative players like Rafa and Sudakov while also launching quick transitions. Up front, Aitor Cantalapiedra and T. Fountas headline the attack; both are capable of stretching defences and exploiting space behind Benfica’s advanced full-backs. Their interplay and movement will be crucial in targeting any gaps left when Benfica commit numbers forward.
Injuries and Suspended Players Impact
With no injuries or suspensions listed for either side, this Europa League fixture is set to be contested by two near full-strength squads. That raises the overall quality level and places even more emphasis on tactical choices and in-game adjustments rather than enforced rotation.
Benfica Absences:
- No significant absences reported.
OFI Absences:
- No significant absences reported.
Tactical Analysis: How the Lineups Match Up
The tactical battle is likely to revolve around Benfica’s high-powered attack against OFI’s perfect defensive record in the competition so far. Benfica have averaged 3.2 goals per Europa League match, with 19 scored in six games, and their minute-by-minute scoring profile shows they are dangerous across all phases, particularly between 31–45 and 76–90 minutes. Players like V. Pavlidis, Rafa, A. Schjelderup and D. Lukebakio give them multiple threats in the final third, supported by creative midfielders such as H. Sudakov and J. Kamiński, both of whom feature in the top assists charts. The predicted lineup suggests Benfica will look to dominate territory, push full-backs A. Bah and S. El Karouani high, and overload wide areas to pull OFI’s back line out of shape.
OFI, on the other hand, bring a contrasting profile. Their league data shows five goals scored and none conceded in two Europa League matches, with a defensive index that has been flawless so far. Their previous lineups in a three-at-the-back variant suggest they are comfortable operating in a compact block, then breaking quickly. Even if the predicted starting lineup here is expressed with four nominal defenders, the personnel – Marinakis, Poungouras, Borja González, Nikolaou – can easily slide into a back three in possession or out of possession. The key matchups will be on the flanks, where Benfica’s wide attackers and overlapping full-backs will test OFI’s wing-backs and wide midfielders, and in central zones where João Palhinha and E. Barrenechea must control transitions against runners like Aitor Cantalapiedra and T. Fountas. If OFI can maintain their defensive shape and exploit Benfica’s high line, they have the tools to turn this into a far more balanced contest than the rankings might suggest.
Match Prediction and Verdict
Analysis points to Benfica as slight favourites, but not overwhelming ones. The prediction model names Benfica as the expected winner, yet the win probabilities are finely balanced: 35% for a home win, 35% for a draw and 30% for an OFI victory. Benfica’s overall comparison index leads 73.0 to 27.0, driven by a strong attack index (78% vs 22%) and superior form index (68% vs 32%). However, OFI’s defensive numbers are outstanding, with a perfect defensive index and two clean sheets from two matches, while Benfica’s defense index in the comparison block lags behind.
Given those dynamics, a tight encounter is more likely than a rout. Benfica’s attacking depth, home advantage in Lisbon, and the presence of an in-form striker like V. Pavlidis should eventually tilt the balance in their favour, but OFI’s organisation and counter-attacking potential make a low-margin scoreline the most reasonable expectation.
Predicted Outcome: Benfica 1–0 OFI
How to Watch Benfica vs OFI Worldwide
Here is how you can watch the match and see the official lineups today live:
- Spain: Local sports pay-TV channel / streaming platform
- UK: Major sports broadcaster or official UEFA Europa League rights holder
- USA / North America: Regional sports network or dedicated soccer streaming service
- South America: Continental sports cable network or official streaming partner
- MENA: Regional satellite sports network with UEFA Europa League rights
