Benfica vs AZ Alkmaar Predicted Lineups: Team News for Europa League

Benfica welcome AZ Alkmaar to Lisbon in the UEFA Europa League league stage, with both sides looking to make an early statement in “League Stage - 8”. Neither team has points on the board yet in this phase, but Benfica come in as the higher-ranked side in the overall league table, sitting 4th in the League Round section, while AZ Alkmaar are listed 3rd in their League Round bracket. With the league stage format rewarding consistency, this fixture already carries weight in the battle for knockout qualification.

Benfica’s continental form has been impressive: their recent Europa League record shows 4 wins, 1 draw and just 1 defeat in 6 league fixtures, with a prolific 19 goals scored and only 6 conceded. A form string of LWWDWW underlines how strong they have been after an early setback. AZ Alkmaar, by contrast, arrive with no competitive data yet in this Europa League season, making their level somewhat of an unknown. That makes the predicted lineups particularly important for assessing the balance of this contest.

With no official lineups available at this stage, this preview focuses on analytically built predicted lineups, using the available squad lists and key performance indicators such as top scorers and top assist providers. Benfica’s attacking numbers suggest an aggressive setup at home, while AZ Alkmaar’s deeper squad profile points to a more balanced, possibly reactive approach in Lisbon.

Benfica Team News & Expected Lineups Today

There are no confirmed injury or suspension issues listed for Benfica ahead of this Europa League clash, so the working assumption is that the coach has a full squad at his disposal. That is significant, because it allows Benfica to lean heavily on the attacking core that has powered their strong recent European form. With a league form record of LWWDWW and an average of 3.2 goals per Europa League game, an attack-minded, front-foot approach is expected again in Lisbon.

Tactically, Benfica have recently alternated between two main shapes in Europe, most often using a system built around a lone centre-forward supported by a line of three attacking midfielders, and at times a slightly more two-striker-oriented structure. Given their home scoring record (14 goals in 3 home fixtures), the expected plan is to dominate territory, push the full-backs high and flood the half-spaces with creative runners. The predicted lineup today should therefore be packed with their most productive forwards and advanced midfielders.

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 is built around Benfica’s outstanding attacking spearhead V. Pavlidis, who has been the standout performer in this Europa League campaign. With 5 goals and 1 assist in just 3 appearances, he leads both the top scorers and top assists charts for Benfica in this competition and also appears among the most carded players, underlining how involved he is in the physical side of games. His presence as the central forward is virtually guaranteed in any realistic predicted lineups scenario.

Behind and around Pavlidis, Rafa is expected to play a key role as an advanced creator and secondary scorer. He has already contributed 2 goals and 1 assist across 4 appearances, making him a crucial link between midfield and attack. A. Schjelderup and D. Lukebakio are also strong attacking options, each with 1 goal and 1 assist, but in this projected XI the width and creativity are likely to be driven by Rafa and J. Kamiński from midfield zones, with H. Sudakov offering progression and one-touch combinations (1 assist) and E. Barrenechea providing balance and ball circulation.

At the back, C. Lenglet and Tomás Araújo are the most goal-threatening defenders in the squad, each having already scored in the competition, and both are natural fits in the central defensive roles. A. Bah, who has supplied 1 assist and features prominently in disciplinary stats, is the obvious choice at right-back, giving Benfica a strong overlapping outlet. On the left, S. El Karouani is a logical pick from the available defenders to complete a back four in front of A. Trubin, the senior goalkeeper and most reliable option between the posts.

AZ Alkmaar Team News & Expected Lineups Today

No significant absences reported. There are no listed injuries or suspensions for AZ Alkmaar ahead of this trip to Lisbon, which gives the Dutch side the flexibility to tailor their approach to Benfica’s strengths. Unlike their hosts, AZ Alkmaar have no Europa League form data yet this season, with zero games played, zero goals scored and zero conceded in the league statistics. That lack of recent continental reference points makes their exact approach harder to pin down, but also means competition for places is wide open.

Given Benfica’s attacking firepower and home scoring record, AZ Alkmaar’s expected game plan is likely to prioritise compactness and structure, especially in the first half. The coaching staff should lean on experienced figures in goal and defence, with a disciplined midfield screen ahead of them. In terms of lineups today, AZ are expected to field a blend of seasoned professionals and promising younger players, with a clear emphasis on defensive organisation and transition speed rather than all-out attack.

AZ Alkmaar Predicted Lineups & Starting Lineup

Predicted Starting XI:
GK: J. Zoet
DF: W. Hoedt, W. Goes, M. Chávez, D. Kasius
MF: J. Clasie, P. Koopmeiners, K. Smit, C. Stengs
FW: J. Hornkamp, Weslley Patati

With no Europa League top scorers or top assists data available for AZ Alkmaar, this predicted starting lineup leans on positional hierarchy and experience. J. Zoet is the most seasoned goalkeeper in the squad and a natural candidate to start in a high-pressure away tie. In front of him, W. Hoedt brings top-level experience and leadership at centre-back, likely partnered by the highly rated W. Goes, with M. Chávez and D. Kasius filling the remaining defensive slots to provide energy and coverage in the wide areas.

In midfield, J. Clasie remains a pivotal figure. His game intelligence and passing range make him ideal to anchor the central unit, with P. Koopmeiners offering box-to-box support and K. Smit adding youthful dynamism and ball-carrying. C. Stengs, listed as a midfielder, is projected to operate in an advanced role between the lines, tasked with linking play to the front two and exploiting any space left by Benfica’s aggressive full-backs. Up front, J. Hornkamp and Weslley Patati give AZ a mix of physical presence and pace, making them suitable outlets for counter-attacks and direct balls when under pressure.

Injuries and Suspended Players Impact

With no confirmed injuries or suspensions recorded for either side, the impact of absences on this fixture is minimal. Both managers should be able to select from their full registered squads, which increases the tactical options and in-game flexibility available to them. In a tight Europa League league stage environment, that depth could prove decisive, particularly for Benfica as they look to maintain a high-intensity style for 90 minutes.

Benfica Absences:

• No significant absences reported.

AZ Alkmaar Absences:

• No significant absences reported.

Tactical Analysis: How the Lineups Match Up

On paper, the predicted lineups set up a classic clash between a high-powered attacking home side and a structured, counter-punching visitor. Benfica’s recent league form – LWWDWW with 19 goals scored in 6 games – underlines how aggressively they attack across the full 90 minutes. Their goals are spread across all phases of the match, with notable spikes just before half-time and in the final quarter of games. With V. Pavlidis, Rafa, A. Schjelderup and D. Lukebakio all contributing goals and assists, Benfica can overload both central and wide channels, forcing AZ Alkmaar’s back line to defend large spaces.

AZ Alkmaar, by contrast, come into this tie without any recorded Europa League form, but their squad profile suggests a side capable of building from the back and transitioning quickly. The predicted double act of J. Clasie and P. Koopmeiners in midfield should give them enough composure to play through Benfica’s press when possible, while C. Stengs’ creativity between the lines will be vital to unlocking counter-attacking opportunities. The key tactical battle will likely be in the half-spaces: Benfica’s advanced midfielders and wide players, such as Rafa and J. Kamiński, will look to combine with Pavlidis, while AZ’s full-backs and wide midfielders must decide whether to step out or stay compact. If Benfica can pin AZ deep and sustain pressure, their superior attacking numbers suggest they will eventually create high-quality chances; if AZ can keep the game compact and exploit transitions through Hornkamp and Weslley Patati, they have the tools to trouble the hosts on the break.

Match Prediction and Verdict

The prediction model for this fixture is notably cautious, assigning 33% to a Benfica win, 33% to a draw and 33% to an AZ Alkmaar victory, with no clear favourite and no specific scoreline projected. That reflects the early stage of the league phase and the limited data available for AZ in this season’s competition. However, Benfica’s recent Europa League record – strong home form, high scoring output and a cluster of in-form attacking players – suggests they hold a practical edge, especially at home in Lisbon.

With no major absences and a frontline led by the competition’s most prolific scorer so far in V. Pavlidis, Benfica should be confident of creating enough chances to take something from the game. AZ Alkmaar’s lack of recorded form makes them a dangerous unknown, but the balance of evidence points toward a tight, competitive match in which the hosts’ firepower slightly outweighs the visitors’ structure. In the absence of a definitive goals projection, a cautious outlook is appropriate: Benfica are marginally favoured to edge a close contest, while the draw remains a live possibility given the evenly split win probabilities.

Predicted Outcome: Benfica narrow win or draw
With no explicit goals forecast available, the most data-aligned view is that all three results are similarly live, but Benfica’s recent attacking form nudges them just ahead of AZ Alkmaar in the pre-match verdict.

How to Watch Benfica vs AZ Alkmaar Worldwide

Here is how you can watch the match and see the official lineups today live:

• Spain: To be confirmed by local broadcasters
• UK: To be confirmed by local broadcasters
• USA / North America: To be confirmed by regional sports networks or streaming platforms
• South America: To be confirmed by continental sports broadcasters
• MENA: To be confirmed by regional rights holders