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

Benfica welcome AZ Alkmaar to Lisbon in the UEFA Europa League league stage, with both sides looking to establish early momentum in Group “League Round”. The Portuguese giants come into this clash ranked 4th in the league stage table with 0 points from 0 games, but their broader continental form is excellent, highlighted by a strong recent record in the competition. With the fixture yet to start and everything level on points, this is an important early marker in the race for knockout qualification.

AZ Alkmaar arrive as the nominally higher-ranked side in the overall league stage picture, currently listed 3rd with 0 points and no matches played. However, unlike Benfica, AZ’s recent Europa League data is essentially a blank slate, making this a fascinating contrast between a side with proven attacking output and one still waiting to show its level. With win probabilities split evenly at 33% for home, 33% for draw, and 33% for away, this is projected as a finely balanced contest where predicted lineups and individual quality could tilt the balance.

Benfica’s recent league form string of LWWDWW underlines their capacity to respond after setbacks and string wins together, while AZ Alkmaar’s continental form is not yet established in this season’s numbers. That places extra focus on the expected starting lineup for both teams, as supporters look to the predicted lineups to understand how each coach might approach this key Europa League night in Lisbon.

Benfica Team News & Expected Lineups Today

Benfica enter this Europa League fixture with a deep and versatile squad and, crucially, no confirmed absences listed. That allows the coach to lean heavily on the attacking core that has already delivered heavily in this competition. With a recent form run of LWWDWW in the Europa League, Benfica are expected to set up in an attacking-minded shape, using their strong forward and midfield options to dominate territory and create volume in the final third.

No significant absences reported. That means key figures such as V. Pavlidis, Rafa and A. Schjelderup should all be available and central to the expected game plan. Given Benfica’s recent attacking numbers – 19 goals in 6 league fixtures with an average of 3.2 per match – the manager is likely to pick a front-loaded starting lineup, trusting his side’s ability to outscore opponents rather than sit in a low block.

Benfica Predicted Lineups & Starting Lineup

Predicted Starting XI:
GK: A. Trubin
DF: A. Bah, C. Lenglet, Tomás Araújo, S. Dahl
MF: João Palhinha, L. Barreiro, H. Sudakov, J. Kamiński, Rafa
FW: V. Pavlidis

This predicted starting lineup leans on Benfica’s most productive Europa League performers while maintaining balance across the pitch. In goal, A. Trubin is the logical choice as the senior goalkeeper within a relatively young group of shot-stoppers. In defence, A. Bah and C. Lenglet are both prominent in the disciplinary and contribution stats, with Lenglet already on the scoresheet in Europe and Bah providing an assist from full-back. Tomás Araújo adds aerial presence and has chipped in with a goal, while S. Dahl offers energy and defensive security on the opposite flank.

In midfield, João Palhinha is the natural anchor, giving structure behind a more creative and dynamic trio. L. Barreiro, H. Sudakov and J. Kamiński all feature among Benfica’s assist leaders, each credited with one assist in the competition. Their profiles suggest a blend of ball-winning, progression and final-third delivery, ideal for sustaining pressure and recycling possession around the AZ box. Rafa, listed as a forward in the stats but a midfielder in the squad sheet, is included here as an advanced midfielder or wide playmaker: he has 2 goals and 1 assist already in the Europa League and is one of the key creative threats between the lines.

Up front, V. Pavlidis is an automatic pick. He is the standout attacking figure in the entire Europa League sample so far, with 5 goals and 1 assist in just 3 appearances, and he also tops Benfica’s charts for yellow cards, underlining his aggressive, combative style. Around him, players like D. Lukebakio, J. Durán, G. Prestianni, Bruma and A. Schjelderup give the coach significant flexibility from the bench or as alternative starting options. Schjelderup, in particular, has 1 goal and 1 assist from 3 appearances and is a strong candidate to feature heavily, whether from the start or as an impact substitute.

AZ Alkmaar Team News & Expected Lineups Today

AZ Alkmaar travel to Lisbon with a large, well-balanced squad and no confirmed injuries or suspensions listed ahead of this Europa League tie. With no significant absences reported, the Dutch side can select from a full complement of goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders and attackers as they look to frustrate a high-scoring Benfica. Their continental record in this season’s competition is not yet established, but historically AZ sides tend to be technically strong and comfortable in possession.

Given the strength of Benfica’s attack and the importance of starting the league stage with a positive result, AZ’s expected approach is likely to be pragmatic. The lineups today should reflect a compact defensive structure, with experienced figures such as J. Zoet or H. Verhulst in goal and seasoned defenders like W. Hoedt providing leadership at the back. With their league form data effectively neutral (no games played), AZ’s coach may prioritize stability and counter-attacking pace in the predicted lineups, rather than an overly expansive setup.

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, C. Stengs, K. Smit, V. Byskov
FW: J. Hornkamp

In goal, the experienced J. Zoet is a logical pick from a deep goalkeeping pool that also includes H. Verhulst, R. Owusu-Oduro, J. De Busser and I. Ka. His seniority and European experience make him a strong candidate to start in Lisbon. The back line is built around W. Hoedt, whose leadership and left-footed distribution are important for AZ’s build-up. Alongside him, W. Goes and M. Chávez provide mobility and aggression, while D. Kasius offers width and overlapping runs from full-back. Alternatives such as L. Schouten, M. de Wit or S. Maikuma give AZ options to tweak the defensive profile if they want more pace or physicality.

In midfield, J. Clasie and P. Koopmeiners form a double pivot with a good mix of game management, passing range and defensive coverage. Ahead of them, C. Stengs is the standout creative presence, operating as a playmaker who can drift inside from wide areas or occupy central pockets. K. Smit and V. Byskov add youthful energy and pressing from midfield, helping AZ contest second balls and launch quick transitions. In attack, J. Hornkamp leads the line as a focal point, supported by options like M. Meerdink, Weslley Patati, B. Kovacs and A. Oufkir, who can all provide depth or a change of pace from the bench.

Without concrete Europa League scoring or assist stats for AZ’s players in this season’s data, the predicted starting lineup leans on positional balance and experience. Expect AZ to rely heavily on Stengs’ creativity and Hornkamp’s movement, while using wide players and full-backs to exploit any spaces left by Benfica’s aggressive attacking structure.

Injuries and Suspended Players Impact

With no injuries or suspensions listed for either side, this Europa League clash is set up as a pure tactical and technical battle. Both Benfica and AZ Alkmaar can field close to their strongest possible XIs, which increases the likelihood that quality in both boxes and in-game adjustments will decide the result rather than squad availability.

Benfica Absences:

• No significant absences reported.

AZ Alkmaar Absences:

• No significant absences reported.

Tactical Analysis: How the Lineups Match Up

From a tactical perspective, this matchup pits one of the most potent attacks in the Europa League league stage against a side whose current continental data is a blank canvas. Benfica’s broader league metrics are striking: 19 goals scored in 6 fixtures, averaging 4.7 at home, with goals spread across all phases of the match. They score particularly heavily between 31–45 and 76–90 minutes, indicating a team capable of turning dominance into end-product both before and after the interval. With V. Pavlidis (5 goals, 1 assist), Rafa (2 goals, 1 assist), A. Schjelderup (1 goal, 1 assist), D. Lukebakio, J. Durán, G. Prestianni and even defender C. Lenglet on the scoresheet, Benfica can threaten from multiple angles.

AZ Alkmaar, by contrast, arrive with no recorded goals for or against in the current Europa League season, so their tactical identity in this competition is inferred rather than statistically defined. The predicted AZ lineup suggests a side that will look to maintain a compact block, using Clasie and Koopmeiners to screen the back four and Stengs as the primary outlet when possession is regained. The key battle zones will be in midfield and the half-spaces: Benfica’s creative trio of Rafa, Sudakov and Kamiński against AZ’s central shield and wide midfielders. If Benfica can pin back AZ’s full-backs and isolate the centre-backs against Pavlidis, the hosts’ high attacking index and strong home scoring record should translate into clear chances. Conversely, if AZ can disrupt Benfica’s rhythm and exploit transitions into the channels behind Bah and Dahl, they have the tools to trouble a defence that, despite good numbers, can be exposed when committing numbers forward.

Match Prediction and Verdict

Win probabilities are perfectly balanced at 33% for Benfica, 33% for the draw and 33% for AZ Alkmaar, reflecting both the early stage of the league phase and the lack of historical head-to-head data in this sample. However, the underlying indicators tilt slightly towards the hosts: Benfica’s recent form string of LWWDWW, their attacking averages of 3.2 goals per match and a flawless penalty record (4 scored from 4) all point to a side in good offensive rhythm. AZ, meanwhile, are something of an unknown quantity at this stage, with no recorded Europa League fixtures yet in the current season’s data.

With both squads at full strength and Benfica’s attacking core already firing in Europe, the most reasonable expectation is that the Portuguese side will create more and better chances, especially in front of their own fans in Lisbon. At the same time, the evenly split win probabilities and AZ’s capacity to organise defensively suggest this could be tighter than Benfica’s previous high-scoring outings. A narrow home win or a scoring draw feels most consistent with the available numbers, but with no explicit goal prediction given, the verdict leans only slightly towards Benfica without committing to a specific scoreline.

Predicted Outcome: Benfica to edge a tight contest, with a slight home advantage over AZ Alkmaar.

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 – check local sports broadcasters and streaming platforms.
• UK: To be confirmed – consult major sports networks and official UEFA partners.
• USA / North America: To be confirmed – likely via regional soccer-focused channels or streaming services.
• South America: To be confirmed – check leading sports broadcasters and OTT platforms.
• MENA: To be confirmed – follow regional sports networks and official UEFA rights holders.