Benfica vs AZ Alkmaar Predicted Lineups and Team News – UEFA Europa League

Benfica open their UEFA Europa League League Stage campaign in Lisbon against AZ Alkmaar in a fixture that could set the tone for both clubs’ European ambitions in 2026/27. The Portuguese side come into the competition ranked 4th in the League Round standings, while AZ Alkmaar sit 3rd, with both teams yet to play a match or register a point in this stage. With everything level on paper in terms of points and goal difference, the focus turns firmly to predicted lineups and how each coach will approach this opener.

Recent European form strongly favours Benfica. Their league form string of LWWDWW and a last-five record that includes 18 goals scored and only 4 conceded underline an attacking side that has been ruthless at home, averaging 4.7 goals per game on their own turf. AZ Alkmaar, by contrast, arrive with no competitive data yet in this Europa League season, making their likely starting lineup and tactical approach harder to pin down. That uncertainty, combined with Benfica’s firepower, makes this one of the more intriguing lineups today in the League Stage - 8 round.

With official team sheets not yet available, this preview focuses on analytically built predicted lineups, expected starting XIs, and the key players who are shaping the early statistical landscape of the Europa League. Benfica’s forwards already dominate the top scorers and top assists charts, while AZ Alkmaar’s squad profile suggests a youthful, energetic side that will try to disrupt the hosts’ rhythm.

Benfica Team News & Expected Lineups Today

Benfica enter this tie with momentum and depth. Their recent Europa League record shows a free-scoring, front-foot team: 19 goals across six matches, with multiple threats in the final third and a strong home record of three wins from three. With no injuries or suspensions reported for this fixture, the expectation is that the coach can field a full-strength side and rotate only for tactical reasons rather than necessity. The form string LWWDWW highlights both resilience and the ability to respond after setbacks.

Tactically, Benfica are expected to set up in an attacking-minded shape, leaning on their high-tempo pressing and heavy involvement from wide forwards and advanced midfielders. The presence of several players high in both the top scorers and top assists charts – notably V. Pavlidis and Rafa – suggests an XI built to dominate territory and chances. Given their strong attacking indices and goal timings spread across all phases of the game, the likely approach is to impose themselves early and maintain pressure through the full 90 minutes.

Benfica Predicted Lineups & Starting Lineup

Predicted Starting XI:
GK: A. Trubin
DF: A. Bah; C. Lenglet; Tomás Araújo; S. El Karouani
MF: Joāo Palhinha; E. Barrenechea; H. Sudakov; J. Kamiński; Rafa
FW: V. Pavlidis

This expected starting lineup is built around Benfica’s proven European core and their standout statistical performers. In goal, A. Trubin is the logical first choice from a deep goalkeeping pool that also includes Diogo Ferreira and Samuel Soares. At the back, A. Bah and C. Lenglet are both prominent in the Europa League data: Bah combines defensive work with an assist and a yellow card that underlines his aggressive style, while Lenglet has already contributed a goal from defence. Tomás Araújo adds further scoring threat from the back line, and S. El Karouani provides balance on the left.

In midfield, Joāo Palhinha offers the natural screening presence in front of the defence, allowing Benfica’s more creative midfielders to push higher. E. Barrenechea has been heavily involved across four appearances and provides vertical passing and ball progression. H. Sudakov, J. Kamiński and Rafa all appear in the top assists rankings, each with at least one assist to their name, and are key to Benfica’s chance creation between the lines and from wide areas. Rafa, in particular, brings end product with 2 goals and 1 assist, making him a central figure in linking midfield and attack.

Up front, V. Pavlidis is the clear focal point. He leads the Europa League scoring charts for Benfica with 5 goals and 1 assist in just 3 appearances, and he also tops the yellow and red card-related lists for the club, reflecting a combative centre-forward who presses aggressively. With wide support from Rafa and the advanced midfielders, Pavlidis is expected to spearhead a fluid, high-volume attacking unit that can threaten AZ Alkmaar from open play and set pieces alike.

AZ Alkmaar Team News & Expected Lineups Today

AZ Alkmaar travel to Lisbon with a full squad available and no significant absences reported. Their Europa League League Round standings line shows 0 games played, 0 goals for and against, and no form string yet, which means there is no recent continental data to lean on for precise selection trends. However, the squad list points to a mix of experience and youth, particularly in defence and midfield, giving the coach several options for how to construct the lineups today.

Without established Europa League form indicators, AZ are expected to prioritise compactness and transitional threat against a Benfica side that has been prolific at home. The presence of multiple experienced goalkeepers, a sizeable defensive unit, and several versatile midfielders suggests a cautious, structurally sound setup, with the attacking responsibility shared between J. Hornkamp, M. Meerdink and Weslley Patati. The predicted lineup below favours balance: enough defensive numbers to cope with Benfica’s pressure, but with pace and movement up front to exploit any space left behind.

AZ Alkmaar Predicted Lineups & Starting Lineup

Predicted Starting XI:
GK: R. Owusu-Oduro
DF: W. Hoedt; W. Goes; M. Chávez; D. Kasius
MF: J. Clasie; P. Koopmeiners; K. Smit; C. Stengs
FW: J. Hornkamp; M. Meerdink

In goal, R. Owusu-Oduro stands out as a likely starter given his age profile and squad number, although AZ also have experienced options in J. Zoet and H. Verhulst. The back line is built around W. Hoedt, whose seniority and left-footed profile give structure to the defence, with W. Goes and M. Chávez providing athleticism and cover. D. Kasius adds energy and width on the flank, while AZ’s depth at full-back – including S. Maikuma and others – offers flexibility if the coach wants to tweak the shape.

Midfield is where AZ can try to slow Benfica’s rhythm. J. Clasie and P. Koopmeiners bring experience and control in central areas, with K. Smit and C. Stengs offering more creativity and ball-carrying from advanced positions. Stengs, listed as a midfielder, is particularly important between the lines and in half-spaces, where he can test Benfica’s defensive organisation. Up front, J. Hornkamp and M. Meerdink provide a blend of movement and penalty-box presence, aiming to capitalise on transitions and set-piece situations. With no AZ players yet appearing in the Europa League top scorers or assists lists, this predicted XI leans on domestic reputation and positional balance rather than established European numbers.

Injuries and Suspended Players Impact

With both clubs reporting clean bills of health for this fixture and no suspensions flagged, absences are not expected to play a direct role in the tactical or statistical balance of the match. Instead, the impact comes from selection choices: both coaches have full squads to choose from, increasing the importance of how they shape their starting lineup and manage in-game adjustments.

Benfica Absences:

• No significant absences reported.

AZ Alkmaar Absences:

• No significant absences reported.

Tactical Analysis: How the Lineups Match Up

On paper, this contest pits one of the Europa League’s most explosive early attacks against an AZ Alkmaar side whose European profile is still a blank slate. Benfica’s league form – LWWDWW – and their 19 goals in six matches highlight a team that can score in every phase of the game. Their goals are well distributed across time ranges, with notable spikes just before and just after half-time, suggesting a side that can both start strongly and adjust effectively in-game. With V. Pavlidis, Rafa, A. Schjelderup, D. Lukebakio, J. Durán, G. Prestianni and even defenders like C. Lenglet and Tomás Araújo all on the scoresheet, Benfica have multiple layers of threat.

AZ Alkmaar, by contrast, have no recorded Europa League goals for or against yet this season, and their comparison indices show 0% across attack, form and total metrics, reflecting the absence of data rather than poor performance. That makes the tactical battle particularly interesting. Benfica’s predicted front six – anchored by Pavlidis and supported by Rafa, Kamiński, Sudakov and Barrenechea – will look to overload central zones and half-spaces, drawing AZ’s midfield line deeper and creating room for full-backs A. Bah and S. El Karouani to advance. AZ’s likely response will be to compress space between defence and midfield, with Clasie and Koopmeiners shielding the back four and Stengs and Smit tasked with carrying the ball out of pressure. If AZ can survive Benfica’s early waves and turn turnovers into quick vertical attacks towards Hornkamp and Meerdink, they can test Benfica’s defensive transitions, an area where the hosts’ defensive index lags behind their attacking numbers.

Match Prediction and Verdict

Outcome probabilities for this fixture are unusually balanced: the prediction model assigns 33% to a Benfica win, 33% to a draw and 33% to an AZ Alkmaar victory. There is no clear favourite and no specified winner, and the goals forecast fields are left open, underlining the uncertainty around AZ’s current level and how they will translate their squad quality into Europa League performances. Even so, Benfica’s recent European record – especially their 4.7 goals per home game and the form of V. Pavlidis and Rafa – suggests they are more likely to dictate the game in Lisbon.

Given the perfectly even probability split and the absence of a projected scoreline, any firm numerical prediction would be speculative. The most prudent verdict is that this is a genuinely three-way contest on paper, with Benfica’s attack giving them a slight qualitative edge at home, but AZ Alkmaar’s tactical discipline and fresh slate making both the draw and an away upset entirely plausible outcomes.

Predicted Outcome: Benfica vs AZ Alkmaar – result too close to call (33% home, 33% draw, 33% away)

How to Watch Benfica vs AZ Alkmaar Worldwide

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

• Spain: Local sports broadcaster / streaming platform
• UK: Major sports network or official UEFA Europa League rights holder
• USA / North America: Regional sports streaming service carrying UEFA competitions
• South America: Continental sports channel with UEFA Europa League coverage
• MENA: Pan-regional sports network with UEFA broadcasting rights