NEC Nijmegen vs Benfica Predicted Lineups: Team News Ahead of UEFA Europa League

NEC Nijmegen welcome Benfica to Goffertstadion in a UEFA Europa League League Stage - 7 clash that pitches one of the new faces in the competition against an in-form continental regular. With both sides yet to kick a ball in this season’s league stage, this fixture doubles as a tone-setter for their campaigns and a key data point for anyone tracking predicted lineups and tactical trends in Europe.

In the overall league table, NEC Nijmegen are listed 24th in the League Round section with 0 points and no games played yet, while Benfica sit 4th, also on 0 points and 0 games played. That raw ranking underlines Benfica’s higher seeding and recent European pedigree, but with a clean statistical slate for both sides in this stage, the focus shifts firmly to squad strength, current form outside the group, and the most likely starting lineup choices.

Benfica arrive with strong recent numbers in the competition: their latest Europa League record shows a league form string of LWWDWW, with 4 wins, 1 draw and just 1 defeat from 6 matches, scoring 19 goals (an average of 3.2 per game) and conceding 6. NEC Nijmegen, by contrast, enter as an unknown quantity at this level, with no form data yet recorded in the Europa League. That gap in proven performance will heavily shape expectations around the predicted lineups and the tactical balance of this encounter.

NEC Nijmegen Team News & Expected Lineups Today

Squad-wise, NEC Nijmegen appear to have a full group available: there are no recorded injuries or suspensions ahead of this Europa League tie. With no significant absences reported, the manager has the freedom to select from a broad core that mixes experienced campaigners like B. Nuytinck, P. Sandler, D. Tadić and W. Willumsson with younger talents such as Almugera Raouf Mohammed Kabar and I. Hansen-Aarøen. Without established Europa League form data, the expected approach is pragmatic: a compact, disciplined structure built to absorb Benfica’s attacking pressure and counter through technically gifted forwards.

Given the step up in opposition, NEC’s expected game plan should prioritise defensive stability through their deeper pool of defenders, while relying on the creativity and experience of D. Tadić and the movement of W. Willumsson and K. Sierhuis to provide an outlet. With no injuries forcing changes, the predicted lineup can be built around the club’s natural positional balance rather than emergency cover.

NEC Nijmegen Predicted Lineups & Starting Lineup

Predicted Starting XI:
GK: G. Crettaz
DF: B. Nuytinck; P. Sandler; P. Schuurs; A. Kaplan
MF: D. Geiger; Jamiro Monteiro; D. Nejašmić; N. Lebreton
FW: D. Tadić; W. Willumsson

This predicted starting lineup leans on NEC Nijmegen’s most experienced spine. In goal, G. Crettaz is the natural choice as the senior goalkeeper. At the back, a defender-heavy squad allows the coach to deploy a robust back line featuring B. Nuytinck and P. Sandler as central pillars, with P. Schuurs and A. Kaplan completing a physically strong and aerially capable defensive unit. Such a selection is tailored to withstand Benfica’s high-volume attacking output.

In midfield, the combination of D. Geiger, Jamiro Monteiro, D. Nejašmić and N. Lebreton offers energy, ball-winning and progression. Monteiro’s experience and technical security are key to helping NEC escape pressure, while Geiger and Nejašmić provide legs and balance. Further forward, the expected front pairing of D. Tadić and W. Willumsson gives NEC a blend of creativity and penalty-box presence. Tadić’s ability to drop between the lines and link play will be vital in launching counters, while Willumsson’s movement can stretch Benfica’s defensive line and create pockets of space for late runs from midfield.

Benfica Team News & Expected Lineups Today

Benfica travel to Nijmegen in excellent recent Europa League form and with a deep, largely healthy squad. There are no listed injuries or suspensions, so no significant absences reported for this fixture. That allows the coaching staff to rotate within a strong core that has already produced 19 goals in 6 Europa League games, with a last-five league form run of LWWDWW and an attacking record of 18 goals scored and only 4 conceded in their broader recent sample.

For lineups today, the expectation is that Benfica will stay close to the attacking structures that have served them well. Their recent Europa League lineups have most often been built around a 4-2-3-1 and a 4-1-3-2, both of which support a high-tempo, front-foot style. With V. Pavlidis leading the competition’s scoring charts for Benfica and multiple wide and creative options like Rafa, D. Lukebakio and A. Schjelderup contributing goals and assists, the predicted lineup should be heavily tilted towards offensive firepower, supported by a stable defensive core including C. Lenglet and A. Bah.

Benfica Predicted Lineups & Starting Lineup

Predicted Starting XI: (4-2-3-1)
GK: A. Trubin
DF: A. Bah; C. Lenglet; Tomás Araújo; S. El Karouani
MF: E. Barrenechea; Joāo Palhinha; H. Sudakov; Rafa; J. Kamiński
FW: V. Pavlidis

This expected starting lineup is built around Benfica’s proven Europa League performers. In goal, A. Trubin is the senior option and fits the profile of a modern shot-stopper comfortable behind a high line. The back four combines attacking thrust and set-piece threat: A. Bah, who has already provided an assist and features among the top assist contributors, offers width and crossing from the right, while C. Lenglet and Tomás Araújo both bring aerial power and have chipped in with goals in the competition. On the left, S. El Karouani gives balance and familiarity with Dutch conditions.

In midfield, E. Barrenechea and Joāo Palhinha provide the double screen, with Barrenechea’s distribution complementing Palhinha’s ball-winning and positional discipline. Ahead of them, H. Sudakov, Rafa and J. Kamiński form a fluid creative band. All three appear in the top assist rankings for Benfica in this Europa League campaign, underlining their importance in chance creation. Rafa, with 2 goals and 1 assist, offers direct running and end product between the lines, while Kamiński and Sudakov add work rate and passing angles in the half-spaces.

Up front, V. Pavlidis is the clear focal point. With 5 goals and 1 assist from just 3 appearances, he is both the leading scorer and joint-leading assist provider for Benfica in this competition, and he also appears among the most carded players, reflecting his combative style. His presence pins back defensive lines, creates room for the three attacking midfielders, and makes Benfica a major threat from crosses and cut-backs.

Injuries and Suspended Players Impact

With both teams entering this Europa League fixture without recorded injuries or suspensions, the match dynamic is shaped more by tactical choices and form than by enforced absences. That clean bill of health allows each coach to field close to their strongest predicted lineups and to adjust in-game without the constraints of a depleted bench.

NEC Nijmegen Absences:

• No significant absences reported.

Benfica Absences:

• No significant absences reported.

Tactical Analysis: How the Lineups Match Up

The tactical battle is likely to revolve around whether NEC Nijmegen’s compact, experience-heavy structure can withstand Benfica’s multi-layered attacking game. NEC’s predicted back line of B. Nuytinck, P. Sandler, P. Schuurs and A. Kaplan is built to defend the box, win aerial duels and protect central spaces. That will be crucial against V. Pavlidis, whose movement between centre-backs and aggressive penalty-area presence have already produced 5 Europa League goals. NEC’s midfield quartet will need to stay narrow and disciplined to deny service into Benfica’s front four, forcing the Portuguese side wide and relying on their defenders to deal with crosses.

Benfica, by contrast, will look to impose their usual high-tempo, attacking-minded shape. Their Europa League attacking numbers are elite: 19 goals in 6 matches, with goals spread across all phases of the game. The predicted trio of Rafa, H. Sudakov and J. Kamiński behind Pavlidis offers a blend of pace, creativity and pressing intensity. Rafa’s direct running into the right half-space will test NEC’s left side, while Sudakov and Kamiński can overload central pockets and pull NEC’s holding midfielders out of position. Full-backs A. Bah and S. El Karouani are expected to push high, pinning NEC’s wide players and creating 2v1 situations on the flanks.

Another key matchup lies in central midfield. NEC’s Jamiro Monteiro and D. Nejašmić will be tasked with disrupting the rhythm of E. Barrenechea and Joāo Palhinha. If Benfica’s double pivot is allowed time to dictate, they can feed early passes into Pavlidis and switch play quickly to the wingers, stretching NEC’s block. Conversely, if NEC can force turnovers in these zones, the combination of D. Tadić’s vision and W. Willumsson’s runs offers a clear counter-attacking route, particularly into the spaces vacated by Benfica’s advanced full-backs.

Match Prediction and Verdict

With both teams starting the Europa League league stage on 0 points but Benfica carrying a significantly stronger recent record in the competition, the Portuguese side rightly enter as favourites. Their last five Europa League outings feature 18 goals scored and just 4 conceded, and their broader league form string of LWWDWW underlines a team that is consistently creating and converting chances. NEC Nijmegen, ranked 24th in the League Round section with no matches yet played, remain something of a wildcard but will almost certainly need to overperform defensively to take a result.

The prediction model rates the outcome probabilities evenly at 33% for a home win, 33% for a draw and 33% for an away win, reflecting the early-stage uncertainty and lack of direct head-to-head data rather than a true parity in squad strength. Taking into account Benfica’s attacking depth, the presence of top scorers like V. Pavlidis and key creators such as Rafa, A. Schjelderup and D. Lukebakio, and their proven ability to score in bursts, they should have enough to edge a competitive contest, even if NEC’s organisation and home advantage keep the scoreline respectable.

Predicted Outcome: NEC Nijmegen 1–2 Benfica

How to Watch NEC Nijmegen vs Benfica Worldwide

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

• Spain: Local sports broadcaster (check regional listings)
• UK: Major pay-TV sports network or streaming platform
• USA / North America: National soccer-focused streaming service
• South America: Regional cable sports channel
• MENA: Pan-regional satellite sports network