Attacking in Defending Third – Goal-Kicks

From the goal-kicks, a holding midfielder (usually João Neves) often comes into the penalty area and picks the ball up from the goalkeeper.

This forces an opposition midfielder to push up and press, which opens more space in the midfield, allowing a Benfica midfielder to drop into this space and receive the ball.
Neves is also better on the ball than the Benfica goalkeepers and will be able to play longer passes from this position with higher precision.

Sometimes, when their build-up does not work, Benfica go long.
The players set up in the 1-4-2-3-1 formation close to the halfway line, with the goalkeeper looking to find the winger with a long ball.
The striker will make the run in behind while the midfielders look to be ready for the second ball.

Attacking in Midfield Third – High Build-up

In the high build-up, Schmidt’s Benfica uses a 1-4-2-4 formation, with the wingers coming in and the fullbacks pushing up.
The front four players are usually very fluid and move a lot to create problems and confusion for the opposition.
The wingers will, for example, sometimes come deeper, creating a 1-4-2-2-2 formation.
Sometimes, a striker will drop and play more as a number-ten.

 

 

 

 

Having only two players out wide and the rest in the middle creates more options in the center and less space between the players. Roger Schmidt likes this because he prioritizes playing through the middle. He needs one player out wide to pull the opposition apart while the rest create numerical advantages in the midfield areas. This builds good conditions in defensive transitions, allowing more players to press when they lose the ball. Another purpose for keeping many players in the middle is to shorten the distance between them. This shortens the length of the passes, which naturally shortens the time between passes. This means the opposition players will have less time to push up and press, giving the Benfica players more time and control.

Attacking in Midfield Third – Changing Formation

Benfica often rotates in their build-up, creating new formations to confuse opponents. They adapt to their opponent’s formation to create numerical advantages in different areas, allowing them to beat the defense and score more goals. Their most frequent formation change is to drop one of the holding midfielders, usually João Neves, into the backline, creating a three at the back.
Benfica often do this when playing against two forwards. Creating a 3v2 with the backline against the opposition’s forwards, instead of a 2v2, means that one center-back will be free, allowing them to beat the opposition’s forward line.

 

 

 

 

Attacking in Midfield Third – Balls in Behind

Benfica do not shy away from using the early through-ball in behind the opposition’s backline. The attackers constantly make runs in behind when the Benfica midfielder or defenders have the ball. This constant threat does not allow the opposition to play with a high backline and close the space in between the lines. Instead, they have to drop the backline and protect the space in behind, opening the space in the middle for the Benfica midfielders to exploit.

 

 

 

Attacking in Attacking Third – Numerical Advantages

Another massive aspect of Benfica’s high build-up is their ability to create numerical advantages against the opposition’s defensive line. Their front six naturally becomes numerically superior against the opposition’s backline, which they are great at taking advantage of.

When the defending team is positioned on one side, the weak-side fullback becomes vulnerable to the long switch of play due to the 1v2 against Benfica’s winger and fullback. Schmidt’s team often capitalizes on this by getting the ball to the attacking fullback and creating many opportunities from 2v1 situations on the wing and in the half-spaces.