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 pits a debutant in this season’s competition phase against one of the form sides of the tournament. With both teams starting this league stage on 0 points and 0 games played, the standings do not yet separate them on results, but the broader European form profile of Benfica suggests a clear gap in experience and attacking power.

NEC Nijmegen are listed 24th in the League Round ranking, earmarked for the play-off zone, while Benfica sit as high as 4th in the League Round table. That ranking, combined with Benfica’s recent European record of 4 wins, 1 draw and just 1 defeat in their last 6 league fixtures (goal difference 19–6), underlines why this fixture is so important for NEC: a positive result here would be a statement against one of the early favourites. With predicted lineups heavily favouring Benfica’s wealth of attacking options, NEC will likely need a disciplined, compact approach to stay competitive.

NEC Nijmegen Team News & Expected Lineups Today

There are no injury or suspension listings for NEC Nijmegen ahead of this Europa League tie, so the Dutch side are expected to have a full squad to choose from. With no recent European form data (no games played, no goals scored or conceded yet in this league campaign), the coaching staff are likely to lean on domestic chemistry and experience, especially in defence, to cope with Benfica’s high-tempo attack.

Given the quality of the opposition and the need to be competitive over 90 minutes, NEC’s expected approach should be a cautious, compact defensive block, using experienced defenders such as B. Nuytinck and P. Sandler to anchor the back line. In attack, creativity and leadership from veterans like D. Tadić and W. Willumsson will be crucial if NEC are to turn defensive solidity into meaningful chances.

NEC Nijmegen Predicted Lineups & Starting Lineup

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

This predicted lineup for NEC Nijmegen leans heavily on experience in central areas. At the back, B. Nuytinck and P. Sandler offer aerial strength and organisation, supported by A. Kaplan and T. Storm as more mobile defenders who can cover the wide zones. In midfield, the expected quartet of D. Geiger, Jamiro Monteiro, D. Nejašmić and T. Chery gives NEC a blend of work rate, ball-winning and technical quality, with T. Chery in particular capable of supplying incisive passes between the lines.

Up front, D. Tadić and W. Willumsson are the natural focal points in the predicted starting lineup. Tadić’s experience and creativity, combined with Willumsson’s movement and finishing, should provide NEC with their main attacking outlets, especially in transition. With no NEC player featuring in the current Europa League top scorers or top assists lists, the team will likely rely on collective structure rather than individual star power to threaten Benfica.

Benfica Team News & Expected Lineups Today

Benfica arrive in Nijmegen in outstanding European form. Their league record across the last 6 fixtures reads 4 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss, with an impressive 19 goals scored and only 6 conceded. They have been especially prolific at home (14 goals in 3 matches) but have also shown they can score away, averaging 1.7 goals per game on their travels. There are no recorded injuries or suspensions for Benfica, so the Portuguese side are expected to bring a full-strength squad, giving the coach a wealth of options when finalising the lineups today.

With an attacking index of 100% and a form index of 100% in recent Europa League action, Benfica are expected to stick with an attack-minded setup. Their previous European lineups have frequently used shapes similar to a single-striker system supported by three advanced midfielders or wide forwards, and the presence of multiple in-form attackers such as V. Pavlidis, Rafa and D. Lukebakio means rotation will be more about freshness than necessity. The predicted lineups today therefore lean towards continuity in key positions, especially in the final third.

Benfica Predicted Lineups & Starting Lineup

Predicted Starting XI:
GK: A. Trubin
DF: A. Bah; C. Lenglet; Tomás Araújo; S. Dahl
MF: F. Aursnes; E. Barrenechea; H. Sudakov
FW: Rafa; A. Schjelderup; V. Pavlidis

Benfica’s predicted starting lineup is built around their devastating attacking core. In goal, A. Trubin is the logical choice as the senior goalkeeper. The back line is anchored by C. Lenglet and Tomás Araújo, both of whom have already contributed goals in this Europa League campaign, offering threat on set pieces as well as defensive stability. A. Bah on the right and S. Dahl on the left provide width and overlapping runs, with Bah also registering an assist and featuring prominently in the disciplinary and creative statistics.

In midfield, F. Aursnes and E. Barrenechea bring balance and control, while H. Sudakov adds progressive passing and has already supplied an assist in the competition. Ahead of them, the attacking trio of Rafa, A. Schjelderup and V. Pavlidis is among the most dangerous in the tournament. Pavlidis is the standout: 5 goals and 1 assist make him the leading scorer and joint-leading creator for Benfica in this Europa League season, while also appearing at the top of the yellow card charts – evidence of his aggressive, all-action style. Rafa (2 goals, 1 assist) and A. Schjelderup (1 goal, 1 assist) complete a front line that combines pace, dribbling and intelligent movement between the lines, making Benfica’s expected shape highly fluid and attack-heavy.

Injuries and Suspended Players Impact

With no listed injuries or suspensions for either side, the impact of absences on this match is effectively neutral. Both NEC Nijmegen and Benfica are projected to have full squads available, allowing their coaches to select their strongest possible starting XI and adjust tactically without restriction from enforced omissions.

NEC Nijmegen Absences:

• No significant absences reported.

Benfica Absences:

• No significant absences reported.

Tactical Analysis: How the Lineups Match Up

This contest looks like a classic clash between a compact underdog and a high-powered favourite. NEC Nijmegen’s predicted lineup is built around defensive organisation and experience. With a back four featuring B. Nuytinck and P. Sandler, NEC should be strong in the air and capable of defending deep in their own box. The midfield four of D. Geiger, Jamiro Monteiro, D. Nejašmić and T. Chery is likely to sit relatively narrow, aiming to clog central spaces where Benfica’s creators like Rafa and H. Sudakov prefer to operate. On the ball, NEC will probably look to T. Chery and Monteiro to connect with D. Tadić and W. Willumsson, using quick combinations and set pieces as their main route to goal.

Benfica, by contrast, are expected to dominate territory and possession. Their recent Europa League numbers – averaging 3.2 goals per game and scoring in every match – point to an aggressive, front-foot approach. The predicted back line with A. Bah and S. Dahl pushing high will stretch NEC’s defensive block horizontally, creating pockets for Rafa and A. Schjelderup to receive between the lines. V. Pavlidis will occupy the NEC centre-backs, making diagonal runs to drag markers out of position and open spaces for late midfield surges from H. Sudakov or F. Aursnes. One key matchup will be NEC’s full-backs against Benfica’s wide threats: if A. Bah and Rafa consistently overload one flank, NEC’s wide midfielders will be forced deep, potentially leaving Tadić and Willumsson isolated. Another critical area is set pieces, where Lenglet and Tomás Araújo’s scoring record suggests Benfica can punish any lapse in NEC’s marking.

Match Prediction and Verdict

The prediction model rates this fixture as remarkably balanced in pure probability terms, with 33% for a NEC Nijmegen win, 33% for a draw and 33% for a Benfica victory. However, those headline percentages sit alongside a comparison profile that heavily favours Benfica in form and attacking output. Benfica’s last five matches in this competition phase show an attacking index of 100%, with 18 goals scored and just 4 conceded, while NEC enter the League Stage without any prior games played or goals recorded.

With no clear numerical winner indicated and the goals prediction fields left open, the most reasonable verdict is that Benfica’s superior squad depth, firepower and recent form give them a slight edge, but NEC’s home advantage and compact structure could keep the scoreline tight. Expect Benfica to create the better chances and control the tempo, while NEC look to frustrate and strike from set plays or counters. A narrow away win or a low-scoring draw both fit the available data, but given Benfica’s scoring record, leaning marginally towards the visitors is justified.

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 pay-TV channel or major streaming platform
• UK: Subscription-based sports broadcaster or official UEFA streaming partner
• USA / North America: National soccer network or dedicated streaming service carrying UEFA competitions
• South America: Regional sports network with UEFA rights or associated streaming app
• MENA: Pan-regional satellite sports network or licensed digital platform