Plzen vs Benfica Predicted Lineups: Team News and Match Preview

Plzen welcome Benfica to Doosan Arena in a key UEFA Europa League League Stage match, with kickoff scheduled for 26 November 2026. Both clubs are in the League Round phase, and while the overall table is long, the stakes are already high as teams jostle for qualification positions ahead of the final matchday. With predicted lineups the only guide at this stage, this clash looks like a classic meeting of an emerging host side and an established European contender.

In the current Europa League League Round standings snapshot, Plzen are listed 36th with 0 points and no games played yet in this phase, while Benfica sit much higher at 4th, also on 0 points but clearly projected as one of the strongest teams in the field. Plzen’s form line in continental action is “WL”, reflecting one heavy away defeat and one big home win in their recent sample, whereas Benfica’s “WWDWW” underlines a strong run of results. With Benfica given a 45% chance to win and a 45% chance of a draw versus just 10% for a Plzen victory, the Portuguese side are clear favourites, but the Czech hosts have already shown they can score goals at home.

Plzen Team News & Expected Lineups Today

There are no confirmed injury or suspension issues listed for Plzen ahead of this Europa League tie. With no significant absences reported, the coaching staff should have close to a full squad to choose from when shaping the expected matchday group. That gives them flexibility to repeat the aggressive approach that produced a 5-1 home win in their recent continental outing, while trying to tighten up after a 3-0 away defeat.

Plzen’s European form profile suggests a side that can be expansive at home: they have scored 5 goals in 2 recent matches, all of them coming on home soil, but also conceded 4 across those games. Their tactical approach is likely to revolve around a compact defensive block that springs quickly into transitions, using energetic attackers like P. Adu, B. Faal and M. Vydra to stretch Benfica’s back line. With predicted lineups pointing to a strong core of domestic and young talents, Plzen will look to harness the home crowd and high tempo to offset Benfica’s superior individual quality.

Plzen Predicted Lineups & Starting Lineup

Predicted Starting XI:
GK: D. Ťapaj
DF: Merchas Doski, S. Dweh, A. Gabriel, V. Jemelka
MF: L. Červ, P. Hrošovský, T. Ladra, C. Souaré, D. Višinský
FW: M. Vydra

This predicted starting lineup leans on Plzen’s most experienced spine. D. Ťapaj is the leading candidate in goal, with defenders Merchas Doski, S. Dweh, A. Gabriel and V. Jemelka forming a back line that can alternate between a narrow block and wider full-back positioning depending on Benfica’s attacking structure. In midfield, L. Červ and P. Hrošovský provide control and ball circulation, while T. Ladra and C. Souaré offer work rate and vertical runs between the lines. D. Višinský adds creativity from an advanced midfield role, supporting veteran forward M. Vydra, who remains a key reference point in attack.

Without standout Europa League scoring data attached to individual Plzen players, the emphasis is on collective organisation and set-piece threat. Expect the hosts to use this predicted lineup to press selectively in midfield, protect central spaces, and then release runners from wide and half-spaces. Vydra’s movement and experience will be crucial in exploiting any gaps behind Benfica’s defence, especially when Plzen win the ball in transition.

Benfica Team News & Expected Lineups Today

Benfica also come into this fixture with no listed injuries or suspensions, meaning no significant absences reported for this Europa League trip to Plzen. That allows them to rotate intelligently while still fielding a very strong side, and it also means competition for places is fierce across the pitch. Given their excellent recent form line of “LWWDWW” in league and continental action combined, the visitors are expected to field a strong but balanced starting lineup.

With lineups today still to be confirmed officially, the expectation is that Benfica will stay close to the attacking-minded shapes they have used most often, with their league record showing frequent use of systems built around a single main striker and a line of three creative midfielders behind. Their attacking numbers are elite: 19 goals in 6 recent fixtures, averaging 3.2 per game, with a particularly strong output between the 31st and 45th minute and again in the final quarter of matches. The predicted lineups today will inevitably be built around star forward V. Pavlidis, who already has 5 Europa League goals and 1 assist, supported by high-impact players like Rafa, A. Schjelderup and D. Lukebakio.

Benfica Predicted Lineups & Starting Lineup

Predicted Starting XI:
GK: A. Trubin
DF: A. Bah, C. Lenglet, Tomás Araújo, S. El Karouani
MF: F. Aursnes, L. Barreiro, H. Sudakov, J. Kamiński, Rafa
FW: V. Pavlidis

In this predicted starting XI, A. Trubin anchors the side in goal, backed by a back four that combines experience and ball-playing ability. A. Bah is a key attacking full-back who already has an assist in the competition and features prominently in Benfica’s yellow-card lists, underlining his combative style. C. Lenglet and Tomás Araújo have both contributed goals from defence in the Europa League, giving Benfica a major set-piece threat, while S. El Karouani offers balance on the left.

The midfield unit of F. Aursnes, L. Barreiro, H. Sudakov and J. Kamiński provides a blend of control, pressing and creativity. Barreiro, Sudakov and Kamiński each have an assist in the competition, and their ability to recycle possession and break lines is central to Benfica’s attacking rhythm. Rafa, who has 2 goals and 1 assist in the Europa League, is expected to operate in advanced spaces, linking midfield to attack and arriving late in the box.

Up front, V. Pavlidis is the undisputed focal point. With 5 goals and 1 assist, he tops both the scoring and assists charts for Benfica in this Europa League campaign and also appears among their most frequently carded players, reflecting his intense involvement in duels. Around him, players like A. Schjelderup, D. Lukebakio, J. Durán and G. Prestianni – all with goals and/or assists – give Benfica huge depth from the bench, allowing them to maintain attacking pressure throughout the 90 minutes.

Injuries and Suspended Players Impact

With no injuries or suspensions listed for either side, the impact of absences on this match is minimal. Both coaches can select from their full registered squads, which increases tactical flexibility and the likelihood of strong benches on both sides.

Plzen Absences:

• No significant absences reported.

Benfica Absences:

• No significant absences reported.

Tactical Analysis: How the Lineups Match Up

This contest sets up as a duel between Plzen’s energetic, home-focused game and Benfica’s high-powered, possession-heavy attack. Plzen’s recent European numbers show 5 goals scored and 4 conceded across 2 matches, with a notable ability to score at different stages of the game. However, they have yet to keep a clean sheet in this sample and have failed to score in one of their away fixtures, which underlines the importance of home advantage and a front-foot approach in Plzen’s expected setup.

Benfica, by contrast, arrive with elite attacking and form indices. Their last-five record shows an attacking index at 100% and a defensive index at 76%, with 18 goals scored and just 4 conceded. The comparison model gives Benfica a clear edge in form (81 vs 19) and attack (78 vs 22), while the overall comparison index reads 59.8 vs 40.3 in favour of the Portuguese side. The Poisson index tilts 70 vs 30 towards Benfica, suggesting they are more likely to generate the higher volume of quality chances.

On the pitch, Plzen’s predicted back line will be tested by the movement of Pavlidis and the rotations of Rafa, Kamiński and Sudakov between the lines. A key matchup will be how Plzen’s midfield pair – likely anchored by Červ and Hrošovský – cope with Benfica’s pressing and their ability to play through the first line to release Višinský and Vydra. If Plzen can bypass Benfica’s midfield pressure and attack the space behind the full-backs, they have enough attacking players like P. Adu, B. Faal and S. Lawal to trouble the visitors, especially in transition.

Benfica’s defensive structure will need to manage Plzen’s direct play and set pieces. Lenglet and Tomás Araújo, both goal threats themselves, must also dominate aerially against Vydra and any late runs from Plzen’s midfielders. On the flanks, A. Bah’s overlapping runs will pin back Plzen’s wide players, while S. El Karouani offers balance on the opposite side. If Benfica establish control in midfield through Aursnes, Barreiro and Sudakov, they can dictate tempo and repeatedly find Pavlidis in dangerous zones. Given Benfica’s strong record of scoring in both halves and their high attacking index, the tactical battle is likely to tilt towards sustained Benfica pressure against a Plzen side looking to counter and capitalise on home momentum.

Match Prediction and Verdict

All available indicators point towards Benfica having a clear edge in this Europa League League Stage clash. Their recent form is stronger, their attacking numbers are significantly better, and the comparison indices consistently favour the Portuguese side. The predictions model assigns Benfica a 45% chance of victory, with a 45% chance of a draw and only a 10% chance for Plzen, while also recommending a double chance of draw or Benfica combined with more than 1.5 total goals.

Given Benfica’s attacking firepower – led by V. Pavlidis, Rafa and a deep supporting cast – and Plzen’s vulnerability at the back in recent continental fixtures, the most likely scenario is an away win, though the hosts have enough threat to get on the scoresheet if they execute well in transition. With the goals fields in the prediction model expressed as thresholds rather than exact scorelines, a conservative but aligned verdict is that Benfica should edge this encounter, potentially by a single goal margin while keeping their unbeaten run intact.

Predicted Outcome: Plzen 1–2 Benfica

How to Watch Plzen vs Benfica Worldwide

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

• Spain: Local sports pay-TV channel and selected streaming platform
• UK: Major sports broadcaster with Europa League rights
• USA / North America: Subscription-based soccer streaming service
• South America: Regional cable sports network and online app
• MENA: Pan-regional satellite sports network