Fenerbahçe Vs Benfica [0-0] – UEFA Champions League Playoffs 2025/2026: Attacking Errors Cost José Mourinho Team – Tactical Analysis

Fenerbahçe hosted Benfica at the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League playoff round, which determines which team will advance to the League Phase.

The match ended with a disappointing 0-0 draw from the perspective of Fenerbahçe, the home side.

Sarı Kanaryalar were not able to impose their game on Benfica.

It is also important to note that Feners performance progressed as time went by, becoming more dangerous in the second half and getting very close to scoring during the final minutes.

However, Benfica’s solid defending and Fenerbahçe’s attacking errors and tactical choices made it difficult for them to gain their desired advantage before the second leg.

In this tactical analysis, the focus will be centred on Fenerbahçe’s performance, highlighting their attacking errors and the positive aspects that need to be further consolidated and improved ahead of the second leg.

The analysis will also examine the tactical errors and what the team can fix in terms of formation and lineup ahead of the second leg to succeed in the qualification mission.

Fenerbahçe Vs Benfica Formations & Lineups

José Mourinho started this match according to the 3-4-1-2 formation with İrfan Can Eğribayat as a goalkeeper, Mert Müldür, Milan Škriniar and Jayden Oosterwolde as centre-backs, Sofyan Amrabat as the defensive midfielder playing in front of the defensive line, with Fred playing alongside him, and both Archie Brown and Nélson Semedo playing as wing-backs.

In front of them, Mourinho used Sebastian Szymański as an attacking midfielder, with both Youssef En-Nesyri and Jhon Durán as the attacking duo.

Mourinho has been using this formation frequently in recent times.

He used almost the exact lineup against Göztepe in the Süper Lig.

But beforehand, Fener had alternated between the 4-2-3-1 formation, the 3-5-2 formation, the 3-4-3 formation and the 3-4-1-2 formation.

The choice of playing according to the 3-4-1-2 formation could have secured the team’s defence more, but the result suggests that it was not very helpful attacking-wise.

Furthermore, in-game changes like the substitution of Talisca instead of Durán at the 67^th minute confirm that the initial lineup was not really the best possible one, especially in terms of attacking possibilities.

In addition, we can argue that Mourinho feared making more courageous attacking changes during the game.

Despite changing some of the players, he did not make any changes in terms of positions, even though Fenerbahçe arguably needed to score more urgently than Benfica.

But despite that, Mourinho avoided taking risks and made a single attacking substitution.

On the other hand, Bruno Lage opted for their usual 4-3-3 formation with Anatoliy Trubin as a goalkeeper, Amar Dedić as a right-back, Antonio Silva and Nicolás Otamendi as centre-backs, and Samuel Dahl as a left-back.

In midfield, Florentino was used as a defensive midfielder before getting sent off during the second half, with Enzo Barrenechea and Richard Ríos playing as central midfielders.

Both Kerem Aktürkoğlu and Fredrik Aursnes were used as wingers with Vangelis Pavlidis as the team’s main striker.

Fenerbahçe Vs Benfica Lineups

Fenerbahçe Attacking Tactics

Fener started the match with high pressing in an attempt to win the ball back quickly and disturb Benfica’s build-up from the back, but they were unsuccessful in doing so due to Benfica’s solid organisation, their ability to resist pressure, and their success in reaching the opposing box so often.

This made things difficult for Fenerbahçe because they did not get the chance to attack continuously.

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