In a very successful season, the squad led by coach Roger Schmidt earned the first place finish that grants access to the Champions League Group Phase. With a great squad, almost all the Benfica players had a top of the class performance in their respective positions. To understand their individual impact to the team, we present the average ratings of the players in a Back 4, the type of defence used for the whole season. In addition, this players must meet the necessary minutes requirement to be considered (minimum 450 minutes played in the season in a type of predefined defense: Back 4 or Back 5).
Benfica’s eleven with the most minutes played this season (Primeira Liga).
Star Player:
- Á. Grimaldo (FB) – 8.40
With the highest average rating in this squad, Benfica’s FB – Álex Grimaldo – was one of the main reasons for the great season achieved. The enormous consistency in the final third made it possible for this team to create shooting opportunities through the left side.
Other Key Players:
- N. Otamendi (CB) – 7.94
- J. Mário (M&W) – 7.89
- F. Aursnes (M&W) – 7.50
- António Silva (CB) – 7.50
- Enzo Fernández (M) – 8.54
With several players having above average seasons, we need emphasise the average rating obtained by Enzo Fernández before his 120 Million Euro transfer to Chelsea. Nevertheless, keeping this group of players, Benfica will continue to be a very solid team with title aspirations.
Additional information regarding the team (Primeira Liga).
With more positive results at home than away (15 Home Wins & 13 Away Wins), it is possible to consider Benfica a stronger team at home. Besides that, the incredible positive goal difference highlights the attacking football performed with the ability to score goals (2,41 goals per game) and protected with a solid defence (0,59 goals per game).
Benfica’s eleven and subs with the most minutes played in the Champions League (Minimum 270 minutes played in this competition).
With another presence in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, this Benfica team managed to play quality football in Europe. Players like João Mário, Grimaldo and Bah had incredible performances during this competition allowing them to be present in the Team of the Season of the 2022-2023 Champions League.
Position most in need of strengthening:
- GK
With the only rating below the 7 mark in Benfica’s eleven, Vlachodimos’s position (GK) is the position where Benfica most needs strengthening (if they are able to keep this season’s squad).
Meaning of the used abbreviations:
- G – Games
- W – Wins
- D – Draws
- L – Loses
- P – Points
- GS – Goals Scored
- GA – Goals Against
- GD – Goal Diference
- HW – Home Wins
- AW – Away Wins
Data from FBref.