Benfica's trip to Tynecastle Park brought a surprise in the starting XI, with several changes made for Hearts vs Benfica and four players earning their first start of the season.
Schjelderup, Richard Ríos, Lukebakio and Durán were all named from the start, giving Benfica a different look for the UEFA Europa League 3.ª pré-eliminatória second leg. The lineup reflected a reshaped side for the away match, with the club making clear use of its squad depth for a difficult European night.
A changed Benfica side
On Sunday, Benfica started against Académico de Viseu with Samuel Soares, Lenglet, Barrenechea and Sudakov also in the XI. Before the Hearts match, Marco Silva said Manu Silva had been training as a central defender since António Silva left, a detail that helps explain the defensive adjustments Benfica has been making.
Manu Silva had previously played as a center-back at Feirense and Vitória de Guimarães, while Benfica had not yet signed a replacement for António Silva. That left the club working with internal options, including a defense that had already featured Bah, Tomás Araújo and Samuel Dahl in the previous match.
What it means for Hearts vs Benfica
The timing and setting add to the intrigue. Hearts and Benfica were scheduled to kick off at 19h45 at Tynecastle Park in Edinburgh, with Benfica arriving in a lineup that mixed established names with several first starts of the season. For a European away tie, those choices can matter quickly, especially when a team is still sorting out its defensive shape.
For Benfica, the message was straightforward: the squad was being used aggressively, and the coach was willing to change the structure to fit the opponent and the moment. For Hearts, that meant preparing for a Benfica side that was not only rotated, but also carrying a few new combinations in key areas of the pitch.
