Auxerre Football Formation

Starting Lineup

Gaëtan Charbonnier · Donovan Léon · Carlens Arcus · Jubal · Théo Pellenard · Quentin Bernard · Birama Touré · Gaëtan Perrin · Mathias Autret · Hamza Sakhi · Gauthier Hein

Auxerre aims to play a compact and direct style of football using a 4-5-1 formation. This lineup is built to sit deep and wait for the right moment to strike on the break. By keeping the units close together, the team relies on winning the second ball and moving the play forward quickly once possession is regained.

Gaëtan Charbonnier stands between the posts to command his area. In front of him, the back four functions as a flat defensive line. Gaëtan Perrin operates as the right back to provide width, while Gauthier Hein takes the left back position. Mathias Autret and Hamza Sakhi act as the two central defenders, tasked with holding the line and winning headers. The defensive unit works together to squeeze the space between the lines and force the opposition wide.

The midfield is arranged as a five man block to clog the center of the pitch. Birama Touré plays as the single pivot to shield the defense and win possession. Next to him, Jubal and Théo Pellenard occupy the central roles to connect the defense and attack. They must press aggressively to disrupt the opponent and cover the spaces left by the wide players. Carlens Arcus on the right and Quentin Bernard on the left provide the width, working to track back and defend the flanks when the team loses the ball.

Up front, the team utilizes a lone striker in Donovan Léon. He acts as a focal point to hold up the ball and allow the midfielders to push up the pitch. The attack is built through quick transitions, with the wide players, Carlens Arcus and Quentin Bernard, looking to drive forward and deliver crosses. Donovan Léon must work to pin the last defender and create space for late runs from the midfield. The goal is to isolate defenders in one on one situations through quick vertical passes.

Auxerre finds success by maintaining a mid block that is hard to break down. The formation offers great compactness when defending, making it difficult for opponents to play through the middle. Another advantage is the ability to hit in behind on the transition, using the speed of the wide players to catch the opposition out of position.

This 4-5-1 formation is designed for a team that wants to remain defensively solid and strike with pace. It is best suited for matches against dominant sides where Auxerre can exploit the space left behind a high line.