Borussia Dortmund Football Formation

Starting Lineup

Jean-Clair Todibo · Randal Kolo Muani · Virgil van Dijk · Ferdi Kadioglu · Alan Varela · Johan Bakayoko · Brahim Diaz · Manuel Ugarte · Jadon Sancho · Lewis Hall · Waldemar Anton

Borussia Dortmund aims to play a high press with a heavy emphasis on winning the ball high up the pitch. This lineup utilizes a 4-3-3 to control the central areas and create chances through quick vertical transitions. The team looks to squeeze the space and force errors in the opponent's half to fuel their attacking movements.

Waldemar Anton guards the goal as the last line of defense. In front of him, the back four operates with a high line to keep the distance between the units small. Virgil van Dijk acts as a dominant central defender who is strong in the air and uses his passing range to start attacks. Jean-Clair Todibo plays alongside him as a ball playing defender who can cover the space behind the line. Lewis Hall and Ferdi Kadioglu occupy the wide positions, with Lewis Hall looking to overlap and Ferdi Kadioglu providing width while ready to track back.

The midfield consists of a three man group designed to control the tempo. Alan Varela works as a deep lying playmaker who drops between the centre backs to receive and recycle possession. Manuel Ugarte plays as a carrier who presses aggressively to win the ball back in a mid block. Brahim Diaz operates as an attacking ten behind the striker, looking to find space between the lines and play through the lines. This unit connects the defense to the attack by moving the ball quickly from the pivot to the front three.

Borussia Dortmund employs three attackers to stretch the defense. Randal Kolo Muani operates as a pressing centre forward who works to pin the last defender and hold up the ball. On the flanks, Jadon Sancho and Johan Bakayoko act as inverted wingers who cut inside to create central overloads. Sancho looks to dribble and find his feet of the striker, while Johan Bakayoko looks to attack the near post or deliver early crosses. The team builds play through combinations in tight spaces to isolate wide players in one on one situations.

One major advantage of this formation is the ability to press high in coordinated waves to disrupt the opponent. The midfield trio of Alan Varela, Manuel Ugarte, and Brahim Diaz provides numerical superiority in the center of the pitch. Additionally, the movement of Jadon Sancho and Johan Bakayoko creates wide overloads that force the opposition to shift constantly.

This 4-3-3 formation relies on intense pressing and rapid transitions to overwhelm the opposition. It is best suited for games against teams that try to play out from the back under heavy pressure.