Borussia Dortmund Football Formation

Starting Lineup

N.Fullkrug · K.Adeyemi · J.Brandt · J.Sancho · E.Can · M.Sabitzer · I.Maatsen · N.Schlotterbeck · M.Hummels · J.Ryerson · G.Kobel

Borussia Dortmund plays a high pressing and vertical brand of football using a 4-2-4 formation. This lineup aims to win the ball high up the pitch and strike quickly to exploit spaces behind the opposition defense. By pushing many players forward, the team looks to overwhelm the opponent in their own half and force turnovers in dangerous areas.

G.Kobel operates as the goalkeeper, acting as a key part of the defensive unit when playing out from the back. The back line consists of a flat back four where J.Ryerson and I.Maatsen act as full backs to provide width and cover the flanks. In the center, M.Hummels uses his passing range to start attacks, while N.Schlotterbeck provides cover and physical presence. This defensive unit must stay compact to avoid being caught out when the team pushes high.

The midfield features a double pivot consisting of E.Can and M.Sabitzer. These two work to shield the defense and control the tempo of the game. E.Can looks to recycle possession and maintain the rhythm, while M.Sabitzer drives forward with the ball to connect the defensive and attacking lines. This pairing is responsible for picking up runners and ensuring the team does not get bypassed in the middle of the pitch.

In the attacking phase, Borussia Dortmund utilizes four players across the front to stretch the defense. N.Fullkrug acts as a target man to hold up the ball and win headers, providing a focal point for the attack. J.Brandt operates as a second striker in the hole to link play and find space between the lines. On the wings, K.Adeyemi and J.Sancho act as wide attackers who look to cut inside and attack the near post or drive toward the byline.

One major advantage of this formation is the ability to press high in coordinated waves to win it back high up the pitch. The team can also create wide overloads by having the wingers and full backs combine to cross the ball into the box. This creates many chances for N.Fullkrug to attack the far post or for runners to arrive late into the box.

The 4-2-4 formation is built for a team that wants to dominate through aggressive pressing and rapid transitions. It is best suited for games against opponents who play a high line and struggle to handle intense pressure.