Union Berlin Football Formation

Starting Lineup

Rønnow · Doekhi · Leite · Querfeld · Gosens · Juranovic · Tousart · R. Khedira · Schäfer · Volland · Vertessen

Union Berlin operates with a high press and a focus on quick transitions using a 3-5-2. This lineup is built to play a direct style of football that relies on winning the ball high up the pitch and hitting the opposition in behind. The team looks to stay compact and force long balls from the opponent to maintain control of the second ball and win it back quickly.

Rønnow stays on the line to command the area. The defensive unit uses a back three to maintain a narrow defensive block. Leite and Querfeld play as the wide centre-backs, while Doekhi occupies the central role to sweep behind the line and win headers. This trio works to stay close together to prevent any space between the defenders and force the opposition wide.

The midfield functions with a single pivot and two central players. R. Khedira sits in front of the back three to shield the defence and cut off the passing lane to the strikers. Schäfer and Tousart work to connect the lines, with Schäfer often looking to carry the ball forward and Tousart working to win the second ball. Gosens and Juranovic act as attacking wing backs, providing the width to stretch the defence and overlap the midfield.

Up front, the team employs two forwards in a partnership. Volland works as a pressing centre-forward to trigger the press, while Vertessen looks to make runs in behind the defence. The attack relies on the wing backs to provide service, with Gosens and Juranovic looking to get to the byline and whip it in or cut it back for the runners. The forwards often combine in tight spaces to break the line.

One major strength is the ability to create wide overloads when Gosens and Juranovic push up to support the attack. The team also shows great compactness when defending in a mid-block, making it very hard for opponents to play through the lines. This allows for a very fast speed of transition once the ball is won back high up the pitch to press in coordinated waves.

This formation provides Union Berlin with a strong defensive base and the ability to strike on the break. It is best suited for matches against teams that hold a lot of possession, allowing the club to sit deep and hit them on the transition with speed.