Borussia Dortmund Football Formation

Starting Lineup

Haaland · Daewoong · MoonDI · Gurneya · Bellingham · Milky way · Dickey · Xhaka · Savio · Yoo Seong won · Haja

Borussia Dortmund operates with a 3-5-2 formation that looks to dominate through a high press and direct verticality. The lineup focuses on winning the ball high up the pitch to catch opponents out of position. This system is built to play a vertical style where the primary goal is to move the ball quickly toward the goal.

Haja guards the goal in this formation. The defensive unit functions as a narrow defensive block consisting of a back three. Dickey sits in the middle as the central defender to sweep behind the line and organize the unit. Savio and Xhaka play as wide centre-backs, tasked to cover the wide areas and step into midfield when needed. They must hold the line and ensure they do not leave too much space behind when the team pushes up.

The midfield consists of a five-man unit designed to control the center of the pitch. Yoo Seong won and Gurneya form a double pivot to shield the defense and recycle possession. MoonDI and Bellingham occupy the central roles, providing a link between the back line and the attack. Bellingham carries the ball forward to break the line and drive into the final third. Daewoong operates as an attacking ten behind the strikers, looking to find space in the pockets and play through the lines to find the feet of the striker.

At the front, Borussia Dortmund employs two forwards to stretch the opposition. Haaland plays as a pressing centre-forward, using his movement to pin the last defender and create space for others. Milky way partners him up to work in combinations and support the play. The team aims to hit in behind on the transition, often using Haaland to make runs into the space behind the back line. They look to receive on the half-turn and use quick passes to move closer to the goal.

One major advantage of this formation is the numerical superiority in midfield. With five players in the middle, the team can easily compress the midfield and win the second ball. Another strength is the ability to press high in coordinated waves, using the front three and the attacking midfielder to trigger a press. This creates intense pressure that forces a long ball from the opponent, allowing the back three to win the header.

This 3-5-2 lineup is a high intensity system designed to overwhelm opponents through verticality and pressing. It is best suited for matches against teams that play a high line or struggle to play out from the back.