Borussia Dortmund Football Formation

Starting Lineup

Borussia Dortmund relies on a high press and verticality using a 3-5-2 formation. This lineup is built to win the ball high up the pitch and move quickly to attack. The team seeks to control the middle of the park and strike with speed when they regain possession.

HAJA operates in goal to lead the defensive unit. The back line consists of a back three made up of Hummels, Dickey, and Savio. Hummels acts as a ball playing defender with great aerial strength to defend the box and clear the lines. Dickey holds the central spot to mark the striker, while Savio covers the left side. The unit works to maintain a high line to squeeze the space and prevent the opponent from playing out from the back.

The midfield is a five man unit that focuses on controlling the center of the pitch. Komarty and Gurneya act as a double pivot to shield the defense and win the second ball. Bellingham plays as an inverted eight on the right, using his ball carrying and pressing intensity to drive forward. JJUM works in the left half space to link the defense to the attack. Skyuk plays as an attacking ten behind the strikers to find space and arrive late into the box.

Up front, the team uses two forwards in a partnership with Vinaa and Milky way. Vinaa acts as a pressing centre-forward to force the opposition to go direct. Milky way works to find runs in behind to exploit the space left by the defenders. The attack relies on combinations in tight spaces to play through the lines or using wide players to spread wide and deliver early crosses.

This formation offers clear tactical advantages for Borussia Dortmund. The team achieves numerical superiority in midfield which allows them to dominate possession and recycle it effectively. They also have the ability to press high in coordinated waves to win it back high up the pitch. The speed of transition is a major factor when they break quickly.

This 3-5-2 is a heavy pressing system built for central dominance. It is best used when facing opponents that prefer to play short from the back.