Borussia Dortmund Football Formation

Starting Lineup

Borussia Dortmund looks to win the ball back high up the pitch and strike quickly with this 5-2-3 lineup. The team relies on a heavy press and rapid transitions to catch the opposition out of position. This formation is built to play vertical football, moving the ball from the defensive line to the forwards in as few touches as possible.

Kobel guards the goal within a back five that covers a large area of the pitch. Can sits in the middle of the defensive line to anchor the unit and win second balls. Anton and Süle play as the side centre-backs, where Süle uses his aerial strength to defend crosses and Anton covers the space behind the wing backs. Bensebaini acts as a left wing back to squeeze the space on the flank, while Ryerson plays as the right wing back to push high and track back when needed. The whole unit defends compactly to deny the turn to attackers.

The midfield consists of a two-man pairing featuring Sabitzer and Brandt. Sabitzer acts as a carrier to drive the ball forward and helps to shield the defence when the team sits deep. Brandt plays more as a creator who connects the defensive and attacking lines by finding the feet of the forwards. These two must work hard to cover the ground and avoid being bypassed in the middle. They aim to win the ball back high up the pitch to trigger a press.

Up front, the team uses three attackers to stretch the defence. Malen leads the line as a pressing centre-forward, working to pin the last defender and harass the opposition centre-backs. Adeyemi and Reyna play as wide attackers, with Adeyemi looking to use his pace to hit in behind on the transition and Reyna looking to cut inside to create chances. The wing backs, Bensebaini and Ryerson, provide width to allow the attackers to occupy the half-spaces. This movement creates many opportunities to play through the lines and find runs in behind.

One major advantage for Borussia Dortmund is the ability to create wide overloads when the wing backs push up to join the attack. The formation also provides great compactness when defending, making it hard for opponents to find gaps between the lines. The speed of transition is a key strength, as the three forwards are always ready to sprint when the ball is won.

This 5-2-3 formation provides a balance of defensive security and explosive counter attacking power. It is best suited for facing teams that play a high line and leave space behind their defenders.