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Atalanta Football Formation

Creation DateJuly 25, 2024

Starting Lineup

MUSSO · SCALVINI · DJIMSITI · KOLASINAC · ÉDERSON · DE ROON · KOOPMEINERS · HATEBOER · RUGGERI · SCAMACCA · LOOKMAN

Atalanta focuses on high intensity pressing and verticality through a 3-5-2 formation. This lineup is built to squeeze the pitch and win the ball high up the pitch to catch opponents out of position. The team aims to play with extreme aggression, using the energy of the midfield to dominate the central areas and drive the ball toward the goal quickly.

Musso acts as the last line of defense behind a back three. Scalvini plays as the central defender in the middle of the line, where he can use his ball playing ability to start attacks. Djimsiti and Kolasinac operate as the wide centre-backs, responsible for covering the channels and winning headers. The defensive unit functions as a cohesive block that can step up to trigger a press or drop into a low block if the team is forced to sit deep.

The midfield features a double pivot where De Roon and Éderson work to control the center. De Roon provides a steady presence to shield the defense, while Éderson uses his high pressing intensity and ability to carry the ball forward to drive the team out of midfield. Ruggeri and Hateboer operate as wing backs to provide width, while Koopmeiners plays as the attacking ten. Koopmeiners can make late runs into the box and links the midfield to the attack by playing through the lines.

Atalanta utilizes two forwards in a partnership to stretch the opposition. Lookman plays as a mobile striker who can cut inside to create chances, while Scamacca acts as a target man to hold up the ball and win the second ball. The attackers press the opposition back line aggressively to force mistakes. This front line relies on combinations in tight spaces and runs in behind to break the lines, often using the width provided by the wing backs to create crossing opportunities.

One major advantage for Atalanta is the ability to press high in coordinated waves, making it difficult for opponents to play out from the back. The formation also offers numerical superiority in midfield when the wing backs push high. This allows the team to control the rhythm of the game and create overloads in the half spaces. The speed of transition is a key strength, as the team can move from a defensive block to an attacking threat in seconds.

This 3-5-2 formation relies on heavy physical output and aggressive ball recovery. It is best suited for matches against teams that struggle to play under pressure or when Atalanta needs to dominate through central control.