RB Salzburg Football Formation

Starting Lineup

Terzic · Dedic · Blaswich · Piatkowski · Van der Brempt · Gourna-Douath · Ratkov · Konaté · Bidstrup · Kjaergaard · Capaldo

RB Salzburg aims to win the ball back high up the pitch through an aggressive high press. This lineup uses a 2-6-2 formation to control the central areas and drive the play forward with pace. The team focuses on verticality and quick transitions to catch the opposition off guard.

Blaswich operates as the lone goalkeeper behind a very narrow back line. Van der Brempt and Piatkowski act as the two central defenders who must hold a high line to squeeze the space. With no wide defenders, the duo must cover wide areas if the ball is switched. They need to win the header and clear the lines quickly when under pressure to keep the defensive unit compact.

The midfield is the heart of this RB Salzburg system, using a massive unit of six. A deep trio of Terzic, Gourna-Douath, and Dedic forms a shield to protect the two defenders. The two can drop deep to receive and help play out from the back. Ahead of them, Kjaergaard, Capaldo, and Bidstrup act as attacking midfielders who can carry the ball forward. Kjaergaard often tries to play through the lines, while Capaldo and Bidstrup work to win the second ball and recycle possession in the middle to link the lines.

In the final third, Ratkov and Konaté work as a partnership of two. They act as pressing forwards who press from the front to trigger a press in the opposition half. Ratkov and Konaté look to make runs in behind to exploit any gaps in the defense. They often combine in tight spaces to pull defenders out of position or lay it off for a teammate. The goal is to hit in behind on the transition as soon as the midfield recovers the ball.

A major strength of this formation is the overwhelming numerical superiority in the midfield. By packing the center, the team can compress the midfield and deny the turn of the opposition players. This formation allows for coordinated waves of pressure that can force a long ball from the opponent. The ability to win the ball back high up the pitch keeps the pressure constant.

This 2-6-2 formation is built to dominate the central zones and maintain extreme pressure. It is best suited for matches against teams that try to play short from the back and struggle against heavy pressure.