Al-Ittihad Football Formation

Starting Lineup

P. Rajkovic (1) · F. Al-Sqoor (37) · A. Sharahili (20) · Luiz Felipe (5) · A. Bamasud (28) · Fabinho (8) · N. Kante' (7) · M. Diaby (19) · H. Aouar (10) · Jota (11) · K. Benzema (9)

Al-Ittihad focuses on a defensive, counter attacking style of play using a 5-4-1 formation. This lineup is built to sit deep and absorb pressure before looking to hit opponents on the transition. The tactical goal is to remain compact and hard to break down while waiting for the right moment to exploit spaces left by advancing opposition players.

In goal, P. Rajkovic acts as the last line of defense. The defensive unit operates as a back five, with Fabinho acting as the central anchor to protect the area. Luiz Felipe and A. Sharahili sit on either side of him to defend the central zone, while F. Al-Sqoor and A. Bamasud operate as wing backs to provide width. Fabinho is dominant in the air and provides the cover needed when the back line needs to push up. The wing backs are tasked with tracking back to form a five man block when out of possession, but they must also be ready to sprint forward when the team wins the ball.

The midfield consists of a four man block designed to squeeze the space between the lines. N. Kante' sits in the defensive midfield role to shield the defense and intercept passes. He uses his high pressing intensity to win the ball back high up the pitch or in a mid block. Beside him, H. Aouar connects the defensive and attacking lines, looking to recycle possession. M. Diaby and Jota operate in the half spaces, with M. Diaby providing energy to drive forward with the ball. This group works to stay narrow to deny the turn of opposition players.

Al-Ittihad utilizes a lone striker in Karim Benzema to lead the line. Benzema acts as a target man who can hold up the ball to allow the midfield to move up the pitch. He is tasked with pressing the opposition back line and making runs in behind to stretch the defense. When the team attacks, the wing backs, F. Al-Sqoor and A. Bamasud, push high to provide width, while the midfielders look to support him in combinations. The attack relies on quick transitions to find Benzema in space or to play through the lines with the arriving runners.

This formation offers Al-Ittihad great compactness when defending deep. By using a back five, they are difficult to penetrate centrally. Another advantage is the speed of transition, as players like N. Kante' can immediately look to find the front line once the ball is won. The ability to use the wing backs allows the team to quickly switch play and stretch the opposition once the defensive block is bypassed.

This 5-4-1 formation is a resilient defensive setup built for teams that want to frustrate superior possession sides. It is best suited for matches where the opponent plays a very high line and can be caught on the break.