Borussia Dortmund Football Formation

Starting Lineup

G. Kobel (1) · N. Sule (25) · W. Anton (3) · N. Schlotterbeck (4) · E. Can (23) · M. Sabitzer (20) · J. Brandt (10) · D. Malen (21) · J. Gittens (43) · M. Beier (14) · S. Guirassy (19)

Borussia Dortmund aims to play a direct and high pressing game using a 4-4-2 formation. This lineup is built to win the ball high up the pitch and move forward quickly through the lines. The team looks to use verticality to catch opponents off guard, relying on speed and strength to drive through the middle or out wide.

G. Kobel stays between the posts to command his area. The back line operates as a flat back four where N. Sule plays on the right side and N. Schlotterbeck occupies the left. In the center, E. Can acts as a ball playing defender to help play out from the back while W. Anton provides coverage to ensure the defensive unit stays compact. They work together to hold the line and squeeze the space when the team pushes up.

The midfield is a four man unit designed to control the central areas and provide links to the attack. M. Sabitzer sits in a single pivot role to shield the defence and intercept passes. Beside him, J. Brandt works to connect the defensive and attacking lines by finding space between the lines. D. Malen and J. Gittens operate in the half spaces to press aggressively and win the ball back high up the pitch. This midfield group must work hard to track back and cover the spaces left behind during transitions.

In the attacking third, Borussia Dortmund employs two forwards in a partnership. S. Guirassy acts as a pressing centre-forward who can hold up the ball and win the header in aerial duels. M. Beier plays alongside him, looking to make runs in behind the opposition defence. The team uses the width provided by the midfielders to create overloads and then looks to deliver crosses or cutbacks to the two strikers. They focus on quick combinations to split the defence with a through ball.

This formation offers significant advantages in terms of defensive compactness and the ability to press in coordinated waves. By playing with two strikers, the team can pin the last defender and create numerical superiority when they transition from a mid-block into an attack. The pairing of the forwards allows for quick one two movements that can bypass a crowded midfield.

The 4-4-2 formation provides a solid base for a team that wants to dominate through physical presence and quick transitions. It is a lineup best suited for matches against teams that play a high line and leave space behind their defenders.