Bologna Football Formation

Starting Lineup

1 Leali
6 Trebel (13 Pezzella)
5 Milosevic (C) (16 Baston Gigato)
3 Jorgacevic (20 Caracciolo)
8 Marrone (25 Fernando)
4 Botia Rabasco (vc) (26 Moore-Taylor)
10 Wilshere (27 Castiglia)
11 Jesé Rodriguez (22 Blind)
7 Bale (28 Perrinelle)
19 Boniperti (14 Pasini)
33 Angoua (9 Hurtado)

Bologna aims to control the center of the pitch through a high press and heavy midfield density, utilizing a 3-6-1 formation. This lineup is built to dominate the ball and squeeze the space in the middle third. By crowding the central areas, the team looks to win it back high up the pitch and force the opposition into mistakes.

Leali operates between the posts to organize the defensive line. The back three consists of Jorgacevic, Milosevic (C), and Trebel. As the captain, Milosevic leads the line and remains central to win headers and clear the lines. Jorgacevic and Trebel act as wide centre-backs to cover the channels and step up to intercept passes. This unit works as a compact block to defend zonally and prevent runners from finding space behind them.

The midfield is the engine room for Bologna, featuring a massive six man group that functions as a combination of a double pivot and several attacking runners. Marrone and Botia Rabasco (vc) form the base to shield the defense and recycle possession. Wilshere and Bale operate in the half spaces to connect the defensive and attacking lines, while Jesé Rodriguez provides additional support to drive the ball forward. Boniperti acts as the attacking ten, sitting in the hole to find the feet of the striker or arrive late into the box.

In the final third, Angoua acts as the lone striker, tasked to hold up the ball and pin the last defender. The attack relies on the movement of the six midfielders to create numerical superiority around the striker. Boniperti works closely with Angoua to play one-two combinations and create space for late runs. The team uses the width provided by the midfielders to stretch the defense before looking to split the defense with a through ball.

One major tactical advantage for Bologna is the immense density in the center, which makes it very hard for opponents to play through the lines. They can easily achieve numerical superiority in midfield to control the tempo of the game. Additionally, the ability to press in a mid-block or high up the pitch allows them to catch opponents during their buildup.

This 3-6-1 formation is designed for total control and high intensity in the central zones. It is best suited for games where the team needs to dominate possession against a side that lacks midfield depth.