Torino Football Formation

Starting Lineup

A high pressing and vertical style of play defines Torino, which utilizes a 2-5-3 formation. This lineup is built to overwhelm the center of the pitch and move the ball quickly toward the opposition goal. By stacking the middle, the team seeks to dominate territory and win it back high up the pitch.

Milinkovic-Savic stands in goal to protect the area, using his aerial strength to command the box. The defensive unit is a narrow back two featuring Schuurs and Maripán. These two central defenders play a high line to squeeze the space available to the opponent. Schuurs and Maripán must be extremely alert to step up and intercept passes or drop back to cover runners. Because the formation lacks traditional full backs, they rely on the midfielders to track back and defend the wide areas.

The midfield is a five-man unit featuring a double pivot for the Torino lineup. Sosa works as a defensive pivot to shield the back two, while Pedersen sits alongside him to provide stability. Ricci and Ilic play in the half-spaces to carry the ball forward and connect the lines. Adams operates as an attacking ten, sitting in the hole to find pockets of space and arrive late into the box. This central density allows the team to win the second ball and quickly recycle possession.

Moving into the attacking phase, the team uses three attackers across the front to stretch the defense. Sanabria acts as the central striker to hold up the ball and link play. Vlasic and Lazaro provide width, with Vlasic looking to cut inside from the left and Lazaro ready to whip it in from the right. The goal is to use the movement of Adams and the wide players to create runs in behind. The front three must press from the front to force a long ball from the opposition.

This formation offers massive numerical superiority in the middle of the pitch. With five players occupying the center, the team can easily compress the midfield and deny the turn to opponents. Another strength is the ability to attack in combinations through the center, using the link-up play between Adams and Sanabria to split the defense with a through ball.

This 2-5-3 lineup is a brave formation designed for teams that want to dominate the central zone. It is best suited for games against opponents that struggle to play through a crowded midfield.