Torino Football Formation

Starting Lineup

MILINKOVIC-SAVIC (Paleari / Donnarumma) · MASINA (Vojvoda) · COCO (Walukiewicz) · MARIPAN (Tameze / Schuurs+) · B. SOSA (Vojvoda) · LAZARO (Pedersen) · RICCI (Linetty) · ILIC (Tameze) · VLASIC (Ilic) · ADAMS (Sanabria) · ZAPATA (Sanabria)

Torino prioritizes defensive solidity and quick transitions, playing within a 3-5-2 formation. This lineup is built to win the second ball and strike quickly when the opposition loses control. The team aims to keep a compact block in the middle to force opponents toward the flanks and prevent them from playing through the center.

MILINKOVIC-SAVIC guards the goal and manages the area during crosses. The defensive unit operates with a back three where COCO sits in the center to sweep behind the line. MARIPAN works as the right centre-back to win the header and cover the space, while MASINA holds the left side of the line. This defensive unit functions as a whole to stay narrow, protecting the central zones and denying the turn to opposing attackers.

The midfield features a central core with VLASIC playing as an attacking ten behind the strikers. RICCI and ILIC work together to control the center, with RICCI acting to shield the defense and ILIC looking to carry the ball forward into the half-spaces. B. SOSA and LAZARO provide the width, acting as wing backs who must track back to support the defenders when the team sits deep. This group links the defense to the attack by recycling possession and playing through the lines to find the forwards.

The attacking force consists of two forwards in a partnership. ZAPATA acts as a target man to hold up the ball and win headers, while ADAMS looks to make runs in behind the last defender. VLASIC operates in the hole to connect the lines and find the feet of the striker. B. SOSA and LAZARO push high to provide width, looking to get to the byline and whip it in for the central players to attack the near post or far post. The forwards press from the front to force a long ball and prevent the opposition from playing short from the back.

One tactical advantage of this Torino lineup is the ability to maintain compactness when defending in a mid-block. The three central defenders and the central midfield trio make it very difficult for opponents to find space in the middle. Another strength is the speed of transition, as the team can move from a defensive block to an attacking phase through quick passes that hit in behind on the transition.

This 3-5-2 formation is designed to be defensively solid and dangerous on the break. It is a lineup best suited for facing teams that play with high lines and dominate possession.