Fiorentina Football Formation

Starting Lineup

1 Viviano (C)
3 Alderweireld (vc)
24 Garay (19 Milosevic)
6 Smalling (28 Cosenza)
5 Camporese (27 Alaba)
8 Maglangu (14 Mandorlini)
21 Agyemang (16 Rubin)
10 Carraro (15 Koussalouka)
7 Callejon
9 Remy (23 Benteke)
17 Mertens (11 Depay)

Fiorentina looks to dominate through a high press and rapid verticality using a 2-5-3 formation. This lineup is built to overwhelm the opposition in their own half by committing bodies forward and winning the ball back high up the pitch. The tactical identity relies on heavy pressure to force mistakes and quick transitions to exploit the space left behind the opponent.

Viviano (C) acts as the last line of defense, operating behind a very high line. The defensive unit consists of just two central defenders, Garay and Smalling, who must be prepared to cover large amounts of space. Garay acts as a ball playing defender to start attacks, while Smalling provides aerial strength and physical presence to win headers. Because the back line is so thin, they must be ready to step up to catch opponents offside and manage long balls played into the space behind them.

In the middle of the pitch, the five man unit provides a massive presence to control the game. Alderweireld, acting as the vice captain, sits in a deep role to shield the defense and recycle possession. Camporese plays alongside him to provide grit and tackle in the central zone. Maglangu sits ahead of them to connect the lines and carry the ball forward. On the flanks, Agyemang and Carraro occupy the half spaces to drive into attacking positions, creating a dense block that is difficult to play through.

The attacking front three works to pin the last defender and stretch the opposition. Callejon plays as a wide winger on the right, staying high to provide width, while Mertens operates on the left as an inverted winger who looks to cut inside and find shooting lanes. Remy leads the line as a lone striker, tasked to hold up the ball and wait for support. This trio presses from the front to force the opposition back into their own box, often looking for quick combinations or knock it in behind the defensive line.

Fiorentina gains a massive advantage through numerical superiority in the midfield, which allows them to squeeze the space and dominate the center of the pitch. The use of the half spaces by Agyemang and Carraro creates wide overloads that force the opposing full backs into difficult decisions. This setup also allows for a very fast transition when the ball is won high, catching the opposition before they can get organized.

This 2-5-3 formation is a high risk, high reward system that relies on winning the ball in advanced areas. It is best suited for matches where Fiorentina needs to dominate possession and break down a low block through sheer numbers in the attacking third.