Borussia Dortmund Football Formation

Starting Lineup

Borussia Dortmund relies on a high press and quick transitions using a 5-2-3. The team is built to play a vertical style of football that targets the opposition through direct movement. This formation aims to win the ball high up the pitch and move forward with speed.

Kobel acts as the last line of defence to collect crosses and manage the area. The defensive unit works in a back five that can shift between a high line and a mid-block. Can sits in the middle of the line to anchor the defence while Süle and Anton act as the central defenders. Süle uses his aerial strength to win headers and his ability to defend in space to cover for his teammates. Ryerson and Bensebaini act as attacking wing backs to provide width. They push high to overlap the wingers and provide crosses.

The midfield is controlled by a two-man pairing of Sabitzer and Brandt. Sabitzer works to drive forward with the ball and carry it into the attacking third. Brandt connects the defensive and attacking lines and looks to play through the lines to find the forwards. They must work to compress the midfield and win the second ball when possession is lost. These players also drop to help play out from the back to start new attacks.

The attacking front line features three players. Beier leads the line as a striker to find the feet of the midfielders or run in behind the defence. Malen and Adeyemi play as wide attackers to stretch the defence. While Malen often cuts inside to create scoring chances, Adeyemi uses his pace to attack the channels. The forwards press from the front to trigger a press and force the opposition to play long balls.

This lineup offers several tactical advantages for BVB. The presence of Ryerson and Bensebaini allows for wide overloads when they overlap the wingers. The team can also exploit speed of transition to catch opponents out of position. Having a back five ensures compactness when defending in a low block.

This 5-2-3 formation is designed for a team that wants to stay solid while hitting opponents on the break. It is best suited for games against teams that play a high line and leave space to exploit.