Borussia Dortmund Football Formation

Starting Lineup

Serhou Guirassy · Julian Ryerson · Waldemar Anton · Nico Schlotterbeck · Ramy Bensebaini · Emré Can · Pascal Groß · Marcel Sabitzer · Jamie Gittens · Niklas Süle · Gregor Kobel

Borussia Dortmund aims to win the ball back high up the pitch and strike with speed. This 4-5-1 formation is built to press heavily and use transitions to punish the opposition. The team works to squeeze the space in the middle while remaining ready to burst forward when possession is regained.

Gregor Kobel guards the goal and acts as the last line of defense. The back line functions as a flat back four where Niklas Süle plays as a right back and Ramy Bensebaini operates as the left back. Emré Can and Waldemar Anton act as the central defenders to hold the line and win headers. These players aim to stay compact to ensure they do not get caught out when the team pushes high.

The midfield unit works hard to control the center of the pitch. Nico Schlotterbeck and Julian Ryerson form a double pivot to shield the defense and intercept passes. Pascal Groß and Jamie Gittens operate in the half spaces to connect the defense to the attack. Marcel Sabitzer plays as an attacking ten behind the striker to find pockets of space. This group seeks to win the second ball and quickly move the ball forward through the thirds.

In the final third, the team relies on Serhou Guirassy as a lone striker. Guirassy works to hold up the ball and wait for support from the runners. The attackers press from the front to force a long ball from the opposition. When the team moves into attack, the midfielders like Marcel Sabitzer arrive late into the box to add presence. The wide players look to spread wide to stretch the defense before looking to play through the lines.

This lineup offers several advantages for Borussia Dortmund. The double pivot of Nico Schlotterbeck and Julian Ryerson provides security to prevent counter attacks. The high press triggered by Serhou Guirassy and Marcel Sabitzer allows the team to win it back high up the pitch. This creates opportunities to catch the opponent while they are out of position.

The 4-5-1 formation is a high intensity system built for pressing and quick transitions. It is best suited for games against teams that struggle to play out from the back under pressure.