Shakhtar Football Formation

Starting Lineup

29 Carnesecchi (28 Rui Patricio)
23 Mancini (C) (4 Izzo)
14 Tomori (3 P. Marì)
5 Pongracic (27 Vojvoda)
18 Barella (6 Gilmour)
8 Pasalic (80 Musah)
2 Dumfries (**(27 Vojvoda))
22 Ruggeri (33 Miranda)
98 Dennis Man (19 Gyasi)
11 Lookman (35 Baldanzi)
9 Thuram (18 Castro)

Shakhtar looks to dominate through a vertical style of play, utilizing a 3-4-3 formation to stretch the opposition. This lineup is built to attack with speed and use wide areas to create scoring chances. The goal is to win the ball back high up the pitch and move forward with pace to catch the defense out of position.

Carnesecchi starts in goal to command the area and organize the defensive line. The back three consists of Mancini (C), Tomori, and Pongracic. Mancini (C) acts as the right centre-back to lead the unit, while Tomori operates as the central defender to cover the space behind. Pongracic plays as the left centre-back to maintain a solid line. This defensive unit functions by holding a high line to squeeze the space between the lines and ensures they are ready to sweep behind if the opposition tries to hit in behind.

In the middle of the pitch, the team employs a two-man midfield with Pasalic and Barella. Barella is known for his high work rate and ability to drive forward with the ball, while Pasalic provides balance to help connect the defense to the attack. The midfield works to protect the back three and looks to win the second ball in the center. Dumfries and Ruggeri operate as wide midfielders in this setup, providing the width needed to spread the defense.

The attacking front three features Lookman, Thuram, and Dennis Man. Thuram acts as the central striker to hold up the ball and lead the press from the front. Lookman and Dennis Man play as wide attackers who cut inside to create central overloads. This front line is designed to create runs in behind and use combinations to split the defense. When attacking, the wingers will often pull wide to create space for the midfielders to arrive late into the box.

Shakhtar gains a clear advantage through the ability to create wide overloads with Dumfries and Ruggeri pushing forward. The presence of Barella and Pasalic allows the team to maintain control and recycle possession effectively when needed. This formation also allows for a very fast transition when winning the ball, which can catch opponents who are caught too high up the pitch.

This 3-4-3 lineup is built for a high tempo game that relies on quick transitions and wide play. It is best suited for facing opponents who play with a high defensive line and can be punished by speed.