Real Madrid Football Formation

Starting Lineup

L. Hernández 21 · T. Hernández 19 · Courtois 1 · Hakimi 2 · Rodri 16 · Haaland 9 · Ødegaard 10 · Valverde 8 · Mbappé 7 · Vini Jr. 11 · van Dijk 4 (C)

Real Madrid aims to win the ball high up the pitch and strike quickly through a high press. This 5-2-3 formation is built to play vertical football. The team seeks to win the second ball and hit in behind on the transition to catch opponents out of position.

Courtois sits in goal to protect the area, using his reach to stop shots. The defensive unit plays with a back five. Rodri occupies the central role to shield the defence while van Dijk 4 (C) acts as the leader. van Dijk 4 (C) uses his aerial strength and positioning to win the header and clear the lines. L. Hernández plays as a wide centre-back to cover the space. T. Hernández and Hakimi act as attacking wing backs to provide width. They push high to overlap the winger and stretch the defence.

In the middle of the pitch, Valverde and Ødegaard form a double pivot. Ødegaard uses his passing range to play through the lines and find the feet of the striker. Valverde provides the engine to carry the ball forward and connect the defensive and attacking lines. Valverde will also press aggressively to win the ball high. The pair must work to squeeze the space and deny the turn of opposing midfielders.

The front line uses three attackers to pin the opposition back. Mbappé plays as an inverted winger on the left to cut inside and find space. Vini Jr. stays wide on the right to isolate a one on one wide. Haaland acts as a central striker to hold up the ball and win the second ball. This trio works to break quickly when the ball is won, looking to deliver early passes to the runners.

One major advantage for Real Madrid is the ability to create wide overloads. When Hakimi and T. Hernández push up, they create a lot of space to cross on the run. The team also offers a high speed of transition. The combination of Mbappé and Vini Jr. allows the team to hit in behind on the transition with great pace.

This 5-2-3 formation is a lethal way to play when looking to exploit space behind a high line. It is best suited for games where the team wants to win the ball high and break quickly.