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Monaco Football Formation

Creation DateDecember 4, 2024

Starting Lineup

Kohn · Salisu · Kehrer · Singo · Zakaria · Camara · Caio · Teze · Ben Seghir · Akliouche · Balogun

Monaco focuses on a high press and rapid transitions through a 5-2-3. This formation is built to squeeze the pitch and use the width of the wings to attack the opposition. The lineup allows the team to be vertical and strike quickly once they win possession in the middle third. By using this formation, they can quickly move from a defensive block to an attacking state.

Kohn works between the posts to command the defensive unit. The back line functions as a back five with Singo, Kehrer, and Salisu occupying the central roles. Salisu is dominant in the air and provides cover while Kehrer plays as a ball playing defender to progress through the thirds. Singo can step up to intercept passes or track back to defend the flanks. Caio and Teze act as attacking wing backs to provide width and push high up the pitch. This unit can shift as a single block to squeeze the space in front of the goal.

The midfield relies on a double pivot consisting of Zakaria and Camara. Zakaria acts as the carrier to drive forward with the ball and shield the defense. Camara works to win the second ball and connect the defensive and attacking lines. Zakaria uses his pressing intensity to win it back high up the pitch and disrupt the opponent. They work to intercept passes and recycle possession to find the wingers. This pair helps to compress the midfield and deny the pivot of the opposition.

Monaco uses three attackers across the front to stretch the defence. Balogun acts as a pressing centre-forward to pin the last defender and find the feet of the striker. Ben Seghir and Akliouche function as inverted wingers who cut inside to find space in the half spaces. Ben Seghir uses his dribbling style to move between the lines and create tension. The wing backs, Caio and Teze, overlap the wingers to whip it in or get to the byline. This movement creates many runs in behind and cutbacks for the striker to finish.

The team gains tactical advantages through wide overloads from overlapping wing backs. Monaco can also press high in coordinated waves to force a long ball from the opposition. The speed of transition allows the players to hit in behind on the transition very effectively. They often find numerical superiority in wide areas by combining the wingers with the attacking wing backs.

This 5-2-3 formation is a high intensity lineup designed for aggressive pressing. It is best suited for games against teams that struggle to play out from the back.