Sampdoria Football Formation

Starting Lineup

Sampdoria focuses on a direct and vertical style of play using a 3-5-2 formation. This lineup seeks to control the middle of the pitch through a crowded midfield to launch quick attacks. The team relies on strength in the central areas to win the second ball and move the play forward with speed.

In goal, Ghidotti acts as the last line of defense. The back line operates as a back three consisting of Veroli on the left, Riccio in the center, and Meulensteen on the right. Veroli and Meulensteen cover the wide areas when the wing backs push up, while Riccio acts as the central defender to win headers and clear the lines. This defensive unit stays compact to prevent gaps between the lines and can shift as a single block to deny space to the opposition.

The midfield setup uses a single pivot with Yepes shielding the defense. Akinsanmiro and Kasami operate as the central midfielders to connect the defense to the attack. Akinsanmiro works to press aggressively to win the ball high, while Kasami looks to carry the ball forward and recycle possession. On the flanks, Venuti and Barreca act as wing backs to provide width. Venuti plays from the left half space to support the attack, while Barreca pushes up the right side to deliver crosses.

The attack features a partnership of two forwards. Coda plays as the target man to hold up the ball and provide a focal point, while Tutino plays as a second striker to make runs in behind the defense. They combine in tight spaces to pull the opposition defenders out of position. The wing backs, Venuti and Barreca, overlap the forwards to create numerical superiority on the flanks. This movement allows the team to hit in behind on the transition and stretch the defense.

One major strength of this Sampdoria lineup is the ability to create wide overloads when the wing backs join the attack. The formation also allows for compactness when defending in a mid-block, making it hard for opponents to play through the middle. By having five players in the center, they often achieve numerical superiority in midfield to control the tempo.

This 3-5-2 formation is built for teams that want to control the central zones and strike quickly on the break. It is best suited for matches against opponents that leave space behind their full backs.