Besiktas Football Formation

Starting Lineup

mert / berke · musa barrow · rafa silva · alisson santana · thomas partey · jorginho · de vrij · Lindelöf · mauro junior · ola aina · moussa dembele

Besiktas look to play a direct and counter attacking style using a 5-4-1 formation. This lineup relies on being defensively solid and looking to break quickly when they win the ball. The team seeks to absorb pressure before finding ways to hit the opposition on the transition.

Moussa Dembele acts as the last line of defense in goal. The back five consists of a central trio made up of Rafa Silva, Thomas Partey, and Jorginho. Jorginho plays as the left centre back and provides cover while Thomas Partey operates as the right centre back to win the second ball. Rafa Silva sits in the middle to organize the line. On the flanks, Alisson Santana plays as the left wing back to provide width, while Musa Barrow functions as the right wing back. These two wide defenders are expected to push up to help the midfield and overlap the wide players during attacks.

A flat four-man midfield sits ahead of the defensive block. Lindelöf and De Vrij operate as the central pair, where Lindelöf works to press in a mid-block and De Vrij helps to recycle possession. They connect the defensive unit to the forward. Ola Aina plays on the right side of the midfield to provide energy, while Mauro Junior occupies the left side. This group works together to squeeze the space between the lines and prevent opponents from playing through the middle.

The attacking movement revolves around a lone striker, Mert / Berke, who must hold up the ball to allow others to join the play. This striker works to pin the last defender and create space for the midfielders to arrive late into the box. The attack is built through quick transitions where the wing backs, Alisson Santana and Musa Barrow, aim to deliver crosses into the area. The team uses the width of the pitch to stretch the defence and looks to find the feet of the striker.

Besiktas possess a few tactical advantages with this setup. The five-man back line offers compactness when defending deep in their own half. They can also use the speed of transition to catch opponents out of position. The width provided by the wing backs creates opportunities to isolate wide players in one on one situations.

This 5-4-1 formation focuses on a heavy defensive block and rapid counter attacks. It is a setup best suited for matches against teams that dominate possession and leave space behind their high line.