Levante Football Formation

Starting Lineup

1. Adrià Ruiz (13. Iván García)
26. Siriki
2. Mario Sorio
5. Javier Nüñez
3. Izan Olmos
18. Unai Tirado
6. Aarón Ndive
20. Biel Gutiérrez
7. Abdoulie Jawo
9. Andrei Roates
27. Asier Cano

Levante looks to play a vertical brand of football centered on quick transitions and defensive solidity through a 5-2-3 formation. This lineup is built to absorb pressure and then hit the opposition with speed once the ball is won. The team relies on a compact block to squeeze the space between the lines and use the width of the pitch to stretch the opponent during attacks.

Adrià Ruiz sits between the posts to organize the defensive unit. The back line operates as a back three with Unai Tirado acting as the central defender to command the area and win headers. Mario Sorio occupies the right side of this central trio while Javier Nüñez covers the left. Siriki acts as an attacking wing back on the right to provide width and track back when needed. Izan Olmos occupies the left wing back role to support the defense and push forward. This group functions by maintaining a tight zonal line to deny any through balls.

The midfield consists of a two man unit designed to provide stability. Aarón Ndive and Biel Gutiérrez operate in the middle to protect the back three and win the second ball. These two players work to connect the defense to the attack by recycling possession and looking to pass through the lines. They must press aggressively in a mid-block to force a long ball from the opposition and then look to break quickly once they intercept a pass.

Levante utilizes three attackers to stretch the opposition defense. Andrei Roates acts as the lone striker to hold up the ball and pin the last defender. Abdoulie Jawo plays as a wide winger on the right to isolate opponents one on one, while Asier Cano operates on the left to cut inside and create chances. The front three press from the front to disrupt the build up play of the opposition. This setup creates runs in behind and allows for overlaps from the wing backs to arrive late into the box.

One major advantage for Levante is the ability to create wide overloads. When Siriki and Izan Olmos push high, they create numerical superiority against the opposing full backs. The team also benefits from compactness when defending, making it difficult for opponents to find gaps in the center. This ability to shift between a low block and a high press provides a tactical flexibility that can catch teams off guard during a transition.

This 5-2-3 formation provides a strong platform for a team that wants to defend deep and strike on the break. It is best suited for matches against ball dominant teams where Levante can sit deep and exploit the space left behind their high defensive line.