Union Berlin Football Formation

Starting Lineup

Union Berlin plays a high energy, vertical style of football using a 2-5-3 formation. This lineup focuses on dominating the middle of the pitch and winning the ball back high up the pitch. The team wants to move the ball forward with speed to catch the opposition before they can get organized.

Rønnow works as the goalkeeper behind a narrow defensive line. Leite and Doekhi serve as the two central defenders who must be dominant in the air and capable of playing out from the back. They often play a high line to keep the team compact and will step up to intercept passes. Because they are only two defenders, they must be ready to cover the space behind them and track back quickly if the opposition breaks.

The midfield is the engine of the Union Berlin side and features five players who work to compress the center and win the second ball. Juranovic and Rothe act as a double pivot to shield the defense and protect the two center backs. R. Khedira and Tousart act as players who drive forward with the ball and occupy the half spaces to connect the lines. Schäfer plays as the attacking ten to find pockets of space and arrive late into the box to score. This group works to win it back high up the pitch.

In the attacking phase, the team uses three forwards to stretch the defense. Volland acts as the central striker to hold up the ball and find the feet of his teammates in tight spaces. Vertessen and Skov play as wide attackers to provide width and isolate defenders in one on one situations. Vertessen often cuts inside to create more central presence while Skov looks to get to the byline and whip it in. The movement is designed to create runs in behind and quick combinations during the transition.

The formation provides several tactical advantages, including numerical superiority in the middle of the pitch. Having five midfielders allows the team to recycle possession and control the game. The formation also allows for wide overloads when the players push up. The ability to transition quickly allows the team to exploit space when the opposition is out of position.

The 2-5-3 is an aggressive formation built for high intensity pressing and vertical play. It is best suited for games against opponents that struggle to play through a crowded midfield.