Como Football Formation

Starting Lineup

Perrone · Van der Brempt · Engelhardt · Dossena · Caqueret · Braunöder · Cutrone · Paz · Da Cunha · Strefezza · Audero

This Como lineup focuses on a high press and rapid transitions through a 2-5-3 formation. The team looks to win the ball high up the pitch to drive the game forward immediately. It is a formation built to dominate the middle of the park and use heavy numbers to control the tempo of the match. Aggressive positioning and direct play allow the team to dominate the ball.

Audero acts as the goalkeeper to anchor the back line. Operating with a narrow back two, Engelhardt and Dossena act as the central defenders. These players play a high line to squeeze the space and catch opponents offside. Dossena and Engelhardt must stay compact to prevent being split. They must be ready to step up and intercept passes while being ready to cover the wide areas if the midfield is bypassed. The pair works to play short from the back to build the attack.

The midfield is a large block of five players that controls the center of the pitch. Perrone and Van der Brempt sit in a double pivot to shield the defense and win the second ball. Moving ahead of them, Caqueret and Braunöder act as central midfielders to carry the ball forward and recycle possession. Paz plays as the attacking ten in the hole to connect the lines and play through the lines. This group links the defensive unit to the attackers by finding the feet of the striker. They work to compress the midfield and deny the pivot of the opposition.

The attacking unit features three players tasked with stretching the opponent. Cutrone leads the line as a central striker to hold up the ball and pin the last defender. Strefezza and Da Cunha act as wide wingers who look to cut inside or pull wide to create crossing opportunities. They pull wide to stretch the defence and aim to get to the byline to deliver early balls into the box. The movement is designed to create runs in behind and drive quick combinations in the final third.

A key strength for Como is the numerical superiority in the center of the pitch. Having five midfielders allows the team to win the second ball and squeeze the space between the lines. Another advantage is the ability to press in coordinated waves, using the front three and Paz to trigger a press high up the pitch. This coordination between the midfielders and forwards is essential for this high-intensity style. Such pressure forces the opponent to play long and allows the team to win the ball back high to hit in behind on the transition.

This 2-5-3 formation is built to dominate the center and overwhelm opponents through sheer volume of players. It is best suited for matches against teams that prefer to play out from the back and can be caught by a high press.