Union Berlin Football Formation

Starting Lineup

Doekhi · Querfeld · Leite · Skov · Juranovic · Tousart · R. Khedira · Schäfer · Volland · M. Ljubicic · Rønnow

Union Berlin is built to be defensively solid and play with verticality using a 3-5-2 formation. The team focuses on staying compact and using quick transitions to catch opponents out. This formation is designed to win the ball and move quickly through the thirds to exploit gaps in the opposition defense.

Rønnow stays between the posts to organize the back three. Leite, Doekhi, and Querfeld form a narrow defensive block that makes it hard for teams to play through the middle. Doekhi acts as a ball playing defender who can carry the ball forward, while Querfeld is dominant in the air to win the header during set pieces. The whole unit works to squeeze the space and force the opponent to play wide.

The midfield functions as a three-man midfield with a carrier to link the lines. Tousart and R. Khedira sit in the middle to shield the defence and win the second ball. Schäfer operates as an attacking ten behind the strikers to connect the play and arrive late into the box. Skov and Juranovic provide width by pushing up the flanks to support the attack and then track back to help the defenders.

Up front, the team uses two forwards in a partnership. Volland acts as a pressing centre-forward who works to harass the opposition back line and hold up the ball. M. Ljubicic plays as a second striker to find space between the lines and make runs in behind. The attack relies on Skov and Juranovic to spread wide and deliver crosses to the two forwards.

One major advantage for Union Berlin is the ability to maintain compactness when defending in a mid-block. The midfield trio can quickly shift to cover the width of the pitch and deny the turn of opposition players. Another strength is the speed of transition when they win it back high up the pitch. The team can move from a deep block to an attacking movement instantly to hit in behind on the transition.

This 3-5-2 formation provides a reliable way to defend deep and strike on the break. It is best suited for matches against teams that dominate possession, allowing the side to sit deep and counter at pace.