Atalanta Football Formation

Starting Lineup

1 (BUGLI)
2 (ASIATICO)
6 (COLLEONI)
3 (ALIPRANDI)
11 (LYKHOLIT)
4 (AFFRONTI)
8 (DRAGAN)
5 (ZAFFALON)
7 (ZOLI)
9 (MICHIELETTO)
10 (BONO)

Atalanta plays with a high pressing and vertical identity. This 3-5-2 formation is built to win the ball back high up the pitch and attack the opposition defense quickly. The team works to squeeze the space and move forward in waves to disrupt the opponent.

In goal, 1 sits behind a central defensive unit. The back three consists of 6, 5, and 2. These defenders function as a zonal line to protect the center. 6 and 5 work to cover space while 2 can step up to intercept passes or engage attackers. They hold the line to prevent runs in behind and work together to protect the goal. The defenders must stay compact to deny the turn to attacking players.

The midfield functions as a three-man midfield with a carrier. 8 and 4 act as a central pair to shield the defense and win the second ball. 7 operates as an attacking ten in the hole to find the feet of the forwards or arrive late into the box. On the flanks, 3 and 11 act as attacking wing backs. They provide width and overlap the midfielders to stretch the defence. This central pairing connects the defensive unit to the attack by carrying the ball forward and playing through the lines.

Up front, 9 and 10 operate as a strike partnership. They press from the front to force a long ball from the opposition. 10 often looks to link up play between the lines while 9 stays central to find space in behind. The two forwards work together to create combinations in tight spaces. They use runs in behind and look to receive the ball on the half-turn to split the defence with a through ball.

This formation offers great numerical superiority in the middle of the park. By using 3 and 11 as wing backs, the team can create wide overloads against a back four. The ability to press high in coordinated waves makes it hard for opponents to play out from the back. The team is very strong at winning the ball back high up the pitch and breaking quickly during transitions.

This 3-5-2 is a high energy system designed for aggressive attacking. It is best suited for games where the team wants to dominate the ball and force the opponent into mistakes.