Grêmio Football Formation

Starting Lineup

T.Volpi/G.Grando (1) · W.Leonardo/Jemerson (3) · L.Esteves/L.Cândido (25) · J.Pedro/I.Serrote (18) · G.Cuellar/Camilo (6/15) · M.Villasanti/Edenilson (20/8) · M.Monsalve/F.Cristaldo (7/10) · C.Oliveira/C.Pavón (99/26) · F.Amuzu/A.Aravena (11/16) · M.Braithwaite/M.Arezo (22/9) · J.Romanã/G.Martins (13/53)

Grêmio seeks to maintain a defensive block and win the ball back through a compact 5-4-1 formation. This lineup is built to play a counter attacking style of football, relying on defensive solidity to frustrate the opposition before hitting them on the transition. The primary goal is to sit deep and remain hard to break down while staying ready to strike quickly.

T.Volpi acts as the goalkeeper to command the penalty area. The defensive unit operates with a back five, utilizing G.Cuellar as the central centre-back to anchor the line. To his sides, W.Leonardo and J.Romanã act as wide centre-backs, providing cover and winning the second ball. The wing backs, L.Esteves on the left and J.Pedro on the right, are tasked with providing width, though they must track back to maintain a narrow defensive block when the opposition has the ball.

The midfield functions as a flat four to clog the center of the pitch. M.Villasanti operates as the single pivot to shield the defence and disrupt play. Next to him, C.Oliveira and F.Amuzu work to control the half-spaces, while M.Monsalve occupies the remaining central role to connect the lines. This group aims to squeeze the space between the lines, ensuring that the opposition cannot play through the middle easily. They must work together to press in a mid-block and force the opponent to play wide.

Up front, M.Braithwaite plays as a lone striker, acting as a focal point to hold up the ball. He is expected to fight for long balls and wait for support from the advancing midfielders. The attack is built through quick transitions where the wing backs provide the width to stretch the defence. M.Braithwaite must also lead the way to press the opposition back line, attempting to win the ball high up the pitch to create sudden scoring opportunities.

This formation offers Grêmio significant tactical advantages, particularly in its ability to maintain compactness when defending. By sitting deep with five defenders and a bank of four midfielders, the team makes it very difficult for opponents to find gaps. Another strength is the potential for speed of transition, as the wing backs and midfielders can quickly move the ball forward to M.Braithwaite once possession is regained.

This 5-4-1 formation is designed to frustrate teams that dominate possession by sitting in a low block. It is best suited for matches against heavy favourites where Grêmio can exploit spaces left behind during an opponent's attack.