Fiorentina Football Formation

Starting Lineup

DE GEA · COMUZZO (Marí) · RANIERI (Pongracic) · GOSENS (Parisi) · DODO · MANDRAGORA (Cataldi) · ADLI (Richardson) · FAGIOLI (Ndour) · ZANIOLO (Folorunsho) · KEAN (Beltran) · GUDMUNSSON (Colpani)

Fiorentina aims to win the ball high up the pitch and strike quickly through a vertical attacking system. This 5-2-3 formation relies on aggressive wing backs to provide width while the central core remains compact to defend transitions. The team uses the width of the pitch to stretch the opposition before looking to play through the lines.

In goal, DE GEA acts as the last line of defense. The defensive unit operates in a back five that can shift effectively depending on where the ball sits. MANDRAGORA anchors the center alongside COMUZZO and RANIERI. MANDRAGORA is dominant in the air and provides a physical presence to win the second ball. COMUZZO and RANIERI act as the wider central defenders to cover the space behind the wing backs. GOSENS and DODO function as attacking wing backs, pushing high to provide service while tracking back to maintain a narrow defensive block when out of possession.

The midfield operates as a double pivot to control the center of the pitch. FAGIOLI and ADLI are responsible for connecting the defense and attack. FAGIOLI works to shield the defense and press in a mid-block to win possession. ADLI drives forward with the ball to carry the ball forward and move the team into the final third. This pair must stay disciplined to ensure they do not leave the central defenders exposed during an attack.

Up front, the team uses three attackers to pin the last defender. KEAN operates as a pressing centre-forward to force long balls from the opposition. GUDMUNSSON and ZANIOLO play as wide wingers who cut inside to create central overloads. GUDMUNSSON looks to find the feet of the striker or whip it in from wide areas. ZANIOLO uses his dribbling style to beat his man and drive into the box. The frontline works in combinations to create runs in behind.

Fiorentina gains a massive advantage through wide overloads when GOSENS and DODO overlap the wingers. The formation also offers great compactness when defending, making it very difficult for opponents to play through the middle. This setup allows for quick speed of transition once the ball is won in the middle third.

This 5-2-3 lineup is built for teams that want to dominate wide areas while remaining defensively solid. It is best suited for matches against opponents who play with a high line and can be caught on the break.