Torino Football Formation

Starting Lineup

21 Hart (30 Padelli)
2 Zouma (36 Darmian)
3 Kaya (19 Maksimovic)
33 N'Koulou (vc) (5 Benedetti)
26 Avelar (23 Kongolo)
6 Acquah (8 Baselli (vc))
15 Benassi (C) (57 Dellafiore)
20 Sissoko (22 Obi (rit.))
18 Montero (10 Payet)
17 Iturbe (14 Iago Falqué)
9 Belotti (vc) (91 Zapata (rit.))

Torino relies on a heavy defensive presence and rapid transitions through a 5-2-3 formation. This lineup is built to sit deep and strike with speed once the ball is won. By covering the width of the pitch with five defenders, the team aims to remain compact and hard to break down while looking to use the wide areas to launch attacks.

Between the posts, Hart acts as the final line of defense. The back five consists of Acquah, Kaya, and N'Koulou in the central roles, acting as a dense wall to protect the middle. N'Koulou serves as the vice captain and helps lead the line from the left of the central block. The wing backs, Avelar and Zouma, are tasked with covering the entire flank, acting as defenders when the team sits deep and pushing up to provide width when moving forward. This setup makes the central zone very difficult to penetrate.

The midfield functions as a double pivot tasked with heavy work in the middle of the pitch. Benassi, the captain, operates in the right central role to control the tempo and link the defense to the attack. Beside him, Sissoko works to win the ball and drive forward, providing energy in the transition. This pair must stay disciplined to avoid leaving the back five exposed, while also making sure they connect the defensive unit to the front three.

In the final third, Torino uses three attackers to stretch the opposition. Belotti leads the line as the focal point, using his physical presence to hold up the ball and win headers. Montero stays wide on the right to provide service, while Iturbe operates on the left, looking to cut inside and create chances. The goal is to use the wing backs to overlap the wide attackers, creating extra passing lanes and forcing the opposition to defend against numerical overloads in the wide channels.

One major advantage for Torino is the compactness of the defensive block, which makes it very hard for opponents to find space between the lines. The formation also provides the ability to hit in behind on the transition, using the pace of the wide players and the movement of Belotti. Having five defenders allows the team to shift easily to cover both flanks, ensuring they are rarely outnumbered in wide areas.

This formation is a defensive wall built for teams that want to control the game through solidity and sudden breaks. It is best suited for matches against high possession sides where Torino can soak up pressure and strike on the counter.