Empoli Football Formation

Starting Lineup

1.ISAAC 05 (190 DX)
5. ULMA (185 SX)
6 FERRINI 07 (183 DX)
7. NICOLOSI 06 /MAKA (185 DX / 190 DX)
3. MANGIAMELI (177 SX)
4. LOREFICE (180 DX)
10. GUEHI (187 DX)
8. SILLAH (178 DX)
2. DI STEFANO/ MUSUMECI06 (177 DX / 175 DX)
9. FRITTITTA (183 DX)
11. CRISIGLIONE 05/MASCAR (182 DX / DX 177)

Empoli looks to control the middle of the pitch through a compact 3-5-2. This formation is built to win the second ball and react quickly to turnovers. By using a dense central presence, the team aims to dominate the central zones and use verticality to hurt opponents in transition.

Isaac starts in goal to command his area. In front of him, the back three consists of NICOLOSI 06 /MAKA, ULMA, and 6 FERRINI. This back three functions as a zonal line that can shift together to close gaps. 6 FERRINI acts as the right centre-back to cover the wide areas, while NICOLOSI 06 /MAKA provides coverage on the left. ULMA sits in the middle to organize the line and act as the primary defender when the team plays out from the back.

The midfield is the engine of this Empoli lineup. A three-man midfield features LOREFICE, DI STEFANO/ MUSUMECI06, and MANGIAMELI working to control the tempo. LOREFICE helps to shield the defence, while DI STEFANO/ MUSUMECI06 and MANGIAMELI work to connect the defensive and attacking lines. Further forward, GUEHI and SILLAH operate in the half-spaces as attacking midfielders to press high and win the ball back. This group works to compress the midfield and ensure no space is left between the lines.

Up front, the team uses two forwards in a partnership to stretch the defence. CRISIGLIONE 05/MASCAR and FRITTITTA operate as the front two, looking to make runs in behind the opposition. These attackers press from the front to force a long ball from the opponent. They often combine in tight spaces to create openings, using the support from GUEHI and SILLAH to link up play between the lines. The goal is to isolate defenders in one on one situations through quick combinations.

One major strength of this setup is the numerical superiority in midfield, which allows the team to dictate play. The presence of GUEHI and SILLAH behind the strikers ensures the team can press in coordinated waves to win it back high up the pitch. Another advantage is the ability to hold a compact shape when defending, making it very difficult for opponents to play through the middle.

This 3-5-2 formation relies on central dominance and quick transitions to unsettle the opposition. It is best suited for games against teams that play with a single pivot or struggle to deal with high pressing in the middle third.