Bari Football Formation

Starting Lineup

DONNARUMMA · Reyes · THIAW · DORGU · Dest · RICCI/LAVIA (Chuvwuemeka) · Kjaergaard (Favasuli?) · Leonardi (Gùl) · SESKO · Miretti (MUSAH) · Paz/ MALDINI (Malouda)

Bari looks to control games through a high press and quick verticality in a 5-3-2. This formation relies on winning the ball high up the pitch to catch opponents out of position. The team aims to use the width of the pitch before hitting the opposition defense with direct runners.

Gianluigi Donnarumma guards the goal for Bari. The defensive lineup uses a back five that can shift easily. Reyes and Ricci/Lavia hold the central spots to win the second ball, while Thiaw acts as a ball playing defender to progress through the thirds. Dest operates as a right wing back to provide width, while Dorgu plays as the left wing back to push high. This unit stays compact to deny the turn to attackers and relies on the center backs to cover space when the wing backs push forward.

The midfield functions as a three man midfield with a carrier and a creator. Kjaergaard works to drive forward with the ball, while Miretti connects the defensive and attacking lines. Paz/ Maldini plays as an attacking ten behind the striker to find the feet of the striker or play through the lines. This trio works to squeeze the space in the middle and trigger a press when the opposition tries to build from the back.

The attack features two forwards in a partnership. Leonardi and Sesko work together to stretch the defence. Sesko acts as a pressing centre-forward to force a long ball from the opposition, while Leonardi looks to receive on the half-turn and pull wide. They use combinations to hit in behind on the transition, often looking for runs in behind or cutbacks from the byline. The wing backs, Dest and Dorgu, provide the necessary width to isolate wide players in one on one situations.

Bari can use the formation to create wide overloads from overlapping full backs. The presence of Sesko and Leonardi allows for a heavy press from the front, which can win it back high up the pitch. This setup provides great compactness when defending in a mid-block.

The 5-3-2 formation offers a balance between defensive solidity and rapid counter attacks. It is best suited for matches against teams that dominate possession and require a strong block to exploit on the break.