Grêmio Football Formation

Starting Lineup

1- Tiago Volpi
18- João Pedro
44- Rodrigão*
3- W. Leonardo
25- L. Esteves
8- Arthur Melo*
20- M. Villasanti
7- Gabriel P.*
11- M. Monsalve
9- F. Amazu
22- M. Braithwaite

Grêmio favors a direct and high pressing style of play using a 4-5-1 formation. This lineup is built to squeeze the pitch and win the ball high up the pitch to catch opponents out of position. The team looks to sit in a compact mid-block and then transition quickly once the ball is recovered.

Tiago Volpi starts between the posts to organize the defensive unit. The back line operates as a flat back four, with L. Esteves and João Pedro occupying the wide positions. Rodrigão and W. Leonardo form the central pairing, where they must defend zonally and cover for one another. Rodrigão provides aerial strength in the box, while W. Leonardo focuses on tracking runners and holding the line. The full backs are tasked with staying relatively narrow to prevent the opposition from playing through the middle, only pushing up when the midfield has secured the ball.

A five man midfield provides the engine for Grêmio. Arthur Melo operates as a deep lying playmaker pairing alongside M. Villasanti, who acts as a single pivot to shield the defence. Arthur Melo uses his passing range to move the ball from deep, while Villasanti focuses on breaking up play and winning the second ball. Moving higher, Gabriel P. and F. Amazu act as inverted eights, looking to arrive late into the box or press in a mid-block. M. Monsalve connects the defensive and attacking lines, often dropping into half spaces to help recycle possession and find the feet of the striker.

The attacking movement relies on a lone striker, M. Braithwaite, who plays as a pressing centre forward. Braithwaite works to pin the last defender and hold up the ball to bring the midfielders into the play. When the team wins the ball, the wide midfielders and full backs look to stretch the defence by spreading wide. This creates space for Braithwaite to work in combinations or for the midfielders to hit in behind on the transition. The goal is to use the work rate of the front five to force long balls from the opposition.

The main advantages of this Grêmio formation are the numerical superiority in the central midfield and the ability to press in pairs. By crowding the middle, the team can easily deny the turn to opposition playmakers and force them wide. The coordination between the five midfielders allows the team to maintain compactness when defending a lead or a deep block.

This 4-5-1 formation is a robust choice for a team looking to control the center of the pitch. It is best suited for facing opponents that rely heavily on central playmaking and short passing through the middle.