Borussia Dortmund Football Formation

Starting Lineup

Borussia Dortmund relies on a direct and vertical style of play through a 3-4-3 formation. The lineup is built to play with a high press to win the ball back quickly. This team aims to win it back high up the pitch to launch rapid attacks.

Kobel guards the goal and provides stability from the back. The defensive unit uses a back three consisting of Anton, Itakura, and Schlotterbeck. As a right centre-back, Anton stays solid to cover the space. Itakura serves as a ball playing defender who can progress through the thirds with precise passes. Schlotterbeck acts as a left centre-back and can step up into midfield to help control the center. This unit works together to maintain a high line and set the offside trap.

A central pairing and wide players control the pitch in midfield. Sano and Nmecha sit in a double pivot to protect the back three. Nmecha is tasked to shield the defense and recycle possession, while Sano works to carry the ball forward. Svensson and Ryerson play as wide midfielders to provide the necessary width. Ryerson pushes high to act as an attacking wing back, while Svensson must track back to ensure the team does not get caught on the break. This group works to compress the midfield and deny the turn to opposition players.

Guirassy leads the attack as a lone striker who can hold up the ball and win the second ball. He works to pin the last defender and find the feet of his teammates. Adeyemi plays on the left as an inverted winger who looks to cut inside and hit in behind on the transition. Doan operates on the right and seeks to stretch the defense by pulling wide before looking to play through the lines. This front three will press from the front to force a long ball from the opposition defense.

A major advantage for Borussia Dortmund is the ability to create wide overloads when Ryerson and Doan move into similar zones. The team also uses the speed of transition to catch opponents out of position. By pressing in pairs, the players can squeeze the space and win the ball in dangerous areas.

The 3-4-3 formation serves as a high intensity system for attacking teams. This formation is ideal when facing opponents that struggle to play out from the back under pressure.