Real Madrid Football Formation
June 20, 2025
Starting Lineup
MBAPPE · MASTANTUONO · STILLER · BELLINGHAM · TRENT · GULER · GONZALO · BISSECK · HUIJSEN · THIAW · COURTOISReal Madrid aims to play a vertical style of football using a 3-4-3 formation. This lineup focuses on winning the ball high up the pitch and hitting the opposition in transition. The goal is to use wide players to stretch the defence and create chances quickly.
Courtois acts as the last line of defence in goal. The back three consists of Bisseck, Huijsen, and Thiaw. Huijsen stays central to hold the line while Bisseck and Thiaw act as wide centre-backs to cover the wide areas. Bisseck and Thiaw can step up into midfield to help play out from the back. The defensive unit works to squeeze the space and catch opponents offside.
In the middle of the pitch, a four-man midfield connects the defence to the attack. Stiller plays as a deep-lying playmaker to recycle possession and shield the back three. Guler operates alongside him to drive forward with the ball and find the feet of the striker. Trent and Bellingham occupy the wide areas. Trent can overlap the winger to deliver early crosses, while Bellingham uses his driving runs to press aggressively and carry the ball forward.
The attack features three players across the front line. Mbappe operates from the left as an inverted winger who cuts inside on his right foot. Mastantuono stays wide on the right to pull defenders away and create space. Gonzalo plays as the lone striker to hold up the ball and pin the last defender. This front three works to press the opposition back line and prepare for quick breaks. They look to combine in tight spaces to split the defence with a through ball.
This formation offers several tactical advantages for Real Madrid. The wide areas are often overloaded when Trent and Mastantuono work together to push high. There is also a great ability to press high in coordinated waves because of the positioning of Bellingham and the front three. The team is built for speed of transition, making them dangerous when they win the second ball in the middle of the pitch.
This 3-4-3 lineup is built for heavy attacking and aggressive pressing. It is best suited for matches against teams that play a high line and leave space behind their defenders.