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Borussia Dortmund Football Formation

Creation DateJune 24, 2025

Starting Lineup

KOBEL · SÜLE · ANTON · BENSEBAINI · RYERSON (Y. COUTO) · SABITZER (CHUKWUEMEKA) · GROSS (JOBE BELLINGHAM) · SVENSSON · ADEYEMI (NMECHA) · BRANDT (J. GITTENS) · GUIRASSY

Borussia Dortmund looks to control matches through high pressing and quick transitions using a 3-4-3. This formation is built to play a vertical style of football that looks to win the ball high up the pitch and strike quickly before the opposition can settle. The lineup relies on heavy pressure and rapid movement to stretch the opposition.

Gregor Kobel guards the goal as the last line of defense. The back three consists of Anton, Bensebaini, and Süle who play as a zonal line. Anton acts as the central anchor to hold the line while Süle provides aerial strength and Bensebaini covers the left side. This defensive unit functions to squeeze the space when the team pushes up and ensures they can recover quickly if the ball is lost.

In the middle of the pitch, Borussia Dortmund employs a two man midfield. Pascal Gross acts as the deep lying playmaker to recycle possession and connect the defense to the attack. He works alongside Marcel Sabitzer who has a high work rate to drive forward with the ball and press aggressively. Sven Svensson and Julian Ryerson operate as wide midfielders who provide the width and are expected to track back when defending.

The attacking unit features three players across the front. Serhou Guirassy acts as the central striker to hold up the ball and lead the press. On the flanks, Karim Adeyemi and Julian Brandt work as inverted wingers who cut inside to create chances. This movement creates space for the wide midfielders to overlap and allows the team to attack in combinations through the half spaces.

This formation offers several tactical advantages for the club. The presence of three central defenders provides compactness when defending against wide attacks. By using two central midfielders, the team can create numerical superiority in the middle of the pitch to control the tempo. Additionally, the speed of Adeyemi and Brandt allows the team to hit in behind on the transition to catch opponents off guard.

The 3-4-3 formation provides a strong balance between defensive stability and attacking width. It is best suited for matches against teams that play with a high line and can be exploited with rapid vertical play.