Borussia Dortmund Football Formation

Starting Lineup

Borussia Dortmund relies on a high intensity, vertical style of play using a 5-2-3 formation. This lineup is built to exploit space quickly through rapid transitions. The team seeks to win the ball and move forward with pace to catch the opposition before they can settle.

Kobel plays in goal as the last line of defense. The back five features Can as the central anchor who sweeps behind the line to cover errors. Anton and Bensebaini sit as the other two central defenders to win the header and defend zonally. Ryerson and Svensson act as attacking wing backs who push high to provide width. They work to squeeze the space and prevent the opposition from playing through the middle.

A two man midfield consisting of Sabitzer and Brandt manages the center of the pitch. Sabitzer works to carry the ball forward and win the second ball to maintain momentum. Brandt acts as the link between the defense and the attack, often looking to receive on the half-turn to play through the lines. They must press in a mid-block to deny the opponent space and protect the defensive unit.

The attacking trident features Beier as a lone striker who works to hold up the ball. Sancho and Adeyemi look to play through the lines to find the feet of the striker in the box. Using his dribbling style, Sancho cuts inside to create passing lanes, while Adeyemi uses his pace to hit in behind on the transition. To provide width, the wingers pull wide and allow Ryerson and Svensson to overlap and whip it in. This formation creates frequent runs in behind and allows the team to attack in combinations.

Borussia Dortmund gains several advantages with this formation. Wide overloads are created by the wing backs, forcing the opposition to defend much larger areas of the pitch. The team also possesses incredible speed of transition to catch opponents out of position. Additionally, the ability to press high in coordinated waves allows them to win the ball back high up the pitch.

This 5-2-3 formation is a high intensity tool for quick, vertical attacking. It is best suited for matches against teams that play a high line and leave space for runners to exploit.