Borussia Dortmund Football Formation

Starting Lineup

Borussia Dortmund aims to control the center of the pitch and strike with high intensity using a 3-5-2. This formation is built to play a high press and use quick transitions to catch opponents out of position. By using a heavy midfield presence, the team looks to dominate the middle areas and win the second ball to keep the pressure on the opposition.

Kobel sits between the posts to command the area and sweep behind a high line when the defense pushes forward. The back three consists of Anton, Schlotti, and Mané, who operate as a zonal line to protect the center. Schlotti acts as a ball playing defender to help play out from the back, while Anton provides aerial strength and Mané covers the space to the side. This unit works to squeeze the space between the lines and maintain a compact defensive block.

The midfield functions as a three man midfield with a carrier to move the ball through the thirds. Nmecha sits in the single pivot role to shield the defense and disrupt play. Jobe and Chuku operate as the central pair, where Jobe looks to connect the defensive and attacking lines while Chuku looks to arrive late into the box. On the flanks, Svensson and Couto act as attacking wing backs, pushing up to provide width and stretching the defense.

In the attacking phase, Borussia Dortmund utilizes two forwards in a partnership to pin the last defender. Beier plays as a pressing centre-forward to trigger a press from the front, while Brandt operates in the hole to find the feet of the striker or make runs in behind. The team builds play by using the wing backs to spread wide, creating space for Brandt and Beier to combine in tight spaces or receive the ball on the half-turn.

One major advantage for Borussia Dortmund is the ability to create wide overloads when Svensson and Couto overlap the winger. The central trio of Nmecha, Jobe, and Chuku allows for numerical superiority in midfield to control the rhythm of the game. This formation also allows the team to press in coordinated waves to win it back high up the pitch.

This 3-5-2 formation is a high intensity setup designed to overwhelm opponents through central density and wide attacking runs. It is best suited for games where the team needs to dominate possession or punish teams that play a high line.