Borussia Dortmund Football Formation

Starting Lineup

Borussia Dortmund looks to play with a verticality that relies on rapid transitions and a heavy press. This 5-2-3 formation focuses on creating defensive stability before launching quick attacks through the wings. The lineup is built to sit in a mid-block and win the ball back to exploit space behind the opposition defense.

De Wit stands between the posts to command the area. The defensive unit operates as a back five, using three central defenders to hold the line. Xaver and Milan act as the wide centre-backs to cover the channels, while Wagner sits in the middle to win the second ball. Wagner provides strength in the air and keeps the line organized. On the flanks, Wallace and de Franceso act as attacking wing backs to provide width and support the attack. Wallace pushes high to overlap the winger, while de Franceso looks to whip it in from the left side.

The midfield consists of a two-man central pairing. de Graaff and Lämmel work to control the center of the pitch. de Graaff acts as a carrier to drive forward with the ball, while Lämmel helps to shield the defense and recycle possession. They must press aggressively to win the ball high and prevent the opponent from playing through the lines. This duo connects the back five to the front three, ensuring the team can move from a defensive block into an attacking phase without losing control of the middle.

In the final third, Borussia Dortmund employs three attackers. Lambert acts as the lone striker, working to hold up the ball and find the feet of his teammates. Kitt and Diaz operate as wide attackers. Kitt tends to cut inside from the left to create space, whereas Diaz stays wide to stretch the defense and look for one on one situations. The forwards press from the front to force a long ball from the opposition. This setup creates many runs in behind, especially when the wing backs push up to support the wide players.

One major advantage of this formation is the ability to create wide overloads by using the wing backs and wingers together. The back five also provides compactness when defending, making it hard for opponents to find gaps. Another strength is the speed of transition when de Graaff or Lämmel win the ball and immediately find the front three.

This formation is built for teams that want to absorb pressure and hit teams on the break. It is best suited for matches against opponents that play with a high line and leave space behind their defenders.