RB Leipzig Football Formation

Starting Lineup

RB Leipzig aims to dominate through a high press and verticality. This 2-5-3 formation is built to play with extreme aggression to win the ball high up the pitch. The team relies on suffocating the opponent in their own half and using rapid transitions to score. By committing so many players forward, RB Leipzig looks to overwhelm the opposition in every area of the field.

Gulacsi acts as the lone goalkeeper behind a very high defensive line. Lukeba and Orban form the two central defenders who must cover massive amounts of space. Lukeba uses his recovery speed and technical ability to play out from the back and cover for the advancing wide players. Orban provides much needed aerial strength to win the header and clear the lines when under pressure. This back two must stay compact and step up to set the offside trap to prevent runs in behind.

The midfield is a five-man unit that controls the tempo and the central areas. Geertruida and Raum play as wide midfielders who provide width and can overlap the wingers. Seiwald and Schlager form a double pivot to shield the centre-backs and win the second ball. Baumgartner plays as an attacking ten in the hole, acting as the link between the midfield and the attack. He looks to receive on the half-turn and play through the lines to find the forwards.

The attack features three players who constantly push the opposition back line. Openda plays as a pressing centre-forward, using his blistering pace to hit in behind on the transition. Nkunku plays as an inverted winger on the left, looking to cut inside and arrive late into the box. Simons stays wide on the right to stretch the defence and whip it in toward the middle. These three work in combinations to create runs in behind and isolate defenders in one on one situations.

A primary advantage of this lineup is the numerical superiority in the middle of the pitch. The central unit can easily compress the midfield and deny the pivot of the opposition. Furthermore, the team can press high in coordinated waves, which allows them to win it back high up the pitch. This creates constant pressure and prevents the opponent from settling into a rhythm.

This high-intensity 2-5-3 formation is a weapon for teams that want to dictate the game through sheer volume of pressure. It is most effective against opponents who try to play short from the back and can be caught out by the intense press.