Inter Football Formation

Starting Lineup

LAUTARO (Pio Esposito) · HENRIQUE (Mkhitaryan, Frattesi) · M.THURAM (Bonny) · DIMARCO (Augusto) · SUCIC (Diouf) · BARELLA (Zielinski, Calhanoglu) · DUMFRIES (Darmian) · BASTONI (Palacios) · ACERBI (De Vrij) · PAVARD (Bisseck) · JOSEP (Sommer)

Inter operates with a high pressing identity using a 3-4-3. This lineup is built to win the ball high up the pitch and use verticality to break lines quickly. The team wants to control the ball and spread wide to stretch the defence and create gaps in the middle.

JOSEP guards the goal behind a back three. ACERBI sits in the middle as a central defender who is dominant in the air and holds the line. PAVARD acts as the right centre-back to cover the space, while BASTONI plays as the left centre-back and uses his passing range to play out from the back. DIMARCO and DUMFRIES act as attacking wing backs to provide width, but they must track back to form a defensive block when the team sits deep to defend zonally.

A four man unit runs the midfield. BARELLA plays as a carrier with high pressing intensity to win the ball back high and disrupt the opponent. SUCIC works in the middle to connect the defensive and attacking lines and recycle possession. DUMFRIES and DIMARCO push high to provide width, which allows the central midfielders to occupy the half spaces. This allows the team to progress through the thirds with confidence.

Three attackers lead the front line. LAUTARO plays as the striker and uses his pressing intensity to find the feet of his teammates or make runs in behind. M.THURAM acts as an inverted winger on the right to cut inside, while HENRIQUE stays wide on the left to provide width. The wing backs then overlap to whip crosses in towards the far post. This creates many combinations to hit in behind on the transition and catch defenders.

Several tactical advantages are offered by this formation. Inter can create wide overloads from overlapping full backs when the wingers are supported by their wide players. Another strength is the ability to press high in coordinated waves to win the ball in the final third. This also allows for great speed of transition to exploit the space when the opponent is caught out.

A high pressing system built for aggressive attacking defines this 3-4-3 formation. It is best suited for matches against teams that play a low block where Inter can use their width to break the lines.