RB Leipzig Football Formation

Starting Lineup

Raum · Haidara · Lukeba · Orban · Klostermann · Nusa · Baumgartner · Bakayoko · Schlager · Seiwald · Gulacsi

RB Leipzig focuses on a high press and quick transitions to catch opponents off guard. This 5-2-3 formation is built to play vertical football, moving the ball from defense to attack with great speed. The team wants to win the ball high up the pitch and use wide players to stretch the defence.

Gulacsi stands in goal to organize the back line. The defense uses a back five that can shift to a narrow defensive block when the team sits deep. Seiwald acts as the central defender to sweep behind the high line, while Lukeba and Orban play as the left and right centre-backs. Orban provides aerial strength and helps to clear the lines. Raum operates as an attacking wing back on the left, and Klostermann acts as the right wing back to cover the flank and overlap the winger.

The midfield works as a double pivot. Schlager and Haidara occupy the central roles to control the middle of the pitch. Schlager uses his pressing intensity to win the ball back, while Haidara carries the ball forward to connect the defensive and attacking lines. They work to protect the back five and ensure they do not get outnumbered in transition. This pairing helps the team recycle possession and play through the lines.

In the final third, the team uses three attackers across the front. Baumgartner plays as the lone striker to find the feet of the midfielders and hold up the ball. Nusa and Bakayoko act as wide attackers, with Nusa cutting inside to create chances and Bakayoko looking to isolate his man. The wing backs, Raum and Klostermann, push high to provide width and whip it in towards the box. This movement creates runs in behind and allows players to attack the near post or far post.

The lineup offers several tactical advantages. RB Leipzig can press high in coordinated waves, using the front three to trigger a press. This allows them to win it back high up the pitch. Another strength is the ability to create wide overloads from overlapping full backs. When Raum and Klostermann push up, they create numerical superiority on the flanks and force the opposition to defend wide.

The 5-2-3 formation is perfect for a team that wants to dominate through aggressive pressing and counter at pace. It is best suited for games against opponents that play a high line or struggle to mark runners in wide areas.