Borussia Dortmund Football Formation

Starting Lineup

Serhou Guirassy · Karim Adeyemi · Jobe Bellingham · Pascal Groß · Daniel Svensson · Yan Couto · Marcel Sabitzer · Filippo Mané · Waldemar Anton · Ramy Bensebaini · Gregor Kobel

Borussia Dortmund plays a very direct and aggressive style of football using a 3-3-4 formation. This lineup is built to overwhelm opponents through a high press and quick verticality. The main goal is to win the ball high up the pitch and attack the goal immediately to keep the opposition on the back foot.

In goal, Gregor Kobel uses his reach and shot stopping to command the area and keep the defense organized. The defensive unit consists of a back three made of Waldemar Anton, Filippo Mané, and Ramy Bensebaini. Waldemar Anton acts as the central defender to win the header and stay dominant in the air. Filippo Mané and Ramy Bensebaini act as wide centre backs who can step up to intercept or cover the space behind the midfield. The back line holds a high line to squeeze the space and keep the team compact during the press.

The midfield acts as a three man midfield with a carrier to link the defensive and attacking lines. Marcel Sabitzer works to press aggressively to win the ball high and uses his passing range to switch play across the pitch. Daniel Svensson and Yan Couto occupy the other central spots in the middle. Yan Couto carries the ball forward to drive the play, while the unit works to win the second ball and recycle possession. This group aims to bypass the midfield quickly to reach the attacking fourth.

The attack is led by two forwards in a partnership with Serhou Guirassy and Karim Adeyemi. Serhou Guirassy uses his strength to hold up the ball and find the feet of the striker, while Karim Adeyemi uses his pace to hit in behind on the transition. Pascal Groß and Jobe Bellingham play as wide wingers who cut inside to add more central presence and create space for others. This attacking unit is designed to create runs in behind and use cutbacks from the byline to punish the defense.

A major advantage for Borussia Dortmund is the ability to press high in coordinated waves. Having four players close to the opposition defense allows them to pin the last defender and force a long ball. This formation also allows for great speed of transition, moving from a defensive block to an attacking threat in seconds. The team can also create wide overloads if the wingers and midfielders coordinate their runs to stretch the defense.

This 3-3-4 formation is best suited for a high intensity game where the team can dominate the ball in the final third. It is a perfect tool for facing teams that try to play short from the back under heavy pressure.