Bologna Football Formation

Starting Lineup

1 Benaglio (31 Oblak)
5 De Vrij (C) (12 Moore)
3 Milosevic (18 Kongolo)
4 Denswil (vc) (6 Banana)
7 Templeton (26 Marshall)
8 Mahlangu (20 Bryzgalov)
17 Medel (vc) (14 Ward-Prowse)
16 Aranguiz (25 Bruce)
19 Barkley (23 Welbeck)
11 Jesé (10 Crofts)
29 Dost (9 Arnautovic)

Bologna aims to be defensively solid while hitting teams on the break using a 5-3-2. This formation is built to sit deep and defend the central areas, waiting for the right moment to move the ball forward into the final third. The lineup focuses on staying compact to deny space between the lines before launching quick attacks.

Benaglio stays between the posts to command the area. The back line operates as a back five, featuring a trio of central defenders with Medel and Mahlangu acting as the left and right centre-backs. Medel and Mahlangu provide the physical presence to win the second ball, while Milosevic sits in the middle to sweep behind. The wing backs, Denswil and De Vrij, are tasked with covering the entire flank. De Vrij, the captain, provides leadership from the right side, while Denswil moves up to provide width. This unit works to keep a narrow defensive block to force the opposition outside.

The midfield consists of a three-man midfield with a carrier and creative players in the middle. Barkley plays a central role to connect the defensive and attacking lines, often moving the ball from deep to find the forwards. Aranguiz works to press aggressively to win the ball high and provides cover for the central area. Templeton links the play by finding pockets of space and helping to recycle possession. This group aims to compress the midfield and prevent the opposition from playing through the lines.

In the final third, Bologna utilizes two forwards in a partnership. Dost and Jesé operate as a duo, with Dost leading the line to find the feet of the striker and Jesé looking to make runs in behind. The attack relies on the wing backs to provide width, with Denswil and De Vrij pushing high to create overlaps. When the ball is won, the team looks to break quickly, using the space behind the opposition defense. The forwards must hold up the ball to allow the midfield to join the attack.

A major strength of this Bologna lineup is the compactness when defending, which makes it hard for opponents to find gaps in the center. The back five provides heavy cover, allowing the wing backs to push up without leaving the defense exposed. This formation also creates speed of transition, as the midfield and forwards can move forward in unison to exploit a disorganized defense.

This 5-3-2 formation is built to frustrate dominant teams by staying organized and compact. It is best suited for matches against high-possession opponents where the team can exploit space on the counter.