Freiburg Football Formation

Starting Lineup

Jordy Makengo · Lukas Kübler · Noah Atubolu · Matthias Ginter · Phillip Lienhart · Maximilian Eggestein · Johan Manzambi · Jan-Niklas Beste · Patrick Osterhage · Igor Matanovic · Derry Scherhant

Freiburg favors a high tempo and direct game using a 4-2-4 formation. This lineup aims to stretch the opposition by using wide players to create space for the central attackers. By pushing four players high, the team looks to win the ball back high up the pitch and hit the opposition on the transition.

Noah Atubolu stays between the posts to manage the defensive line. The back four works as a unit, with Lukas Kübler acting as an attacking full back to provide width on the right. Jordy Makengo plays on the left to help balance the side. In the middle, Matthias Ginter and Phillip Lienhart form the central pairing, with Ginter providing aerial strength and Lienhart covering the space behind the high line to defend zonally.

A double pivot sits in front of the defense to control the center of the pitch. Patrick Osterhage and Maximilian Eggestein work together to shield the back four and recycle possession. Eggestein drives forward with the ball to connect the defensive and attacking lines, while Osterhage stays deeper to deny the pivot of the opposition. This duo is responsible for winning the second ball and quickly finding the front four when the ball is recovered.

The attacking unit consists of two central forwards and two wide players. Igor Matanovic and Johan Manzambi play as a partnership up front, with Matanovic acting as a pressing centre-forward to harass the opposition back line. Derry Scherhant and Jan-Niklas Beste occupy the wide areas, with Scherhant looking to cut inside from the left. The team relies on these attackers to make runs in behind and use the width to pull defenders out of position.

This formation offers great speed of transition when the team breaks quickly. The wide positioning of Scherhant and Beste creates wide overloads, which can isolate wide players in one on one situations. By committing so many players forward, Freiburg can also press high in coordinated waves to force a long ball from the opponent.

The 4-2-4 formation is built for aggressive, vertical football. It is best suited for matches where the team needs to overwhelm an opponent through direct attacking play.