Athlético Paranaense Football Formation

Starting Lineup

23- Santos
29- G. Benavídez
33- F. Aguirre
3- Léo Pelé
37- L. Esquivel
5- Felipinho
17- S. Mendoza
9- K. Viveros
10- B. Zapelli
19- L. Fernando
88- Patrício

Athlético Paranaense relies on a compact central presence to dictate the tempo of the game in a 3-5-2. This formation is built to play a high press and use quick verticality to catch opponents off guard. The goal is to win the ball in the middle third and immediately move it forward to the two strikers. By keeping the lines close together, the team creates a difficult block for opponents to pass through.

In the defensive unit, Santos acts as the lone goalkeeper to organize the back three. F. Aguirre holds the center of the defense, acting as the main stopper to win headers and block shots. G. Benavídez and Léo Pelé operate as the wide defenders in this back three. G. Benavídez provides cover on the right while Léo Pelé covers the left. These players are expected to step up to intercept passes and shift across the pitch to maintain a tight defensive unit.

The midfield functions as the engine of the team, utilizing a central block to control the game. Patrício and Felipinho act as a double pivot to shield the back three and win the ball back quickly. B. Zapelli plays in the pocket as an attacking ten, looking to break the line with a pass to the forwards. L. Esquivel and S. Mendoza provide the necessary width by working as wingbacks. They must track back to help the defense and then push up to overlap the midfield.

The attack uses two forwards to occupy the opposition's central defenders. L. Fernando and K. Viveros work as a strike duo that focuses on playing centrally. L. Fernando often leads the press to disrupt the opponent's build up, while K. Viveros looks to hold up the ball and bring others into play. The team builds attacks by using the width of L. Esquivel and S. Mendoza to switch play or deliver crosses into the box.

A key strength of this lineup for Athlético Paranaense is the numerical superiority found in the central areas of the pitch. Because Patrício, Felipinho, and B. Zapelli occupy the middle, they can often outnumber a standard midfield. Additionally, the team uses wide overloads when the wingbacks push high to join the attack. This movement forces the opposition to sit deep and creates more space in the middle for the strikers to run into.

This 3-5-2 formation provides a strong balance between central density and wide coverage. It is best suited for facing teams that play with a narrow midfield or struggle to deal with constant pressure from wingbacks.