RB Salzburg Football Formation

Starting Lineup

Krätzig · Lainer · Rasmussen · Gadou · Ratkov · Vertessen · Konaté · Gourna-Douath · Kjærgaard · Bidstrup · Schlager

RB Salzburg prefers to play with high pressing and quick verticality through a 5-2-3 formation. This lineup aims to win the ball high up the pitch and strike immediately before the opposition can settle. The team relies on heavy energy levels to force turnovers and push the opponent back into their own half.

Schlager stays between the posts to organize the defensive unit. The back line operates with three central defenders where Gourna-Douath sits in the middle to hold position while Gadou and Rasmussen provide cover on either side. Gadou and Rasmussen act as the primary ball playing defenders to start attacks. The wing backs, Lainer as the RWB and Krätzig as the LWB, push high up the pitch to provide width. They must track back quickly to prevent crosses when the team loses possession.

The midfield works with a double pivot consisting of Kjærgaard and Bidstrup. These two players must cover a lot of ground to protect the back three. Bidstrup works to break the line with forward runs while Kjærgaard connects the defense to the attacking unit. They sit in the middle of the pitch to intercept passes and prevent the opponent from playing through the center. This duo serves as the engine that allows the wing backs to push forward.

RB Salzburg uses three attackers to pressure the opposition defense. Ratkov acts as the lone striker to hold up the ball and fight for aerial duels. Vertessen and Konaté operate as wide attackers, with Vertessen cutting inside from the left and Konaté looking to find space on the right. This front three presses in coordinated waves to force mistakes. Their movement creates space for Lainer and Krätzig to overlap and deliver crosses into the box.

One major strength is the ability to press high in coordinated waves to win the ball close to the goal. The presence of three attackers combined with the wing backs creates wide overloads that force defenders out of position. Another advantage is the speed of transition, as the team moves the ball from the midfield to Ratkov and the wingers with very few passes. This makes them dangerous when the opponent is caught in between lines.

This formation is built to dominate through relentless pressure and vertical passing. It is best suited for games against teams that struggle to play out from the back under intense pressure.