Roma Football Formation

Starting Lineup

1 Cragno (99 Tyton)
6 Howell (5 Tamla Ladji)
23 Colombi (vc) (3 Oueraogo)
13 Kantari (19 Gudelj)
20 Marconi (17 Bangoura)
10 Succi (C) (4 Curiale (vc))
59 Martinez (18 Castro)
14 Vandessbuche (15 Kamghain)
92 El Shaarawy (7 Casadei (vc))
29 Ben Khalifa (21 Dybala)
9 Welbeck (90 Lukaku)

Roma plays a highly vertical style of football focused on controlling the central areas of the pitch with a 3-6-1 formation. This lineup relies on dominating the middle third to launch quick attacks and sustain pressure in the opponent half. By stacking the midfield, Roma aims to win the ball back quickly and move it forward through central passing lanes.

Cragno stays between the posts to organize the defensive line. A back three consisting of Kantari, Colombi, and Howell forms the core of the defensive unit. Colombi, acting as the vice captain, leads the group through positioning and communication. Kantari covers the left channel while Howell occupies the right side to ensure the defense stays compact. This back three is tasked with staying deep to prevent long balls and must step up together to play an offside trap or track runners.

The midfield is a dense engine room that relies on a double pivot to manage the center. Succi, the captain, sits in the left defensive role to shield the back three and intercept passes. Marconi plays the right defensive role alongside him to provide extra cover. Ahead of them, Martinez and Vandessbuche operate in the central spaces to break the lines with their passing and drive the team forward. This four man central block connects the defense to the attacking layers.

In the attacking phase, Roma utilizes wide attackers to stretch the opposition. El Shaarawy operates on the right side to cut inside and create chances, while Ben Khalifa occupies the left side to provide additional creativity. Welbeck acts as the lone striker, tasked to hold up the ball and make runs into the box. The forwards press high to force mistakes, allowing the attacking midfielders to pounce on loose balls in dangerous areas.

This formation offers significant numerical superiority in the center of the pitch, making it difficult for opponents to pass through. The presence of six midfielders allows Roma to create overloads that overwhelm traditional four man midfields. Additionally, the compact nature of the lineup when defending deep makes it hard for teams to find gaps between the lines. The quick transition from the midfield block to Welbeck allows for rapid goal scoring opportunities.

This 3-6-1 formation is built to dominate possession and control the rhythm of the game through central density. It is best suited for matches against teams that play with a narrow midfield where Roma can exploit the space on the flanks.