Borussia Dortmund Football Formation

Starting Lineup

A heavy emphasis on rapid transitions and direct attacking defines this Borussia Dortmund lineup in a 5-2-3. The team looks to soak up pressure before breaking lines with vertical passes to exploit space behind the opposition defense. This formation is built to play a high pressing game when the ball is lost, while remaining compact and difficult to break down when sitting deep.

Kobel protects the goal as the last line of defense. The back line consists of a central trio where Can sits in the middle to direct the unit, flanked by Anton on the left and Süle on the right. Both Anton and Süle provide aerial strength and cover large spaces when the team pushes up. On the flanks, Ryerson and Svensson operate as wing backs to provide width. Ryerson is expected to overlap to send crosses into the box, while Svensson provides defensive cover and pushes forward to support the attack.

The midfield functions as a double pivot to bridge the gap between defense and the front three. Sabitzer works to drive the ball forward and break lines with his passing range, while Brandt acts as a creator to link the play. These two midfielders must track back to help the defense and cover the space left by the advancing wing backs. Their job is to win the ball back and immediately find the attackers to trigger a counter attack.

In the final third, Borussia Dortmund utilizes three attackers to stretch the opposition. Guirassy acts as a lone striker to hold up the ball and bring others into play. On the wings, Sancho and Adeyemi act as inverted wingers who look to cut inside and create goal scoring chances. Adeyemi uses his pace to run into channels, while Sancho looks to find pockets of space to deliver passes or shoot. This front line presses high to force mistakes from the opponent.

One major advantage of this 5-2-3 formation is the ability to create wide overloads when Ryerson and Svensson push high. This forces the opposing wingers to track back and leaves them tired. Another strength is the compactness when defending, as the five defenders and two midfielders can sit deep to deny space between the lines. The team is also very dangerous during transitions, using the speed of Adeyemi and Sancho to catch opponents out of position.

This formation offers a solid defensive base while maintaining a lethal threat on the break. It is best suited for matches against teams that commit many players forward and leave space behind their midfield.