Lens Football Formation

Starting Lineup

RISSER (83) · UDOL (79) · SARR (81) · BAIDOO (79) · GANIOU (76) · AGUILAR (75) · SANGARE (82) · THOMASSON (80) · SAINT-MAXIMIN (78) · THAUVIN (78) · EDOUARD (78)

Lens plays with a 5-2-3 formation. This lineup is built to play a high press and use rapid transitions to catch opponents out of position. The team looks to win the ball high up the pitch and quickly move it forward to exploit space behind the defensive line.

RISSER stays between the posts to command his area. The back line consists of a central trio with BAIDOO acting as the anchor. SARR and GANIOU provide cover on either side of him. UDOL and AGUILAR act as wing backs who push high to provide width. These wing backs must track back to support the three center backs when the team loses possession. The defensive unit works to stay compact and block passing lanes through the middle.

The midfield relies on a double pivot to control the center of the pitch. SANGARE works to shield the defense and intercept passes before they reach the back three. THOMASSON drives forward to connect the play between the defense and the attackers. This pair must hold their positions to ensure the team does not get caught on the break. They act as the engine that allows the wing backs to push forward.

The attacking front line uses three attackers to stretch the opposition. SAINT-MAXIMIN plays as an inverted winger on the left, using his dribbling style to cut inside. THAUVIN operates on the right side to provide width and delivery. EDOUARD leads the line as a lone striker to hold up the ball and make runs into the channels. This front three presses the opponent immediately to prevent them from building play from the back.

One advantage of this Lens formation is the ability to create wide overloads when UDOL and AGUILAR overlap their wingers. The team also gains numerical superiority in the defensive third when sitting deep. The coordination between the wing backs and the wide attackers makes it hard for opponents to mark everyone. This setup allows the team to switch play quickly to find space.

This 5-2-3 formation focuses on aggressive pressing and quick vertical play. It is best suited for matches against teams that play a high defensive line and leave space in behind.