Borussia Dortmund Football Formation

Starting Lineup

kobel · frimpong · anton · anselmino · bensebaini · couto · tonali · bellingham · mastantuono · guirassy · suarez

Borussia Dortmund utilizes a 3-5-2 formation that aims to control the center of the pitch through high intensity. The lineup is built to play a vertical style of football where the team looks to break the line quickly once possession is won. This system relies on a heavy press to force turnovers in the middle third, allowing the team to transition rapidly from defense to attack.

Kobel operates as the goalkeeper, acting as the last line of defense and sweeping up long balls when the line steps up. The back three consists of anselmino, bensebaini, and anton. Anton acts as the right central defender, while bensebaini covers the left side, and anselmino sits in the middle to provide height and aerial strength. This defensive unit works as a compact block, with the central defenders pushing up to squeeze the space between the lines.

The midfield functions with a high degree of energy and technical skill. Tonali plays as a deep driver who shields the defense and breaks the line with his passing range. Alongside him, bellingham uses his driving runs and pressing intensity to link the defense to the attack. Mastantuono operates in the attacking midfield role, finding pockets of space to create chances. The wide midfielders, frimpong and couto, provide the necessary width to stretch the opposition.

In the final third, Borussia Dortmund uses two forwards to pressure the opponent. Guirassy and suarez work as a strike partnership, with guirassy often tasked to hold up the ball and suarez making runs into the box. The attack relies on the wide players, frimpong and couto, to overlap and deliver crosses into the area. This movement creates a central presence that forces defenders to drop deep, leaving gaps for the midfielders to exploit.

This formation offers significant tactical advantages, particularly through numerical superiority in the center of the park. By having five players in the middle, the team can easily outnumber opponents and dominate possession. Another strength is the ability to create wide overloads when frimpong and couto push forward to join the attack. This creates constant pressure on the opposing full backs and allows the team to switch play quickly to the flanks.

This 3-5-2 formation is designed for a team that wants to dominate the middle and play with high intensity. It is best suited for matches against opponents who play a narrow formation and struggle to track runners from deep.