Borussia Dortmund Football Formation

Starting Lineup

Borussia Dortmund utilizes a 5-2-3 formation designed to play with high intensity and rapid transitions. This lineup focuses on winning the ball high up the pitch to launch quick attacks against the opponent. It is a setup built for verticality, looking to exploit spaces behind the opposition defense through speed.

Kobel stays between the posts to command the area and act as the first point of distribution. The defensive unit sits in a back five, where Can acts as the central anchor to organize the line and hold his position. Anton and Bensebaini provide cover on either side of the central block, focusing on aerial strength and intercepting passes. Ryerson and Svensson operate as wing backs, tasked with providing width and covering the flanks to stop crosses. The whole unit works to stay compact and shift side to side to block passing lanes.

The midfield functions as a double pivot that connects the defense to the forward line. Sabitzer acts as a driving force in the middle, using his energy to press opponents and break the line with vertical passes. Chukwuemeka works alongside him to shield the back five and provide stability when the team loses possession. These two players must cover large amounts of ground to prevent the opposition from playing through the center.

Borussia Dortmund uses three attackers to stretch the opposition defense. Beier leads the line as a lone striker, tasked to hold up the ball and occupy the central defenders. Sancho and Adeyemi occupy the wide areas as inverted wingers, looking to cut inside and create goal scoring opportunities. The wingers press high to force turnovers, while the wing backs push up to provide crosses from deep.

This formation offers significant tactical advantages, such as the ability to press high in coordinated waves with the front three. The presence of Ryerson and Svensson allows for wide overloads when they overlap the wingers. This creates numerical superiority in the final third and isolates wide players in one on one situations. The back five also ensures the team remains defensively solid when they sit deep.

This 5-2-3 lineup relies on speed and vertical passing to catch opponents out of position. It is best suited for matches against teams that play with a high line or struggle to handle rapid counter attacks.