Athlético Paranaense Football Formation

Starting Lineup

Dantas (04, Novorizontino) · Negrucci (04, São Paulo) · Japa (04, Cruzeiro) · Kauê Camargo (04, Corinthians) · Wallace Yan (05, Flamengo) · Ruan Carvalho (06, Criciúma) · Augusto Pucci (07, Sport) · Germán Barrios (04, Defensor-URU) · André Lucas (06, Palmeiras) · Arthur Maron (07, Sport) · Gabriel Delfino (09, Vila Nova)

Athlético Paranaense utilizes a formation designed to be defensively solid and rely on quick transitions. This 5-3-2 formation focuses on maintaining a compact defensive block and using wide areas during the transition to attack. The team looks to sit deep and wait for the right moment to strike.

Kauê Camargo stands between the posts to guard the goal. The defensive lineup features a back three consisting of Negrucci, Ruan Carvalho, and Dantas. Negrucci acts as the central man in this trio, while Ruan Carvalho and Dantas cover the spaces to the left and right. André Lucas and Gabriel Delfino operate as attacking wing backs, providing width in the defensive line. These wing backs must track back to help the central three when the opposition has the ball, creating a five man unit. The back three focuses on winning the second ball and marking the opposing strikers to prevent them from turning.

The midfield works to connect the back line to the front two. Germán Barrios and Augusto Pucci operate as a double pivot to protect the defense and recycle possession. Japa plays in the hole as an attacking midfielder to link the play. Germán Barrios and Augusto Pucci work to shield the defense and win the ball back in a mid block. Japa looks to find space between the lines to receive the ball and drive forward. This midfield unit is tasked with pressing the opposition to prevent them from playing through the thirds.

Athlético Paranaense attacks with a two man partnership up front. Arthur Maron and Wallace Yan lead the line, often working in combinations to break the opposition defense. Arthur Maron and Wallace Yan act as two forwards who can run in behind or hold up the ball for Japa. When the team wins the ball, André Lucas and Gabriel Delfino push high to provide width, allowing the strikers to stay central. The team aims to hit in behind on the transition by using the speed of the forwards and the overlapping runs from the wing backs.

This formation offers great compactness when defending. By having three central defenders and a double pivot, the team makes it hard for the opponent to play through the middle. Another strength is the ability to create wide overloads. As André Lucas and Gabriel Delfino push forward, they can overlap the attackers to send crosses into the box. This forces the opposition to deal with both central and wide threats during a counter attack.

The 5-3-2 formation makes Athlético Paranaense a difficult team to break down. It is best suited for matches against teams that dominate possession, allowing them to sit deep and strike on the break.