Borussia Dortmund Football Formation

Starting Lineup

ALEXANDER (MEYER) · JOANE (GADOU) · LUCA (REGGIANI) · RAMY (BENSEBAINI) · YAN (COUTO) · ALMUGERA (KABAR) · MUSSA (KABA) · CARNEY (CHUKWUEMEKA) · JUSTIN (LERMA) · SAMUELE (INÁCIO) · FÁBIO (SILVA)

Borussia Dortmund plays with a high pressing identity using a 3-5-2 formation. This lineup is built to win the ball high up the pitch and strike vertically. The team wants to squeeze the space and move the ball quickly to the front line to catch opponents off guard.

ALEXANDER guards the goal to anchor the defensive unit. The back line functions as a back three with LUCA, RAMY, and JOANE. LUCA acts as the central defender to clear the lines and win the header. RAMY and JOANE act as wide centre-backs to cover the spaces when the wing backs push up. They maintain a high line to keep the team compact and use a zonal line to defend the middle.

In the middle of the pitch, JUSTIN operates as the attacking ten behind the two strikers. MUSSA and CARNEY form a central pairing to control the tempo. MUSSA plays to shield the defense and win the second ball, while CARNEY looks to carry the ball forward and connect the defensive and attacking lines. ALMUGERA and YAN provide the width as wing backs. They must track back to help the defense and also push high to overlap the midfield. This helps the team recycle possession and play through the lines.

The attack relies on a two-man partnership featuring FÁBIO and SAMUELE. FÁBIO plays as a pressing centre-forward to force a long ball from the opposition. SAMUELE works to hold up the ball and lay it off to the midfield. The width comes from ALMUGERA and YAN who pull wide to stretch the defence. This movement creates space for JUSTIN to arrive late into the box. The team looks to play short from the back and use quick combinations to hit in behind on the transition.

For Borussia Dortmund, this formation offers several tactical advantages. One key strength is the numerical superiority in the center because MUSSA, CARNEY, and JUSTIN can outnumber many midfields. The wide overloads from ALMUGERA and YAN allow the team to deliver early crosses. Additionally, the compactness when defending makes it hard for opponents to play through the middle.

The 3-5-2 lineup is designed for high intensity and rapid transitions. It is most effective against teams that try to play short from the back and can be caught by a coordinated press.