Union Berlin Football Formation

Starting Lineup

Van Den Bosch · Querfeld · Juranovic · Rothe · Latte Lath · Skov · Schäfer · Kemlein · R. Khedira · Burke · Rønnow

Prioritizing a vertical style of play, Union Berlin operates with a 2-5-3 formation. This lineup is built to win the ball and strike immediately, moving from a defensive block to an attacking stance with great speed. The goal is to bypass the midfield quickly and put pressure on the opposition defense.

Rønnow stays in goal to manage the defensive area for Union Berlin. The back line is a narrow pair of central defenders, with Van Den Bosch and Querfeld acting as the primary shield. These two must be dominant in the air and ready to cover the space behind them if the team plays a high line. Since there are only two defenders, Van Den Bosch and Querfeld must stay close to each other to defend zonally and prevent opponents from playing through the lines.

The midfield is a dense five man unit that controls the center of the pitch. Juranovic and Rothe form a deep-lying pivot to protect the two center-backs and recycle possession. Moving higher, R. Khedira and Kemlein play as inverted eights who drive forward with the ball to bridge the gap between the defense and the attack. Schäfer operates as an attacking ten, looking to pick up runners and find pockets of space in the hole. This formation allows the team to compress the midfield and win the ball back high up the pitch.

Up front, the team employs three attackers to stretch the opposition. Latte Lath leads the line as a pressing centre-forward to pin the last defender and hold up the ball. Skov and Burke act as wide attackers who look to cut inside and create danger in central areas. The aim is to use the width provided by Skov and Burke to create one on one situations while Latte Lath makes runs in behind. Schäfer often arrives late into the box to finish moves as the wingers pull wide.

One major advantage is the numerical superiority in the middle of the park, which helps the team squeeze the space and deny the pivot of the opponent. This density makes it difficult for other teams to pass through the center. Additionally, the team benefits from a high speed of transition, where Juranovic and Rothe can quickly find the front three to hit in behind on the transition.

This 2-5-3 formation creates a heavy central presence while maintaining the ability to counter at pace. It is most effective against teams that rely on slow build up play through the middle.