Roma Football Formation

Starting Lineup

Svilar (Gollini) · Mancini (Ghilardi) · Ndicka (Ziolkowsky) · Hermoso (KOULIERAKIS) · Konè (Pisilli) · El Aynaoui (Cristante) · X (MORA / Pellegrini) · Dybala (Soulè) · Wesley (X) · MOLINA (Rensch) · Malen (CASTRO / Vaz)

Roma relies on a high press and rapid transitions in a 5-2-3 formation. This lineup is built to win the ball high up the pitch and strike quickly before the opponent can settle. By using a heavy offensive presence, Roma looks to stretch the defence and create chaos in the final third.

Svilar acts as the last line of defence, positioned to sweep behind the back line when needed. The defensive unit operates in a back five consisting of Hermoso, Ndicka, and Mancini in the central roles. Mancini leads the line as the dominant presence in the air, while Ndicka and Hermoso provide cover and step up to intercept passes. The width comes from attacking wing backs, with Molina on the right and Wesley on the left, both tasked to push high to provide crosses and support the attack.

The midfield features a double pivot consisting of El Aynaoui and Konè. These two work to shield the defence and win the second ball in the middle of the pitch. El Aynaoui looks to connect the defensive and attacking lines, while Konè uses his physical presence to drive forward with the ball and press aggressively. This pairing is vital to ensure the team does not get bypassed during transitions, as they must quickly recycle possession or break quickly to support the front three.

In the attacking phase, Roma employs three attackers across the front. Malen acts as the pressing centre-forward, looking to find the feet of the striker or knock it in behind the defenders. Dybala operates as an inverted winger on the right, cutting inside to create chances and play through the lines. X occupies the left wing to stretch the play, while the movement of the front line creates runs in behind for the wing backs to exploit. The forwards press the opposition back line heavily to force a long ball or a mistake.

This formation offers significant tactical advantages through wide overloads and a heavy press. When Wesley and Molina overlap the winger, they create numerical superiority in the wide areas. The coordinated waves of pressing from Malen, Dybala, and X make it difficult for opponents to play out from the back. Additionally, the back five provides compactness when defending deep, making it very hard for teams to find space between the lines.

The 5-2-3 formation provides Roma with a potent way to transition from a solid block into a devastating attack. It is a setup best suited for games against opponents who struggle to handle high pressure and quick vertical play.