Borussia Dortmund Football Formation

Starting Lineup

Borussia Dortmund operates with a heavy high press and direct verticality using a 3-4-3 formation. This lineup aims to win the ball high up the pitch and immediately look to exploit gaps in the opponent's defensive line. The football played by Borussia Dortmund is built to catch teams in transition and stretch the defence through rapid movements.

Kobel acts as the last line of defence, providing a reliable presence behind the back three. Anton sits in the centre of the defensive unit to hold the line and win headers. Gadou and Schloterbach occupy the wide centre-back roles, where they must cover wide areas and step up to intercept passes. The defensive unit functions by maintaining a high line to squeeze the space and trigger a press when the ball enters their zone.

The midfield works as a four man unit to control the center and provide width. Bellingham operates as a carrier who drives forward with the ball to break the line, while Nmecha works to win the second ball and connect the defensive and attacking lines. On the flanks, Ryeson and Svesson act as wide midfielders who provide much needed width to stretch the opposition. This group seeks to compress the midfield and deny the turn to opposition players during the transition.

Up front, the team utilizes three attackers to pin the last defender and create chaos. Guirassy acts as the central presence to find the feet of the striker and hold up the ball for others. Karetsas and Baier play as wide attackers who cut inside to threaten the goal and create combinations in tight spaces. This front three is designed to press from the front, forcing a long ball and allowing the defensive unit to recover the ball.

One major advantage of this lineup is the ability to press high in coordinated waves, making it difficult for opponents to play out from the back. The team also creates wide overloads when Ryeson and Svesson push forward to support the attackers. This setup allows for a rapid speed of transition that catches many opponents out of position.

The 3-4-3 formation is built for aggressive, high intensity football that seeks to dominate through pressing. It is best suited for games against teams that struggle to play under pressure or leave large gaps behind their midfield.