Borussia Dortmund Football Formation

Starting Lineup

Kobel (Ramaj/Meyer/Ostrzinski) · Schlotterbeck (Bensebaini) · Anton (Reggiani) · Gaddou (Can/Mane) · Svensson (Prates) · Ryerson (TBD) · Bellingham (Chukwuemeka) · Nmecha (Sabitzer) · Beier (Inácio/Lerma) · Karetsas (TBD) · Guirassy (Silva)

Borussia Dortmund aims to sit deep and strike with speed through a 5-4-1 formation. This lineup is built to stay compact and defend the central areas, waiting for the right moment to hit in behind on the transition. The team relies on a disciplined block to absorb pressure before moving the ball vertically to the forward.

Kobel guards the goal while the back five maintains a narrow defensive block. Anton and Nmecha act as the central defenders, with Anton often using his aerial strength to win the header when defending long balls. Bellingham plays as the left centre-back to cover the space, while Schlotterbeck operates as a left wing back to provide width and support the line. Gaddou plays as the right wing back, tasked to push up the flank and join the attack. The unit works to squeeze the space between the lines and protect the middle.

In front of the defense, Ryerson sits as a single pivot to shield the back line. He works to intercept passes and recycle possession to the more advanced players. Svensson and Beier form the central midfield pairing to control the tempo and win the second ball. Karetsas plays on the right side of the midfield four to press aggressively and win the ball high up the pitch. This group connects the defense to the attack by playing short from the back and finding the feet of the striker.

Guirassy operates as a lone pressing centre-forward to lead the line. He holds up the ball to allow the midfielders to move up the pitch. When Borussia Dortmund wins the ball, the wing backs like Gaddou and Schlotterbeck are expected to overlap the winger to create wide overloads. The goal is to use Guirassy to pin the last defender and create space for runners to arrive late into the box. The team looks to break quickly once they regain possession.

The main tactical advantage of this lineup is the compactness when defending in a low block. By keeping the lines close together, the team makes it hard for opponents to play through the lines. Another strength is the ability to use the wing backs to stretch the defence during a counter attack. This allows the team to transition from a defensive stance to an attacking one with great speed.

This 5-4-1 formation relies on a strong defensive unit and quick transitions to punish mistakes. It is best suited for games against teams that dominate possession and require a solid block to nullify their threat.