Borussia Dortmund Football Formation
Starting Lineup
Konstantelias (Beier / Inacio) · Karetsas (Chukwuemeka) · Guirassy (Silva) · Svensson (Kaua Prates) · Ryerson (Neuzugang) · Nmecha (Bellingham) · Veerman (Sabitzer) · Schlotterbeck (Bensebaini) · Anton (Mane / Can) · Gadou (Reggiani) · Kobel (Meyer)Borussia Dortmund focuses on high pressing and rapid verticality using a 3-4-3 formation. This lineup seeks to win the ball high up the pitch and strike quickly before the opposition can settle. The team relies on aggression to force turnovers and uses width to stretch the opposition defense.
Kobel stays between the posts to command the area and act as a sweeper behind a high line. The back three consists of Anton, Gadou, and Schlotterbeck. Anton acts as the central anchor to hold the line, while Schlotterbeck and Gadou step up to intercept passes or engage attackers early. This defensive unit works to squeeze the space between the lines and ensure the team stays compact when facing direct attacks.
The midfield operates with two central players and two wide players to cover the entire pitch. Veerman and Nmecha form a central pairing tasked with controlling the tempo and recycling possession. Veerman looks to play through the lines to find the attackers, while Nmecha works to press aggressively in a mid-block to win the ball back. Ryerson and Svensson act as wing backs to provide width, with Ryerson driving forward to overlap and Svensson tracking back to cover the flank.
In the final third, Borussia Dortmund uses three attackers to pin the last defender. Guirassy operates as a pressing centre-forward who can hold up the ball and bring others into play. On the wings, Konstantelias and Karetsas act as inverted wingers who cut inside to create central overloads. This movement allows the team to create combinations in tight spaces and provides options for cutbacks from the byline or quick through balls.
One major advantage of this formation is the ability to press high in coordinated waves, making it difficult for opponents to play out from the back. The presence of Ryerson and Svensson allows for wide overloads from the wing backs, which can isolate wide players in one on one situations. This setup also provides numerical superiority in the middle of the pitch when the wingers tuck inside.
This 3-4-3 formation is designed for a team that wants to dominate through physical intensity and quick transitions. It is best suited for matches against opponents who struggle to play under pressure or leave space behind their midfield.