Borussia Dortmund Football Formation

Starting Lineup

Fabio Silva · Maximilian Beier · Giannis Konstantelias · Marcel Sabitzer · Daniel Svensson · Joey Veerman · Felix Nmecha · Ramy Bensebaini · Waldemar Anton · Joane Gadou · Gregor Kobel

Borussia Dortmund focuses on heavy pressing and verticality in a 3-4-3 formation. This lineup aims to win the ball high up the pitch and move through the thirds quickly to catch the opposition out of position. The team relies on high energy to drive the game forward and create chances through rapid transitions.

Gregor Kobel acts as the last line of defense, often playing a sweeping role to cover the space behind the back line. The three central defenders form a narrow defensive block. Waldemar Anton leads the line, focusing on winning the header and clearing the lines, while Ramy Bensebaini provides cover on the left and Joane Gadou holds the right side. This back three works to stay compact and squeeze the space when the team defends in a mid-block.

The midfield operates with a double pivot that connects the defense to the attack. Joey Veerman and Felix Nmecha sit in front of the back three to shield the defense and recycle possession. Veerman looks to play short from the back and switch play to the wide areas, while Nmecha works to carry the ball forward into the half-spaces. They must track back to help the defenders and prevent runners from entering the central zones.

In the attacking phase, the team uses three attackers to stretch the defense. Giannis Konstantelias and Marcel Sabitzer act as wide wingers who cut inside to find space, often looking to play a one-two with the central striker. Fabio Silva works as a pressing centre-forward, looking to pin the last defender and hold up the ball for others. Daniel Svensson and Maximilian Beier operate in the pockets behind the striker, arriving late into the box to finish crosses or loose balls.

A major tactical strength for Borussia Dortmund is the ability to press high in coordinated waves, using the front three to trigger a press. The formation also offers wide overloads when the wide midfielders and wingers combine to find space on the flanks. This allows the team to isolate wide players in one on one situations once they progress the ball.

This formation is built for a high tempo game that relies on winning the ball back quickly. It is best suited for facing teams that play a high line or struggle to play out from the back under pressure.