Besiktas Football Formation

Starting Lineup

Alexander Nübel (30) · Emmanuel Agbadou (29) · Amir Murillo (30) · Kassoum Ouattara (22) · Leandro Trossard (32) · Dušan Vlahović (26) · Orkun Kökçü (26) · Nicolas Raskin (25) · Ernest Poku (22) · Pape Matar Sarr (24) · Fikayo Tomori (29)

Besiktas focuses on heavy verticality and lightning fast transitions when playing a 5-2-3. This formation is built to soak up pressure and then hit the opposition with sudden, direct movements. The team looks to exploit the space behind the opponent defensive line by using wide attackers and a powerful center forward to stretch the game.

Alexander Nübel stands between the posts to organize the back five. The defensive line operates with a back three consisting of Nicolas Raskin, Fikayo Tomori, and Emmanuel Agbadou. Tomori acts as a covering defender with his recovery speed, while Raskin and Agbadou focus on winning the second ball and being dominant in the air. On the flanks, Amir Murillo and Kassoum Ouattara act as attacking wing backs. They are tasked to push high up the pitch to provide width, while dropping back to form a narrow defensive block when the team sits deep.

The midfield functions as a double pivot designed to protect the back three and launch attacks. Pape Matar Sarr works to press aggressively to win the ball high, using his intensity to disrupt the opponent. Orkun Kökçü connects the defensive and attacking lines, often looking to carry the ball forward or play through the lines to find the forwards. This duo must remain compact to deny the pivot of the opposition and ensure the midfield is not bypassed too easily.

In the final third, Besiktas utilizes three attackers to pin the last defender. Dušan Vlahović operates as a lone striker and target man, looking to hold up the ball and win the header in the box. Leandro Trossard and Ernest Poku act as inverted wingers who cut inside to create central overloads. Their movement is designed to create runs in behind and allow the wing backs to overlap the winger. When the team wins the ball, they aim to break quickly and find the feet of the striker in transition.

This lineup offers significant advantages through its ability to shift between a compact back five and a heavy attacking front. Besiktas creates wide overloads when Amir Murillo and Kassoum Ouattara join the attack, forcing the opposition to defend huge amounts of space. The team also benefits from the speed of transition, as the players are coached to move the ball forward the moment they win possession.

The 5-2-3 formation provides Besiktas with a solid base to absorb pressure while remaining lethal on the break. It is a lineup best suited for facing teams that play a high line and leave space behind their defenders.