Levante Football Formation
Starting Lineup
PABLO (CAMPOS) · NACHO (PÉREZ) · MARC (SANTOS) · AXEL (TAPE) · IFEANYI (NDUKWE) · HUGO (SOTELO) · JON ANDER (OLASAGASTI) · DANI (REQUENA) · ROGER (BRUGUÉ) · PACO (CORTÉS) · IVÁN (ROMERO)Levante relies on a high press and direct attacking play through a 4-3-3 formation. This lineup is built to win the ball high up the pitch and use quick transitions to punish opponents. The team looks to control large areas of the field by spreading the play wide and using vertical passes to find the forwards quickly.
PABLO sits between the posts to manage the defense from the back. The back line functions as a flat back four where NACHO acts as a defensive wing back to provide width on the right side. MARC plays as the left back to support the attack, while AXEL and IFEANYI operate as the central defenders. AXEL focuses on winning the header in defensive duels, whereas IFEANYI works to cover the space behind the full backs. This defensive unit stays compact to deny the turn to opposition attackers.
A three-man midfield provides the engine for Levante. HUGO and JON ANDER operate as an inverted eight pairing to control the center of the pitch. HUGO works to connect the defensive and attacking lines by receiving the ball from the defenders, while JON ANDER makes late runs into the box to support the striker. DANI plays as an attacking ten behind the striker to create chances in the half-spaces. DANI searches for the pockets of space between the opposition lines to play through the lines and feed the front three.
The attacking front line uses three attackers to stretch the defense. IVÁN acts as a pressing centre-forward to lead the hunt from the front. PACO and ROGER operate as wide wingers who cut inside to create goalscoring opportunities. PACO looks to isolate his marker in one on one situations on the left, while ROGER finds space to deliver crosses. The movement of the front three is designed to create runs in behind and allow the team to attack in combinations during fast breaks.
Levante possesses several tactical advantages with this formation. The team can create wide overloads when NACHO and MARC push up to support the wingers. There is also a clear ability to press high in coordinated waves because of the positioning of DANI and the front three. This setup allows the side to win the second ball frequently in the attacking third.
This 4-3-3 formation creates a high intensity environment that forces errors from the opposition. It is a lineup best suited for games against teams that play a high line and struggle with quick vertical transitions.