RB Leipzig Football Formation

Starting Lineup

Ezechiel Banzuzi · Antonio Nusa · Andrija Maksimovic · Assan Ouédraogo · Neil El Aynaoui · Tidiam Gomis · Ridle Baku · Willi Orban · Castello Lukeba · David Raum · Maarten Vandevoort

RB Leipzig relies on a high press and quick transitions using a 5-2-3 formation. This lineup is built to win the ball back high up the pitch and hit the opposition in behind before they can settle. The team looks to stretch the defence by using wide players to create space for vertical passing through the middle.

Maarten Vandevoort plays between the posts to start the build up from the back. The defensive unit operates with a back five, using a staggered line to cover space. Willi Orban and Neil El Aynaoui act as the central defenders, with Orban often stepping up to win the second ball or intercept passes. Castello Lukeba provides cover as a ball playing defender to help progress the ball. Ridle Baku and David Raum act as attacking wing backs, pushing high to provide width and support the attackers.

A two man midfield serves as the engine room to connect the defence and attack. Antonio Nusa and Andrija Maksimovic operate as the two central midfielders. They must press aggressively to win the ball back high up the pitch and then quickly find the forwards. Nusa is tasked with carrying the ball forward to break the line, while Maksimovic helps to shield the defence and recycle possession when the team needs to settle.

The attacking unit uses three attackers across the front to pin the opposition back line. Tidiam Gomis acts as the lone striker, working to hold up the ball and link up play with the wide players. Ezechiel Banzuzi and Assan Ouédraogo operate as wide wingers, looking to cut inside or get to the byline to deliver crosses. This front three works in combinations to create runs in behind and isolate defenders in one on one situations during transitions.

RB Leipzig offers several tactical advantages with this setup. The use of attacking wing backs like Ridle Baku and David Raum creates wide overloads that force the opposition to stretch. The team can also press in coordinated waves, using the front three and the two central midfielders to squeeze the space in the opponent half. This allows the team to win it back high up the pitch and exploit disorganized defences.

This formation focuses on aggressive pressing and rapid counter attacks to exploit gaps. It is best suited for games against teams that try to play out from the back and leave space behind their midfield.