Roma Football Formation

Starting Lineup

Roma aims to control the tempo through a high press and quick transitions in a 5-2-3. This formation focuses on being defensively solid while using wide players to stretch the defence. The lineup is built to win the ball high up the pitch and immediately look to hit in behind the opposition with speed.

Svilar operates behind a back five that uses a staggered defensive line to manage space. Mancini and N'Dicka occupy the central roles where they can win the header and cover the space behind the wing backs. Hermoso plays as the right center back to provide ball playing abilities from the back. Wesley and Molina act as attacking wing backs who push high to provide width, while the central trio holds the line to ensure the team stays compact.

The midfield relies on a double pivot to control the center of the pitch. De Roon acts as the player who shields the defence and wins the second ball, while Konè is the carrier who can drive forward with the ball to progress through the thirds. They work to connect the defensive unit to the attack by recycling possession and finding the players between the lines. This pairing must stay disciplined to deny the pivot of the opposition and cover for the advanced wing backs.

Roma utilizes three attackers across the front to pin the last defender. Malen plays as a pressing centre forward to harass the opposition back line and lead the charge. On the flanks, Dybala and Soulè operate as inverted wingers who cut inside to create chances. Dybala looks to find the feet of the striker or play a one-two in tight spaces, while Soulè uses his pace to attack the space behind the full backs. The movement of the front three is designed to create cutbacks from the byline and isolate wide players in one on one situations.

One major strength of this Roma lineup is the ability to create wide overloads through the overlapping runs of Wesley and Molina. The team also benefits from its compactness when defending in a mid-block, making it very difficult for opponents to play through the lines. The presence of Konè and De Roon allows the team to maintain control in the center while the front three can break quickly on the transition.

This 5-2-3 formation is built for a team that wants to be difficult to break down while remaining lethal on the counter. It is best suited for matches against opponents who play a high line and can be punished with verticality.