Atlético Football Formation

Starting Lineup

Romero · Hancko · Grimaldo · Le Normand · Koke · M. Llorente · Sørloth · Baena · J. Alvarez · Hjulmand · Oblak

Atlético looks to dominate through high pressing and quick transitions in a 3-4-3. This formation is built to play a direct game that stretches the opposition and exploits spaces left behind during their build up. The team aims to win the ball high up the pitch and move forward with intensity to catch the opponent out of position.

Jan Oblak guards the goal as the last line of defense. The back three consists of Romero, Hancko, and Le Normand who defend in a narrow defensive block. Hancko acts as a left-sided centre-back while Le Normand provides presence on the right, with Romero anchoring the middle to cover space. This unit is designed to be hard to break down, forcing attackers wide and maintaining a compact line to protect the central areas.

The midfield functions as a central engine room using a two-man pairing of Hjulmand and Koke. Hjulmand works to shield the defense and win the second ball, while Koke connects the defensive and attacking lines with his passing. On the flanks, Grimaldo and M. Llorente act as wide midfielders who provide the necessary width. Grimaldo will push high to deliver crosses, while M. Llorente provides energy to track back and cover the wide areas when the team loses possession.

In the attacking third, Atlético uses three attackers to pin the opposition back line. Sørloth operates as a lone striker and target man to hold up the ball and win headers. Baena and J. Alvarez play as wide wingers, with Baena looking to cut inside and J. Alvarez looking to exploit space on the flank. The attackers work in combinations to create runs in behind, often looking for quick cutbacks from the byline or direct balls to find the feet of the striker.

One major advantage for Atlético is the ability to press high in coordinated waves, using the front three to trigger a press. This creates immediate pressure on the opponent's defenders. Another strength is the width provided by Grimaldo and M. Llorente, which allows the team to stretch the defense and create overloads on the wings. This setup ensures the team can transition from a defensive block to an attacking threat very quickly.

This 3-4-3 formation is built for a team that wants to control the game through aggression and verticality. It is best suited for matches against opponents who play with a high defensive line and leave gaps behind their defenders.