Aris Football Formation
Starting Lineup
78 (RICARDO VELHO)75 (SUTALO)
75 (FABIANO)
75 (RICHARDS)
75 (FADIGA)
76 (RACIC)
77 (MANU GARCIA)
78 (BRUMA)
77 (GARRE)
77 (RAFA MIR)
77 (LOREN MORON)
Aris prefers to play a direct and defensively solid style of football using a 5-3-2 formation. This lineup is built to stay compact and hit the opposition on the break when they leave space behind. The team focuses on winning the second ball and staying organized to deny any space between the lines.
In goal, 78 acts as the last line of defense to sweep up long balls. The defensive unit operates in a back five with 76 acting as the central anchor. Beside 76, the two wide centre-backs, 75 and 75, are tasked with defending the central zone and covering the space if the wing backs push up. To provide width, 75 and 75 play as attacking wing backs who are expected to overlap the midfielders and support the attack. This group maintains a narrow defensive block to force the opponent wide.
The midfield consists of a three-man midfield with a carrier to drive the play forward. 78 sits in the left central role to connect the defense and the attack, while 77 and 77 operate as the right and central midfielders. The LCM 78 is tasked to press aggressively to win the ball high up the pitch. These three players work together to compress the midfield and ensure they are never bypassed too easily. They help recycle possession and find the forwards quickly once the ball is won.
Aris utilizes two forwards in a partnership to lead the line. The attackers, 77 and 77, work in tandem to stretch the defense. One striker often plays as a pressing centre-forward to disrupt the opposition build up, while the other looks to find the feet of the striker or run in behind. They use combinations to pull defenders out of position, creating space for the wing backs to whip it in from the flanks. The two forwards often drop into the channels to create link up play between the lines.
The tactical advantages of this formation are clear through its defensive solidity and wide overloads. By using attacking wing backs, Aris creates wide overloads from overlapping full backs that force the opposition to defend the flanks heavily. Additionally, the three central midfielders allow the team to maintain compactness when defending and win the second ball in the middle of the park. This makes them very difficult to break down in a low block.
This 5-3-2 formation provides Aris with a reliable way to defend deep and transition with pace. It is best suited for matches against dominant teams where the goal is to sit deep and strike on the counter.