FORMATION · 5 AT THE BACK

The 5-3-2 formation

Five across the back including wing-backs, three in midfield, two strikers.

The shape
1
GK
2
RWB
3
CB
4
CB
5
CB
6
LWB
7
CM
8
CM
9
CM
10
ST
11
ST
Formation 5-3-2
What it gives you

A genuine five-man defensive line with a front two still available to counter.

What it costs you

Cedes territory by design, so it needs strikers who can carry the ball out alone.

Positions
GKRWBCBCBCBLWBCMCMCMSTST

Who plays it

The 5-3-2 is the 8th most-used shape of the 22 we track: 167 of the 5,080 lineups we hold from the leagues we cover this season, 3% of them.

Other shapes