Borussia Dortmund’s Tactical Transformation Under Lucien Favre: A Deep Dive into the 3-4-2-1 Formation
After falling just short of the Bundesliga title in the 2018-19 season, Lucien Favre and Borussia Dortmund entered the next campaign with high expectations and mounting challenges. Early struggles, particularly defensive vulnerabilities and an excess of draws, prompted Favre to make a bold tactical shift. The introduction of the 3-4-2-1 formation revitalized Dortmund’s approach, placing them back in serious contention for the league crown. This in-depth tactical analysis explores how Favre’s innovative setup unleashed new strengths across the squad and addressed previous shortcomings.
Evolution of the Tactical System: From 4-2-3-1 to 3-4-2-1
Previously reliant on a 4-2-3-1 structure, Dortmund found themselves limited by injuries, inconsistent performances, and a lack of balance between attack and defense. Favre’s decision to implement a 3-4-2-1 formation transformed the squad’s dynamics:
– **Defensive Line:** Mats Hummels, Lukasz Piszczek, and Dan-Axel Zagadou formed the central back three, providing a blend of experience, leadership, and youthful energy.
– **Wingbacks:** Achraf Hakimi and Raphael Guerreiro assumed pivotal roles on the flanks, combining defensive duties with relentless attacking support.
– **Central Midfield:** Axel Witsel, supported by either Julian Brandt or Emre Can, orchestrated play and anchored the midfield.
– **Attacking Trio:** Thorgan Hazard and Jadon Sancho operated behind a forward—usually either Erling Haaland or Marco Reus—providing creativity, width, and clinical finishing.
This foundational overhaul led to immediate results: Dortmund registered 10 wins, 1 draw, and just 1 loss after reverting to a three-man defense, reestablishing themselves as title contenders.
Key Players and Positional Roles
Favre’s 3-4-2-1 formation was tailored to maximize the strengths of Dortmund’s roster:
– **Mats Hummels:** Free to initiate play from the back, Hummels excelled as a deep-lying playmaker, reducing his pure defensive workload.
– **Lukasz Piszczek:** At 34, Piszczek contributed stability and intelligence to the defense.
– **Dan-Axel Zagadou:** The young centre-back provided mobility and ball-winning abilities, becoming one of the season’s defensive standouts.
On the flanks, **Hakimi** and **Guerreiro** were instrumental. Hakimi’s direct running and playmaking from the right, coupled with Guerreiro’s technical skill and tactical awareness on the left, became core elements of Dortmund’s attacking patterns.
In midfield, **Witsel’s** composure and positioning kept Dortmund ticking. The addition of **Emre Can** injected dynamism and aggression, while **Julian Brandt** offered vision and attacking impetus when selected.
Up front, **Thorgan Hazard** contributed a consistent goal and assist output, while **Jadon Sancho’s** explosive performances (14 goals, 15 assists) confirmed his status among Europe’s elite. The emergence of **Erling Haaland** (9 goals in 8 games) and the leadership of **Marco Reus** (11 goals, 5 assists) ensured a fearsome attacking edge.
Building from the Back: How the Formation Enhances Ball Progression
Dortmund’s possession-based approach under Favre emphasized proactive, intelligent buildup:
– The outside centre-backs, Zagadou and Piszczek, would position themselves wide to receive the ball, enabling smooth transitions and retaining numerical superiority in build-up.
– Wingbacks played a dual role: one (usually Hakimi) would advance high and wide, stretching play, while the other (often Guerreiro) supported inside or deeper.
Key stats from possession zones:
– 25% of possession occurred in Dortmund’s own third, as the team preferred to progress the ball quickly through the midfield.
– 46% of possession was managed in the middle third, facilitating short passing sequences and calculated switches.
Mats Hummels often attempted incisive, direct long balls to bypass opposition lines and exploit Hakimi’s and Sancho’s pace. The interplay between central (Witsel/Brandt) and wide/wingback players ensured both stability and attacking width.
Raphael Guerreiro: The Impact of the Inverted Wingback Role
One of the tactical innovations under Favre was the use of Guerreiro as an inverted wingback:
– When Dortmund attacked down the right, Guerreiro frequently drifted centrally, participating in intricate combination play and operating almost as an additional midfielder.
– When play developed down the left, Guerreiro offered width before cutting inside, maintaining unpredictability for defenders.
This fluid role allowed Guerreiro to leverage his experience both as a fullback and midfielder, making him a key figure in unlocking defenses—while differing from the more traditional approach taken by Hakimi on the opposite flank.
Attacking Interplay: One-Touch Combinations and Overloads
A defining trait of Favre’s Dortmund was their expert use of one-touch passing combinations and overloads in the attacking third:
– Five or six players would cluster on one flank, quickly exchanging short and sharp passes to unsettle defenses and create scoring opportunities.
– Sancho, Hazard, Reus, and Guerreiro were particularly adept in tight spaces, using triangles and give-and-gos to penetrate defensive blocs.
According to WhoScored (2020 data):
– 89% of Dortmund’s passes fell into the short-passing category.
– 62% of shots originated from inside the penalty area—a consequence of patient, precise buildup and effective chance creation.
Rapid Transitions: The Power of Dortmund’s Counter Attack
While Dortmund’s primary offensive weapons came through controlled possession play, their counter-attacking ability remained potent:
– Players such as Sancho, Hazard, and Hakimi provided searing pace on the flanks.
– Haaland’s movement off the shoulder of defenders and Hummels’ long passing gave the team a direct outlet, reviving some hallmarks of the Klopp era.
Dortmund opted for swift breaks when the opportunity arose, especially in central channels or via the right flank, exploiting moments of defensive disorganization.
Defensive Structure and Pressing Mechanisms
The shift to 3-4-2-1 improved Dortmund’s defensive cohesion:
– Out of possession, the team typically dropped into a 5-4-1 shape, with wingbacks joining the defensive line and the midfield becoming compact.
– Haaland usually led the line, with Sancho and Hazard dropping back to support, forming a robust midfield bank during transitions.
– With Reus on the pitch, the shape would sometimes shift to a 5-3-2, leveraging his defensive work rate and allowing Hazard and Sancho to stay higher upfield for counter-attacks.
These refinements reduced the gaps that had plagued Dortmund in the previous system and lowered their susceptibility to quick opposition breaks.
Narrow Attacking Midfielders: The 3-4-2-1 vs 3-4-3 Distinction
While Dortmund’s setup often resembles a 3-4-3 on paper, Favre’s system is more precisely a 3-4-2-1:
– Rather than playing as traditional wide wingers, Hazard and Sancho operated as inside forwards or attacking midfielders, frequently switching sides and occupying central channels.
– Wingbacks provided the team’s width, enabling Sancho and Hazard to get closer to the penalty area and combine with the centre-forward.
Heatmaps and passing data reinforce this: Sancho, nominally the left winger, often drifted right of centre, while Hazard started from the left but operated in half-spaces. This use of personnel magnified Dortmund’s creative output in central zones and readjusted defensive cover.
Conclusion: The Lasting Benefits of Favre’s Tactical Revolution
Lucien Favre’s adoption of the 3-4-2-1 system brought a dramatic turnaround for Borussia Dortmund. The tactical shift resolved defensive frailties, empowered dynamic talents such as Hakimi and Guerreiro, and unlocked new attacking potential from Sancho, Hazard, Haaland, and Reus. The blend of patient buildup, rapid transitions, and solid defensive structure was perfectly suited to the squad’s strengths.
As the Bundesliga season paused, Dortmund stood as a transformed side—more balanced, cohesive, and capable of challenging for honors. The true impact of Favre’s formation change will be measured by silverware and future performances, but the positive tactical evolution is already evident on the pitch.
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