Borussia Dortmund’s Tactical Dilemma Under Marco Rose
Borussia Dortmund is experiencing one of its most inconsistent starts in recent years, despite remaining near the top of the Bundesliga table. Under new manager Marco Rose, the club has adopted a tactical system that appears to serve only a single player effectively. Yet, despite recurring tactical imbalances, Dortmund continues to earn points, raising questions about both their short-term success and long-term stability.
Midfield Instability and Defensive Vulnerabilities
Dortmund’s midfield organization has become a persistent issue. In recent fixtures, the club has struggled to settle its midfield shape, especially after trying to reinforce its defense with the signing of Marin Pongracic from Wolfsburg. While Pongracic adds physicality to the backline, he lacks the ball-playing attributes usually valued at Dortmund. His inclusion has pushed Axel Witsel back into midfield and repositioned Mahmoud Dahoud further up the pitch, particularly on the left.
Rather than achieving stability, these adjustments have compromised the team’s transition defense. Too frequently, Dahoud pushes into advanced positions, often leaving Witsel — one of the league’s slower pivots — exposed during counterattacks. This, combined with a generally sluggish defensive line where Manuel Akanji stands out as the only consistently resilient center-back, makes Dortmund vulnerable whenever they lose possession.
Rapid opposition attacks, like those demonstrated by Bayer Leverkusen’s forwards, have repeatedly caught Dortmund out, exploiting gaps and testing the positional discipline of the back four. The lack of midfield support during defensive transitions has left them susceptible to fast breaks and clear scoring opportunities for the opposition.
Formation Choices: The Questionable Diamond Midfield
Marco Rose’s commitment to a diamond midfield formation has been a central talking point. In early matchdays, Dortmund saw some promise with a more traditional 4-2-3-1 or a lopsided variant that allowed creative players like Gio Reyna and Marco Reus to operate with freedom on the left. Thorgan Hazard delivered an outstanding display on the right in that setup, but has since been marginalized as Rose persists with the 4-4-2 diamond.
This diamond formation, focusing on vertical play with minimal width, inherently limits Dortmund’s attacking options. The system only seems to benefit Jude Bellingham, the energetic 18-year-old who thrives in a box-to-box role and enjoys the license to drive forward. Bellingham’s form has been one of the few positives, but the diamond hampers nearly every other key player:
– Erling Haaland is often forced wide and receives less service in dangerous central zones.
– Marco Reus struggles for space, frequently clashing with teammate movement.
– Fullbacks like Raphael Guerreiro cannot advance as effectively due to overlapping midfield runs.
– The lack of natural wingers restricts width, making Dortmund easier to defend against.
While Bellingham adapts and excels in most systems, Rose’s persistence with the diamond has marginalized key assets and invited predictable, narrow play.
The Impact of Dortmund’s Tactical Set-Up on Transitions
One of the diamond’s intended merits is to promote swift transitions and intense pressing. However, in reality, the formation has slowed Dortmund’s transitions both offensively and defensively. With limited width and the fastest midfield option (Bellingham) moving forward, Dortmund is too easily bypassed in midfield when possession turns over.
Defensively, when Guerreiro joins the attack and central midfielders push high, Dortmund is left open on the flanks. This disorganization often forces defenders out of position, making them susceptible to Bundesliga sides that excel on the counter.
Bayer Leverkusen’s Structured Approach and Tactical Execution
In contrast, Bayer Leverkusen offered a showcase of tactical balance and clarity. Midfielder Kerem Demirbay, shifting into a double pivot with Robert Andrich, provided stability in buildup play and facilitated width by anchoring near the center-backs, enabling Jeremie Frimpong and Mitchel Bakker to push forward effectively.
Leverkusen’s approach allowed wingers to invert and attack central spaces, posing constant problems for Dortmund’s midfield and defense. Patrik Schick took full advantage, making intelligent runs and linking play with Florian Wirtz high up the pitch.
Defensively, Leverkusen executed a focused press, shifting into a 4-4-2 shape out of possession with Wirtz joining Schick in the first line of pressure. While a lack of defensive tracking from Paulinho presented occasional openings, these were rare lapses in an otherwise organized system.
This collective structure — both in transition and in possession — helped Leverkusen look far more cohesive than many of their Bundesliga counterparts, underlining the value of tactical identity and discipline.
Lessons for Dortmund and Possible Next Steps
Dortmund’s current trajectory raises pressing questions about the sustainability of Marco Rose’s approach. The persistent reliance on a diamond midfield has led to confusion, underutilization of several key players, and repeated defensive issues, especially in transitions.
If Dortmund is to challenge for silverware and maintain consistency:
– A tactical realignment to a shape allowing greater midfield stability and width may be required.
– Reintegrating adaptable players like Emre Can could restore some defensive balance lost by recent departures and positional shuffles.
– Returning to formations that maximize the strengths of core attacking talents, particularly Haaland and Reus, is critical.
Meanwhile, Leverkusen provides a model of organizational clarity, tactical discipline, and structural balance — elements Dortmund could look to replicate as they seek to stabilize and improve.
Conclusion
Borussia Dortmund finds itself at a crossroads, grappling with the aftereffects of a tactical experiment that has yet to deliver collective performance, even if results have temporarily masked the underlying issues. Unless adjustments are made to align the formation with the squad’s strengths, Dortmund risks falling behind more organized Bundesliga rivals. Bayer Leverkusen’s impressive blend of youth, tactical structure, and pressing should serve as a blueprint for sustainable improvement.
For Dortmund fans and neutral observers alike, the coming weeks will prove decisive in determining whether the Black & Yellows can adapt and rediscover their trademark blend of dynamic, high-tempo football.
