Understanding the formation used by Freiburg
Christian Streich prefers using a three-man defensive structure. Freiburg have lined-up in a 3-4-2-1 formation for most of their games so far. They make use of rapid wing-backs in the final third, who work tirelessly to flood the attack from the wide areas, as Freiburg overload the attacking third with five men, with their forwards tucking inside in the central and half-spaces.
In the final third, the formation resembles an all-out-attack 3-2-5. Either of Manuel Gulde or Philipp Leinhart along with Robin Koch and Dominique Heintz build the attack from the back. They form a diamond with Nicolas Hofler, who links the defense to attack.
Janik Haberer has been a makeshift box-to-box midfielder lately as he has often been deployed in the attacking trio up front. The wing-backs- Jonathan Schmid and Christian Gunter push high up the pitch to support the forwards.
The ball is moved in the attacking zone with Haberer and Hofler progressing the ball through the midfield or delivering a direct pass to the forwards, who then supply it to the wing-backs. The wing-backs, thereafter, look to put crosses for the forwards surging inside the box. Based on their squad selection for the past two games, this is how Freiburg are positioned in the attack:
"Flekken Gulde Koch Heintz Haberer Holfer Schmid Sallai Petersen Holer Gunter"