 The Spartans' twelve-deep formation on their right wing could not sustain the heavy impact of their opponents' 50-deep column.The Spartan right was hurled back with a loss of about 1,000 men, of whom 400 were some of Sparta's most experienced soldiers, including King Cleombrotus I.

Wilhelm Rüstow and Hermann Köchly, writing in the 19th century, believed that Pelopidas led the Sacred Band out from the column to attack the Spartans in the flank.Hans Delbrück considered this to be a mere misreading of Plutarch.