EA Sports FC 25: Best Defensive Setup Guide

In EA Sports FC 25, defence is one of the most crucial aspects that can make or break your gameplay. While focusing on solidifying your defence or launching deadly counterattacks is key, understanding how to do it effectively isn’t always as simple as it seems.

But don’t worry—we’ve got you covered. Our comprehensive EA Sports FC 25 defensive guide is created to boost your win rate and help you rack up those clean sheets. So without further delay, let’s dive into this ultimate master guide on How to Defend in EA Sports FC 25.

Defensive Setup Guide

There are three defensive formations available in EA Sports FC, each with its own pros and cons. Here’s a quick guide on how to set up your defence based on the formation you choose for your gameplay.

Three At The Back

Adapting to this formation can be challenging since it leaves only three defenders at the back. To make it work efficiently, you’ll need to invest time in understanding your players and perfecting your gameplay.

Focus on having three quick defenders who possess the pace to cover wide areas and then transition into the centre to break your opponent’s attacks. Additionally, it’s crucial to include tall defenders like Virgil van Dijk, Antonio Rüdiger, or Gabriel, as their height and aerial ability are invaluable when dealing with crosses into the box.

Assign the ball-playing defender role to all your centre-backs to ensure smooth ball circulation during the attacking build-up.

For the goalkeeper, we recommend
Alisson in the sweeper-keeper role
—he’s one of the best in the game and a reliable option to guard the goal.

Four At The Back

This is the most balanced formation in EA Sports FC 25, offering a perfect blend of defence and counterattacking opportunities. The two wingbacks effectively cover the wide spaces in your half, while the two centre-backs handle players making their way into the box through the centre.

For the right and left-back positions, players like Jules Koundé, Ferland Mendy, Joško Gvardiol, and Trent Alexander-Arnold are excellent choices, as they can contribute significantly to the attacking build-up. For the centre-back roles, classic defenders such as Rúben Dias, William Saliba, and Éder Militão are ideal for anchoring the defensive line and ensuring stability at the back.

Opt for the Defender role for your center-backs to maintain a traditional defensive line, ideally supported by a CDM to cover the central areas during counterattacks. If you prefer a high defensive line like Manchester City, assign the Stopper role to your centre-backs and the Fullback role to your left and right backs for optimal performance.

Five At The Back

This formation is one of the most criticized in the game, largely due to the infamous strategy of overloading the defence to minimize space for opponents. While breaking through a five-man defence is undoubtedly a tough challenge, creating effective attacks with this setup can be even more difficult.

With most of your players positioned defensively, it’s crucial to maximize the impact of your midfielders and attackers. Assign the Half-Winger role to your central midfielders (CMs) and the Shadow Striker role to your central attacking midfielder (CAM) to enhance offensive dynamics.

If you need more players involved in the build-up while attempting to score, consider setting your striker to the
False 9 role
.

Additionally, instruct your wing-backs to move up and down the pitch by giving them the wingback player role, providing crucial support to both the attackers and defenders.

Five Defending Tips

The above-mentioned stuff covers the tactics and the basics of how to defend and set up your defensive line. But here are some tricks and tips that can be used while you are in the game or going up against a player head-to-head.

For a clearer understanding of each tip, you can refer to the video, which provides a visual representation of the tactic.

• Always maintain your position and stick to the original formation assigned to your squad. If your defender strays out of position or misses a tackle, quickly cover the empty space with the nearest player. For example, as shown in the video, we faced a similar situation and had Jude Bellingham step in to cover for Jules Koundé. This gives the defender time to recover and return to their designated position without leaving gaps in their defence.
• Always be prepared for a long-range shot, as the shoulder button Powershot is incredibly overpowered and many players are well aware of this. To counter this, manually position your centre-backs in line with the goal to block the shot, just like we did with Virgil van Dijk in the example.
• Make sure to time your sliding tackles carefully, as they can be a game-changer when it comes to stopping a counterattack. However, focus on targeting the ball and not the player to avoid conceding a yellow or red card.

Double tap the sliding tackle button to reduce player recovery time from a sliding tackle.

• Always ensure the far post is covered by positioning your defender manually along the goal line. Goalkeepers are generally reliable at saving near-post shots, so it’s crucial to take charge and use your defender to cover the rest of the goal. Adapting to this change can make a big difference in preventing those sneaky far-post goals.
• The famous quote by Sun Tzu, the legendary Chinese military general, “Attack is the secret of defence; defence is the planning of an attack,” fits perfectly in this scenario. The best way to escape tough situations is by launching a quick counterattack. While it’s a risky move and can be challenging to execute, once mastered, it becomes a powerful weapon against even the sweatiest online players. For instance, as shown in our video, our first attempt at a counterattack was blocked, but the second one led directly to a goal—a perfect example of the strategy’s potential.