Conquering Beat The Champions requires more than button mashing and wishful thinking. This tactical football experience throws legendary players at you while demanding precise timing, strategic formation choices, and an understanding of each champion's unique weaknesses. Success comes from methodical progression through three distinct phases, each building your skills toward ultimate victory.
Your journey begins in the Early Game phase, where foundation building matters more than flashy moves. Don't expect to tackle Messi or Maradona right away. Instead, focus on mastering basic mechanics against lesser champions while building your core stats and unlocking essential formations.
Early Game Foundation (Matches 1-15)
Start every match by studying your opponent's movement patterns during the first 30 seconds. Champions like Roberto Carlos telegraph their signature moves, giving you valuable reaction time. Practice defensive positioning by keeping your players between the ball and goal, maintaining a compact shape that forces mistakes.
Your default 4-4-2 formation works perfectly for early matches. Position your midfielders to cut passing lanes while your defenders stay disciplined. Avoid aggressive tackles until you've mastered timing. A mistimed slide tackle against even basic champions results in easy goals.
Training Priority Order:
- Ball control (Level 3 minimum)
- Sprint speed (Level 2)
- Tackle timing (Level 2)
- Formation switches (Level 1)
Focus your skill points on ball control first. This stat determines how quickly you can change direction and execute passes under pressure. Sprint speed comes second because positioning beats raw pace every time. Many players waste points on shooting power early on, but accurate placement trumps strength against AI goalkeepers.
Master the counter-attack system during these easier matches. When you win possession, immediately look for your fastest player making a run. Hold the through-ball button for exactly 1.2 seconds to thread passes between defenders. This timing becomes crucial against faster champions later.
Your first major milestone arrives at Match 12 against Francesco Totti. This legend punishes players who haven't learned proper defensive shape. Keep your backline flat and resist the urge to chase his movement. Instead, force him wide where his creativity becomes less dangerous.
For detailed formation strategies and advanced tactics, check out our Best Beat The Champions Builds guide.
Mid Game Mastery (Matches 16-35)
The game's difficulty spikes significantly once you face Thierry Henry at Match 16. His pace and finishing ability expose any defensive weaknesses you've been carrying from earlier matches. This phase demands formation flexibility and advanced tactical awareness.
Switch to a 5-3-2 formation for matches against pace-heavy champions. The extra center-back provides insurance against through balls, while your wing-backs can bomb forward during counter-attacks. Against technical players like Ronaldinho, consider the 4-2-3-1 to pack the midfield and limit space.
Champion-Specific Strategies:
| Champion | Formation | Key Tactic | Difficulty | |----------|-----------|------------|------------| | Henry | 5-3-2 | High defensive line | 7/10 | | Ronaldinho | 4-2-3-1 | Press triggers | 8/10 | | Zidane | 4-4-2 | Tight marking | 6/10 | | Kaká | 3-5-2 | Wing overloads | 7/10 |
Ronaldinho represents this phase's biggest challenge. His skill moves seem impossible to defend until you learn the press trigger system. The moment he receives the ball facing your goal, immediately press and hold the pressure button. This forces him into predictable animations that you can intercept.
Your stats should reach these minimums by Match 20:
- Ball control: Level 5
- Sprint speed: Level 4
- Tackle timing: Level 4
- Formation switches: Level 3
- Shot power: Level 2
Don't neglect set piece preparation during this phase. Champions like David Beckham and Roberto Carlos score most of their goals from free kicks. Practice your defensive wall positioning in training mode. Place your wall exactly 9.15 yards from the ball and adjust based on the kicker's dominant foot.
The Pelé encounter at Match 25 serves as this phase's final exam. His all-around brilliance means you can't rely on exploiting single weaknesses. Instead, focus on game management. Take the lead through patient build-up play, then switch to a defensive 5-4-1 formation to protect your advantage.
Master advanced movement techniques before progressing further. Learn to fake shot cancel by pressing shoot then immediately pressing pass. This move creates space against aggressive defenders and works consistently against AI opponents.
Late Game Excellence (Matches 36-50)
Welcome to Beat The Champions' ultimate test. Late game opponents combine multiple legendary abilities and adapt to your tactics mid-match. Success requires perfect execution of everything you've learned, plus mastery of advanced psychological warfare against AI systems.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi await in Matches 42 and 45 respectively. These encounters demand flawless preparation and execution. Against Ronaldo, expect relentless pace and power. His signature move involves cutting inside from the right wing before unleashing curled shots. Position your left-back to force him wide, then immediately switch to your fastest center-back for recovery runs.
Messi presents different challenges entirely. His low center of gravity and quick acceleration make traditional defending useless. Instead, use the containment strategy. Don't commit to tackles. Simply mirror his movement while teammates close off passing options. Force him to attempt shots from difficult angles rather than giving him space to create.
Formation Evolution for Late Game:
The 4-3-3 False 9 becomes your secret weapon against legendary opponents. This setup confuses AI positioning by dropping your striker deep while wingers make diagonal runs. Practice this formation extensively in training because timing windows shrink to milliseconds against top-tier champions.
Your stats need these final upgrades:
- Ball control: Level 8 (maximum)
- Sprint speed: Level 7
- Tackle timing: Level 8 (maximum)
- Formation switches: Level 6
- Shot power: Level 5
- Composure: Level 4 (crucial for late game)
Composure becomes the difference-maker in final matches. This hidden stat affects your players' first touch under pressure and shooting accuracy in crucial moments. Max this immediately after reaching Level 30 overall.
The Diego Maradona showdown at Match 48 combines every challenge you've faced. His dribbling surpasses even Messi's, while his shooting rivals Ronaldo's power. Use the triple-team strategy: assign three players to shadow his movement while your remaining seven maintain defensive shape. This seems excessive but prevents his game-breaking solo runs.
Master the momentum system during these climactic battles. The game tracks successful tackles, completed passes, and shots on target to determine match flow. String together 8-10 successful actions to trigger positive momentum, which improves your players' stats temporarily. Recognize when momentum shifts against you and immediately switch to defensive mode.
Your final opponent remains shrouded in mystery until Match 50, but expect a composite challenge combining every legendary ability you've encountered. Preparation means having backup formations ready and understanding exactly which stats counter specific champion archetypes.
Success in Beat The Champions comes from respecting each legendary opponent while believing in your tactical preparation. Every champion has weaknesses waiting to be exploited by patient, methodical players.
For beginners still building their foundation, start with our comprehensive Beat The Champions Beginner's Guide before attempting this advanced walkthrough path.