PES 2023: Mastering Possession-Based Gameplay

Oct 30, 2025 by Jhon Lennon 46 views

Are you looking to dominate the virtual pitch in PES 2023 with a mesmerizing, possession-based style? You've come to the right place! This guide dives deep into the art of keeping the ball, dictating the tempo, and carving open defenses with intricate passing moves. Forget hoofing it upfield and hoping for the best; we're talking about beautiful, controlled football that leaves your opponents chasing shadows. Let's get started and transform your PES 2023 game!

Understanding Possession Football in PES 2023

Possession football, at its heart, is about control. It's about patiently building attacks, waiting for the opportune moment to strike, and denying your opponent the chance to create scoring opportunities. In PES 2023, this translates to:

Patient Build-up: Instead of launching long balls, focus on short, accurate passes to retain possession and draw the opposition out of position.
Tactical Awareness: Understanding player positioning, movement, and passing lanes is crucial for effective possession play. Think about how real-life teams like Manchester City or FC Barcelona control the game. They don't just pass for the sake of passing; every pass has a purpose.
Exploiting Space: Recognizing and exploiting gaps in the defense is key to unlocking scoring chances. This requires keen observation and quick decision-making.
Defensive Solidity: A strong defensive foundation is essential for winning the ball back quickly and preventing counter-attacks. A well-organized midfield is vital to win the ball back. Look for players with good defensive stats, so they can help you win the ball back.

Mastering possession in PES 2023 isn't just about keeping the ball; it's about using it intelligently to create scoring opportunities and control the flow of the game. It's a more strategic and thoughtful approach to football that can be incredibly rewarding.

Key Formations and Tactical Settings for Possession

Choosing the right formation and tweaking your tactical settings can significantly impact your ability to control possession. Here are some recommendations:

Formations:

4-3-3: This formation provides a good balance between attack and defense, with three midfielders who can circulate the ball effectively. The wide players can provide an outlet for passes and create space for the midfielders. Make sure you have midfielders who are comfortable receiving the ball under pressure.
4-2-3-1: With two holding midfielders, this formation offers excellent defensive stability and allows for patient build-up play. The three attacking midfielders can interchange positions and create intricate passing combinations. This is a solid choice for dominating the midfield.
3-4-3: A more attacking option, this formation can overwhelm opponents with its attacking prowess, but requires disciplined midfielders to maintain possession and prevent counter-attacks. Make sure your wing-backs are capable of tracking back and defending. It's a high-risk, high-reward formation.

Tactical Settings:

Possession Game: Select this attacking instruction to encourage your players to prioritize short passes and maintain possession.
Short Passing: Increase the frequency of short passes in your team settings to promote a more controlled and deliberate style of play.
Conservative Pressing: Opt for a more conservative pressing strategy to avoid unnecessary risks and maintain your defensive shape. Winning the ball back is important, but not at the expense of leaving yourself exposed.
Fluid Formation: Enable fluid formation to allow your players to interchange positions and create unpredictable attacking movements. This can make it difficult for opponents to track your players and disrupt your passing rhythm.

Experiment with different formations and tactical settings to find what works best for your play style and team. The key is to create a system that allows you to control the ball, dictate the tempo, and create scoring opportunities.

Essential Player Attributes for a Possession-Based Team

Not all players are created equal when it comes to possession football. Certain attributes are more crucial than others for executing a successful possession-based strategy. Here's what to look for:

Passing: This is the most obvious attribute. Look for players with high passing accuracy and vision to ensure they can deliver accurate and incisive passes. Short passing and long passing are both important, depending on the situation.
Ball Control: Excellent ball control is essential for receiving passes under pressure and maintaining possession in tight spaces. Players with high ball control can turn quickly and evade challenges.
Dribbling: While not the primary focus, good dribbling skills can help players create space and beat defenders in one-on-one situations. Look for players with good close control and balance.
Composure: The ability to remain calm and make good decisions under pressure is crucial for maintaining possession and avoiding turnovers. Players with high composure are less likely to make mistakes when pressured by opponents.
Vision: Players with good vision can spot passing lanes and identify opportunities to create scoring chances. They can see passes that others might miss.
Positioning: Intelligent positioning is key for creating passing options and supporting teammates. Players who are good at positioning will always be in the right place at the right time.

When building your squad, prioritize players with these attributes to create a team that is capable of dominating possession and controlling the game.

Mastering Passing Techniques for Possession

Passing is the bread and butter of possession football. Mastering different passing techniques is essential for retaining possession and creating scoring opportunities. Here are some key passing techniques to practice:

Short Passing: Use short, accurate passes to circulate the ball and maintain possession in tight spaces. Focus on passing to the nearest teammate who is in a good position.
One-Touch Passing: Use one-touch passing to speed up your play and create quick passing combinations. This requires excellent ball control and anticipation.
Through Balls: Use through balls to split the defense and create scoring opportunities for your attackers. Timing and accuracy are crucial for executing successful through balls.
Lofted Passes: Use lofted passes to switch the play and find teammates in space on the opposite side of the field. This can be effective for bypassing a congested midfield.
Driven Passes: Use driven passes to deliver powerful and accurate passes over longer distances. This can be useful for quickly moving the ball upfield.

Practice these passing techniques in training mode to improve your accuracy and timing. Experiment with different passing combinations to find what works best for your team.

Advanced Tips and Strategies for PES 2023 Possession Game

Ready to take your possession game to the next level? Here are some advanced tips and strategies to help you dominate the virtual pitch:

Use Player Instructions: Customize player instructions to fine-tune your team's behavior. For example, you can instruct your full-backs to stay back during attacks or tell your midfielders to prioritize short passes.
Exploit Weaknesses: Analyze your opponent's formation and identify weaknesses that you can exploit. For example, if your opponent is playing with a high defensive line, you can use through balls to get in behind their defense.
Vary Your Play: Don't become predictable. Mix up your passing patterns and attacking movements to keep your opponent guessing. Sometimes a long ball is the best option, even in a possession-based game.
Be Patient: Possession football is about patience. Don't force the issue. Wait for the right opportunity to attack and avoid unnecessary risks.
Practice Makes Perfect: The more you practice, the better you'll become at controlling possession and creating scoring opportunities. Spend time in training mode working on your passing, dribbling, and decision-making skills.
Master Finesse Dribbling: Learning how to finesse dribble effectively can open up passing lanes. This is especially helpful in tight areas. Press R2 or RT while dribbling to move more deliberately.
Learn to Shield the Ball: Shielding the ball is a great way to protect possession under pressure. Use the shield button (usually L2 or LT) to keep opponents at bay.

Adapting Your Possession Game to Different Opponents

No two opponents are the same, and your possession game needs to be adaptable to different playing styles and formations. Here's how to adjust your approach:

Against Defensive Teams: When facing a team that sits deep and defends in numbers, you'll need to be patient and creative. Focus on circulating the ball, drawing them out of position, and exploiting any gaps that appear. Use quick passing combinations and through balls to break down their defense.
Against Attacking Teams: Against teams that press high and attack aggressively, you'll need to be more direct and incisive. Use quick counter-attacks and long balls to exploit the space behind their defense. Be prepared to defend and win the ball back quickly.
Adjusting Mentality: Use the in-game mentality adjustments to shift between more attacking or defensive postures based on the game state. A more attacking mentality will push players forward, while a defensive one will prioritize protecting the lead.

By adapting your possession game to different opponents, you can increase your chances of success and dominate the virtual pitch in PES 2023.

By mastering these techniques and strategies, you'll be well on your way to becoming a PES 2023 possession master! Now get out there and start dominating!