Few players in the FC Pro Open 25 had as difficult a path to the final as Obrun2002. Drawn into the dreaded ‘Group of Death,’ the Italian had to navigate through some of the best players in the world just to make it to the knockout rounds. But while others stumbled, Obrun thrived.
A 5-3 loss to Tekkz in the group stages changed everything for Obrun2002. He quickly abandoned his plans to play 4-5-1, switching to the 4213 formation and he did not lose another match in the FC Pro Open until the final.
So, how did he pull it off? Today, we’re diving deep into his approach to uncover how he turned in a near flawless campaign at the FC Pro Open 25.
Why Obrun2002 Went With the 4213
There was a quiet shift in the competitive landscape after Title Update #8. FC 25 felt like a new game: faster, sharper, and more punishing in transition. Everyone on the Pro scene needed to adapt, and Obrun2002 was no exception.
In his first competitive game on the new patch, he lined-up in a 451. But against Tekkz, it crumbled as Obrun took his first loss in the competition.
His midfield lacked presence, his defense was too exposed, and he suffered a 5-3 defeat that could have been worse. Something had to change.
That’s when he turned to the 4213 and the impact was immediate. With an extra midfielder providing cover and a setup tailored for rapid transitions, Obrun exploded back to life.
He stormed through the rest of the group, scoring 21 goals in four matches to finish unbeaten and top of Group C, before continuing his dominance in the knockout stage of the competition.
Switching to the 4-2-1-3 proved an inspired decision. It carried him through the Group of Death, through the knockouts, and nearly took him to his first major title.
Let’s take a deeper look into his tactics:
Obrun2002’s Pro Meta 4213 Custom Tactics
Build Up Style: Balanced
Defensive Approach: High (75)
Obrun2002’s Pro Meta 4213 Player Roles
- GK: Sweeper Keeper - Build Up
- RB: Fullback - Defend
- CB: Defender - Defend
- CB: Defender - Defend
- LB: Fullback - Defend
- CDM: Deep-Lying Playmaker - Build-Up
- CDM: Deep-Lying Playmaker - Build-Up
- CAM: Playmaker - Balanced
- RW: Inside Forward - Attack
- ST: Advanced Forward - Attack
- LW: Inside Forward - Attack
Tactics Code: m#AE9sHswy6
How the 4213 Took Obrun2002 to the Final
The 4-2-1-3 became the perfect system for Obrun2002 after his early struggles with the 4-5-1. His loss to Tekkz forced him to rethink his approach—he needed more defensive cover, better transitions, and a setup that maximized the new META. Once he made the switch, he dominated, topping Group C and storming into the final.
Defensive Stability with Attacking Flexibility
Obrun’s defenase was a blend of pace, strength, and intelligence. Saliba and Haaland formed an unorthodox but dominant center-back pairing. Haaland’s aerial dominance made him an asset in both boxes, while Saliba added to this with his elite defensive awareness. The fullbacks were both quick and good going forward, giving Obrun a creative outlet in possession.
His double pivot of Douglas Luiz and Frenkie de Jong was all about control. They both provided defensive steel, while also being able to dictate play. They were excellent at linking defense to attack with their dribbling and passing range.
At CAM, Homare Sawa was the heartbeat of the team, drifting between the lines and constantly finding space. Capable of finding the back of the net, it was her tireless running and perfect passes over-the-top that made her an incredible asset. Her movement and creativity kept Obrun’s attack fluid.
Ruthless Attacking Trio
Obrun’s front three were fast, dynamic, and clinical. On the left, Rafael Leão brought power, pace, trickery, and an eye for goal. He was more of a second striker than a traditional winger. On the other flank, Cole Palmer was deceptively quick with a brilliant left foot, he offered creativity and finishing. Leading the attack, Thierry Henry (ST) was the complete forward. Speed, strength, and a killer instinct. He was Obrun’s main outlet, constantly stretching defenses and finishing chances with ease.
The System That Defined His Run
The 4-2-1-3 gave Obrun the perfect balance—a strong defensive structure, midfield control, and an attack built for quick, lethal transitions. It wasn’t just a tactical adjustment; it was the system that made him unstoppable.
Obrun2002’s Campaign - A Masterclass in Precision and Control
In most of his games, Obrun was absolutely dominant. His ability to pick apart defenses with insanely accurate pinged passes was on full display, especially in his huge win over JAfonso.
JAfonso had been flying, looking like one of the best in the tournament. He was structured, clinical, and difficult to break down. Then he ran into Obrun.
Obrun tore him apart with manual passing that, at times, felt game-breaking. Every switch of play, every ball into space, every line-breaking pass was laser-guided. In particular, it was his manual long-passes that were awe-inspiring. Each time, they were delivered with pinpoint accuracy, completely bypassing the defensive AI.
The result? A demolition job. Obrun’s transitions were too fast, his attack too unpredictable, and JAfonso simply couldn’t keep up. That win was a message to the rest of the competition.
We knew right then and there that were watching one of the best players in the world.
Obrun2002’s Key Players and Roles
Goalkeeper
Once again, Edwin van der Sar was Obrun2002’s pick between the sticks. For years, he has been widely regarded as the best goalkeeper in the game and he never fails to back this claim up with his performances.
An excellent shotstopper who is quick off his line and comfortable in possession, he ensured Obrun could reset play efficiently and build from the back.
Fullbacks
Theo Hernández and Steve McManaman fit Obrun’s tactics like a pair of speedos.
Theo Hernández has become the default leftback for all pro and elite players. His is the undisputed king of the left flank. He is the best left-back (fullback) in the game and we are yet to see someone even attempt to use another left-back in pro gameplay.
On the right, Mcmanaman's proved a great choice with his pace, dribbling, passing, and agility giving Obrun an extra playmaker from deep. While rarely utilised, McManaman's Whipped Pass+ playstyle to meant Obrun always had the option to play a killer pass when his right-back bombed down the line.
Together, the fullbacks are play an important role in Obrun’s setup: Hernández’s athleticism and McManaman’s technical ability offered the perfect balance, allowing Obrun to maintain defensive stability while giving him decent options going forward.
Centre Backs
William Saliba & Erling Haaland were a duo we saw a lot of at the FC Pro Open 25 Finals. It's a pairing that offers everything. Obrun2002’s choice to rely on this pairing reflects not just their individual quality but also their ability to adapt to his system.
Haaland's strength, pace, and physicality made him a dominant force, especially in stopping counterattacks. Paired with the more refined Saliba, the duo provided the perfect balance of raw power and elite defensive awareness.
The Winter Wildcards promo giving Haaland a CB card has turned him into the new van Dijk. His build is perfect for the position! Despite the position change, he is still an incredible goal threat.
Since (contested) headers were nerfed, the corner kick was no longer a guaranteed way of creating high quality scoring chances. At least it shouldn't have been.
But no one said anything about bicycle kicks.
With Haaland's large frame and acrobatic playstyle, he seems to win the ball on every cross and his volleys find the back of the net more times than they don't.
The duo’s seamless partnership is the foundation on which Obrun’s 4231 is built, providing the defensive assurance needed to execute his ambitious tactics without hesitation.
Central Defensive Midfielders
The pairing of Douglas Luiz and Frenkie De Jong gave Obrun a bit of everything. His use of dual Deep-Lying Playmakers with Build-Up focus allowed them to contribute offensively while maintaining defensive responsibilities.
Both capable of winning the ball, where they really shine is in their ability to set the tempo. Both players are highly capable of controlling possession and ensuring that Obrun could break quickly in transition.
Central Attacking Midfielder
Homare Sawa was the heartbeat of the attack. Her dribbling, tireless work ethic, and elite playmaking made her the perfect CAM. Whether threading through balls or arriving late in the box, she was instrumental in Obrun’s system, always dictating the final third.
What really set her apart, though, was her ability to unlock defenses with precise lobbed passes. EA has tried and failed to patch first-time over-the-top passes.
And Obrun must have been thanking his lucky stars.
Through Sawa, he played that pass so many times and there was absolutely nothing anyone could do about them.
Wingers
Cole Palmer was Obrun's designated Team of The Year player. Operating from the right, Palmer was the creative spark. A player who could cut inside and unlock defenses with his dribbling and movement or just fire in a wicked finesse shot from range.
Leão, on the left, was a bit of an enigma. He defied, with grace and with guile, The limitations of size. Along with pace and power, he brought flair, panache, a touch of the sublime.
With Palmer and Leão standing at 6'1"and 6'2", respectively, their sheer presence was enough to cause panic. They are intimidating.
Striker
And now, the main man: Thierry Henry.
He's the complete striker. He's got it all. A five-star weak foot, finesse shot+ and rapid+, quickstep with every dribbling playstyle. He even has power header for good measure.
His ability to play off the last defender and attack space made him impossible to contain, especially when combined with Obrun’s game-breaking manual long passes.
If he gets the ball, it's ending up in the back of the net. Simple.
He was phenomenal on the night and made a strong claim for being the best striker in FC 25 at the moment.
Who is the 4-2-1-3 for?
Simply put, everyone.
The 4-2-1-3 is one of the easiest formations to use right now, offering balance, control, and attacking firepower. It allows you to control the narrative of any match and be lethal on the counter while maintaining defensive structure. This makes it the perfect choice for both aggressive and pragmatic players.
With the way Obrun plays it, this isn’t a park-the-bus system. The high defensive line ensures pressure is applied higher up the pitch, forcing opponents into mistakes rather than sitting deep and inviting pressure.
This proactive approach was on full display in most of Obrun’s dominant win over JAfonso, a game where he completely overwhelmed one of the tournament’s top performers.
JAfonso had been flying through the competition, yet Obrun tore him apart. The 4213 allowed Obrun to win the ball high, transition quickly, and punish JAfonso with ruthless efficiency.
Obrun's win over Levi de Weerd showcased another side of the formation. Clearly on the backfoot, Obrun faced wave after wave but Levi just couldn't turn his dominance into goals. This, in part, was due to Obrun's tactics making it difficult for Levi to create high quality chances.
He ended up shooting 17 times, most of which were half-chances at best, and losing the game to Obrun, whose counter-attacks were lethal and unstoppable. The 4213 had helped him win the match in a way that only it could.
So, if you’re looking for a formation that offers defensive stability, attacking versatility, and a clear tactical identity, the 4-2-1-3 is the answer. It’s structured, fluid, and, when played right, devastatingly effective.
Below is a cheap 500k team that you could build following Obrun2002's squad as a template:
That concludes this tactic breakdown. Keep an eye on the FUT.GG news section for more. What is your favourite formation and tactic in FC 25? Let us know below!