Hello and Merry Christmas Guys!
Most of the Top 5 leagues are on pause at the moment so we have had the usual games of football at this time of the year with Premier League being most likely the most interesting one with the traditional Boxing Day fixtures coming. The last weekend once again had a few twists and turns and also the midweek fixtures had some interesting scorelines. It's not looking like a side with a lot of very high rated players but we should still see interesting names and useable cards in it so go on and find out who could potentially be in this week!
TOTW 15 Predicted Starting XI
GK: Ivan Provedel (Lazio) - 82 OVR -> 85 OVR:
Lazio is having a season full of mixed feeling so far with 7 losses already so they are happy they ended the year with a win after they went home with a 2-0 victory away to Empoli. Provedel could pick up the inform this week after he made a total of seven saves and was awarded with an 8 match rating from Gazzetta.
LB: Emerson Royal (Tottenham) - 78 OVR -> 86* OVR:
Tottenham took on Everton in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon and came away with a 2-1 win despite not being at their best. Set up an early chance for Johnson with a low ball into the box but didn't offer much more going forward. Defended well on the whole apart from the odd loose moment and made a lot of interceptions and won the most duels on the pitch. This is a bit of a punt as Vicario was named MOTM but I couldn't leave out Provedel so Emerson gets a shout!
CB: Sergio Ramos (Sevilla) - 83 OVR -> 86 OVR:
Having joined his childhood club Sevilla in the summer, former Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos hasn't had the best season yet with him struggling to deliver constantly good performances. That changed last week against Granada, the centre-back score one of his side's goals in their 3-0 victory and could very likely pick up the inform this week.
CB: Yann-Aurel Bisseck (Inter) - 74 OVR -> 86* OVR:
Despite missing several first-team stars, including captain Lautaro Martinez, Inter maintained their superb Serie A form with a 2-0 home win against mid-table Lecce. Goals on either side of halftime propelled Simone Inzaghi’s side to a fourth consecutive league victory, re-establishing a four-point lead on second-placed Juventus. Bisseck, who joined Inter at the start of the season, opened his account with one goal but he would have had a hat-trick were it not for the acrobatics of the Lecce goalkeeper, as well as a solid piece of woodwork. His towering first-half header that caused the net to bulge came moments after he volleyed a near-post corner against the bar. In the second half Bisseck rose again, forcing a finger-tip save from Falcone. Barella was named MOTM with an 8 match rating but with his recent inclusion in TOTGS Bisseck looks like the next best option.
CDM: Sergej Milinkovic-Savic (Al-Hilal) - 87 OVR -> 88 OVR:
Al-Hilal continued their unbeaten run in the Saudi-Pro League and made it 16 wins out of 18 games, trashing Abha Club with 7-0. Serbian midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic will without a doubt pick up his second inform on Wednesday after he scored three of the goals from the CDM position.
CM: Sergi Roberto (Barcelona) - 80 OVR -> 85 OVR:
Barcelona picked up their first win in four games against a spirited Almeria side last week with the result moving Xavi Alonso's side up to third in the La Liga table, nine points adrift of table-toppers Girona. Roberto quietly had a solid performance in midfield as he kept the ball ticking at all times, recycling possession and dropping to allow Gundogan space in the box. Missed an open goal early on, but more than made up for it. Scored Barcelona’s second with a header most strikers would long for all their career, and then scored the winner with a superb finish roving into the box. Could have had a hattrick, too.
CAM: Thomas Müller (FC Bayern) - 84 OVR -> 86 OVR:
Bayern Munich continue to keep pace with Bayer Leverkusen at the top of the Bunsdesliga after a 2-1 win over Wolfsburg. It was a vintage display of Thomas Müller. The Raumdeuter did what he does best. Found the space and distributed it virtually flawlessly, except for one counter he should have made more of with both Sané and Kane as options. Bayern Munich will be glad to have him around for another year, the German forward could pick up the inform this week after his two assists.
LM: Lucas Paquetá (West HAm) - 81 OVR -> 85 OVR:
West Ham United picked up a big three points thanks to a deserved 2-0 success over Manchester United on Saturday, kicking off the Premier League Christmas fixture list with a late flurry to spark a match which had earlier looked drab and lifeless. Just about the only player to show any real technical quality in the game. Some great play down the left but his biggest impact was a deft flick over the defence to assist Bowen from the right channel. Immediately then set up Kudus for another centrally. Got robbed of his inform last week, not expect it to happen again this week.
ST: Wissam Ben Yedder (AS Monaco) - 83 OVR -> 86 OVR:
Stunned at the last moment against Olympique Lyonnais last weekend, the AS Monaco players had no time to dwell on the result as they are were returning to the pitch last Wednesday. A man down from the 52nd minute after the sending-off of Aleksandr Golovin, AS Monaco were able to maintain the lead they had obtained before the break thanks to a double from Wissam Ben Yedder adn with the Frenchman picking up an 8 match rating I can see him being in this week.
ST: Patrik Schick (Leverkusen) - 83 OVR -> 86 OVR:
Unbeaten league leaders Leverkusen kicked off against the last side to beat them in the Bundesliga amid a noisy, festive atmosphere at the BayArena. Visitors Bochum showed their strong recent form is no accident with a high-intensity start that saw them get the better of the early play but Leverkusen ultimately picked up all three points with a 4-0 victory and Patrik Schick will pick up the inform 100% this week after the strikers scored a hat-trick and was named POTW.
ST: Dominic Solanke (Bournemouth) - 83 OVR -> 86 OVR:
Nuno Espirito Santo’s first game in charge of Nottingham Forest ended in defeat as Bournemouth triumphed 3-2 courtesy of an added time winner from Dominic Solanke. The English attacker also was in charge of the other two goals and was awarded with a 10 match rating and Man of the Match which should see him getting his second inform of the 2023/24 season.
TOTW 15 Predicted Subs & Reserves
CB: Merih Demiral (Al Abha) - 77 OVR -> 83 OVR:
There is a serious lack of gold defenders this week and it wasn't easy to actually find one to include but after I've looked at the Saudi League I was glad I found Turkish defender Merih Demiral who scored one and also registered an assist in Al-Abha's 4-0 win away from home.
CM: Kamory Doumbia (Stade Brestois) - 72 OVR -> 83 OVR:
Stade Brestois picked up 4-0 win over Lorient to finish 2023 on a high in the Ligue 1. There have been a few four-goals performances in the Ligue 1 history so far and Doumbia added himself to the record books, scoring all four goals for his side and was named POTW.
CAM: Dani Rodriguez (RCD Mallorca) - 78 OVR -> 83 OVR:
RCD Mallorca picked uh trhee points to end their 2023 in a positive way, beating Osasuna 3-2 at home. Dani Rodriguez was named Man of the Match after the spanish midfielder scored twice and assisted another.
RM: Dylan Chambost (Saint-Etienne) - 68 OVR -> 83 OVR:
With most leagues being on pause until January, the selection for silvers is not that easy but Saint-Etienne's Chambost has a good chance to be in after he scored twice and assisted another in their narrow 3-2 win over Bastia.
RW: Kevin Volland (Union Berlin) - 79 OVR -> 84 OVR:
Union Berlin finished 2023 on a positive note, beating relegation-battling Cologne with 2-0. Kevin Volland, who joined the capital city club in the summer, assisted both goals and could find himself in the team this week although Rönnow was named MOTM.
ST: Igor Thiago (Club Brugge) - 69 OVR -> 83 OVR:
One of the very few hat-tricks came from the Belgium Pro League the last week in the name of Igor Thiago. Club Brugge smashed Molenbeek 6-1 away from home and Brazilian forward Thiago scored three times and registered an assist.
ST: Michy Batshuayi (Fenerbahce) - 77 OVR -> 83 OVR:
The Turkish Super Ligue recently made negativ headlines so football being back without negativ headlines are a much welcomed thing. Batshuayi was the one who made headlines midweek after he scored three goals in Fenerbahce's enteratining 4-3 win against Kayserispor.
That concludes this week's Team of the Week predictions! What do you make of these predictions? Is there anyone else who should have made the TOTW? Let us know below!
Check out the players who made all previous Teams of the Week here.
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