TOTW 17 Predicted Starting XI
Last week saw arguably the worst TOTW to date despite an additional overall upgrade. While this week is not groundbreaking, there are more players to get excited for, whether that’s Hernandez at the back, Rice and Guimaraes in the middle, or a featured Madrid striker.
GK: Jack Butland (Rangers) - 75 OVR -> 86 OVR:
It was the perfect time for Rangers to play their rivals Celtic this weekend. Neither side are living up to their league-dominating reputation this season, but Celtic are currently in freefall under new manager Nancy. Rangers added more misery to them this weekend, securing a 3-1 win. Butland was superb throughout, making a total of nine saves to claim MOTM.
LB: Theo Hernandez (Al-Hilal) - 84 OVR -> 86 OVR:
Al-Hilal are now the only undefeated side left in the division and lead the title race as a result. They have a couple of IF candidates this week, but Theo Hernandez seems the most probable. The French defender scored twice as they beat Al-Kholood 3-1 away from home.
CB: Berat Djimsiti (Atalanta) - 79 OVR -> 84 OVR:
With numerous low-scoring matches taking place in Serie A this week, it's almost inevitable that we will see at least one defender feature in EA's side come Wednesday. There are a couple of options from Atalanta's 1-0 win over Roma. Although it was his partner who scored the goal from the back, it was Djimsiti's defensive display that stood out during the win, with Gazzetta awarding him the official MOTM for his role in Atalanta's clean sheet.
LB: Pedraza (Villarreal) - 75 OVR -> 84 OVR:
After a couple of really underwhelming campaigns for Villarreal, it looks as though they are back competing at the top end of the table. A 3-1 away win over Elche takes them into third position, now with a five-point buffer in the Champions League spots. Pedraza was named MOTM for his goal during the win, and with minimal options from the division, I feel he can sneak in here.
RM: Matteo Politano (Napoli) - 81 OVR -> 87 OVR:
With the new upgrades to IFs last week, 81-rated players without an IF can now go as high as 87 with a featured upgrade. I feel we see that this week with Politano, after he provided two assists to claim MOTM during Napoli's 2-0 away win over Lazio. Central defender Rrahmani also scored, but with Politano claiming MOTM, I would expect the IF to go his way.
CM: Declan Rice (Arsenal) - 87 OVR -> 89 OVR:
The Rice punt last week failed to pay off, but this time around he looks nailed on. Playing back in the familiar CM role, Rice was key for Arsenal at both ends of the pitch, scoring two of their three goals as they secured a 3-2 win over Bournemouth. With a six-point gap at the top of the table, Arsenal look to be heavy favourites to lift the title once again.
CM: Bruno Guimaraes (Newcastle) - 86 OVR -> 88 OVR:
The Rice punt last week failed to pay off, but this time around he looks nailed on. Playing back in the familiar CM role, Rice was key for Arsenal at both ends of the pitch, scoring two of their three goals as they secured a 3-2 win over Bournemouth. With a six-point gap at the top of the table, Arsenal look to be heavy favourites to lift the title once again.
RM: John McGinn (Aston Villa) - 81 OVR -> 87 OVR:
Villa put the loss to Arsenal behind them quickly, getting back to winning ways via a comfortable 3-1 home win against Forest. While title contention seems unlikely, a top-four finish is becoming more realistic by the week. McGinn scored twice to claim MOTM during the win and looks likely to receive a featured upgrade.
ST: Igor Thiago (Brentford) - 75 OVR -> 85 OVR:
The Premier League IFs keep on coming. With two full sets of fixtures played this week, it was always likely the division would dominate this side. Thiago has been one of the surprise packages this season, scoring consistently and leaving him the only player within realistic reach of Haaland. The Brazilian added another three to his tally this weekend as Brentford secured an entertaining 4-2 win over Everton.
ST: Gonzalo (Real Madrid) - 69 OVR -> 86 OVR:
In terms of featured IFs, they don’t come much easier than this. Gonzalo scored his first La Liga goal for Real Madrid, shortly followed by his second and third, completing his hat trick as Madrid recorded a comfortable 5-1 home win over Real Betis. EA often opt for a featured upgrade on silvers in the top five leagues, and a Real Madrid option is a no-brainer for them.
ST: Vangelis Pavlidis (Benfica) - 82 OVR -> 87 OVR:
Although this is just a three-week gap between IFs, which would be the lowest we have seen so far this game, it’s a gap that has occurred in previous years. With Pavlidis scoring another hat trick this week for Benfica, he is among the best options, and the small gap shouldn’t be the factor keeping him out. I struggled to fill the side towards the end, so I would rather punt Pavlidis than a random striker with a single goal.
TOTW 17 Predicted Subs & Reserves
CB: Ismaelo Ganiou (Lens) - 66 OVR -> 84 OVR:
There were a couple of options for Lens players as they secured a 3-0 win over Toulouse, but with Ganiou being one of just two players in L'Equipe's side with an eight, I find it difficult to overlook him. The defender scored a late goal to cap off a strong defensive performance as Lens remain top of the Ligue 1 table.
CDM: James Garner (Everton) - 76 OVR -> 84 OVR:
Back to the Premier League now, where we have a midweek fixture in which Garner excelled. Scoring once and assisting another, Garner was named MOTM during Everton's 2-0 win over Forest, who, despite a small resurgence after Dyche took over, now look to be back in a relegation battle.
CM: Mateus Mane (Wolves) - 60 OVR -> 84 OVR:
While this is somewhat forcing a Wolves player into the side, with this being their first win of the season, I feel that it has to happen. Mane scored one of their three as Wolves won in style, beating fellow relegation candidates West Ham 3-0. Mane was named MOTM, making him the most likely option despite his base card being bronze.
CM: Rassoul Ndiaye (Le Havre) - 70 OVR -> 84 OVR:
There were only two players who managed to receive an 8 or higher from L’Équipe this week, and I expect both to be included by EA as a result. Ndiaye was the second, with his duo of assists helping Le Havre secure a 2-1 win over Angers, ending their seven-match winless streak.
ST: Borja Iglesias (Celta Vigo) - 79 OVR -> 84 OVR:
Borja Iglesias scored a brace in Celta Vigo's dominant 4-1 win over Valencia, and with limited La Liga options it makes him a strong contender for the upcoming TOTW. The forward earned a penalty after being fouled in the box and calmly converted it in the 33rd minute before then doubling his tally in the 59th minute.
ST: Pavel Sulc (Lyon) - 77 OVR -> 84 OVR:
Sulc found himself among the options again this week and this time I expect him to be given the nod by EA. Lyon secured a 3-1 win over Monaco with Sulc scoring two of those three. Now with three wins from their last four, Lyon are closing in on a potential Champions League spot.
ST: Ivan Toney (Al-Ahli) - 81 OVR -> 85 OVR:
Although we have been used to seeing just one Saudi League IF per week, still without female divisions in action alongside the Bundesliga there are many more spots available. We saw several Saudi IFs last week and I would expect at least two again this time. Toney is the second player from the division making my side after his two goals and one assist ended Al Nassr’s unbeaten start to the season.
LB: Emmanuel Maviram (Tondela) - 66 OVR -> 84 OVR:
There were a plethora of non-gold defenders in with a chance of making EA's side this week and for that reason I have opted for two of them on the reserves alone. The first being Maviram. Tondela secured a 3-1 home win over Arouca with Maviram directly involved in all three goals, scoring once and assisting another two.
RB: Tendayi Darikwa (Lincoln) - 66 OVR -> 84 OVR:
Lincoln continue to impress in League One with their latest win continuing their streak, now sitting on six wins and two draws from eight. Darikwa scored twice and assisted another during an impressive 5-2 win over Peterborough and with the Imps now sitting in second could an unlikely promotion to the Championship become a reality?
LM: Tom Ince (Watford) - 67 OVR -> 84 OVR:
There are a few Championship options this week, but the best is Tom Ince. Watford hosted Birmingham during their midweek fixture, coming out on top as 3-0 winners. Ince scored all three of those goals, coming as somewhat of a shock seeing as he had only recorded one goal this season prior to that.
CAM: Morgan Whittaker (Middlesborough) - 73 OVR -> 84 OVR:
Whittaker initially struggled to settle in at Middlesbrough, but after that goal at Ipswich back in October he has not looked back. He added another two to his tally this weekend as Middlesbrough put four past Southampton without response, taking his personal tally to ten. While Ince has to hold preference for the Championship IF with this being such an impressive win, I feel Whittaker can also sneak in.
ST: Alieu Njie (Torino) - 65 OVR -> 84 OVR:
I feel the reserve striker could be just about anyone this week with no hat tricks from silver players, a rarity for TOTW. I have taken the punt on Njie, largely due to him being in a top five league. The Swede came off the bench for Torino to both score and assist as they secured a 3-0 away win over hapless Verona.
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!
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