TOTW 18 Predicted Starting XI
With the FA Cup underway, it means no Premier League options for this side. That has resulted in the overall quality being minimal in terms of FUT, but headlining, we have Dembélé, Mané, and Rolfo.
GK: David Soria (Getafe) - 81 OVR -> 85 OVR:
We have seen EA continuously prefer keepers with a penalty save to their name in recent weeks, despite other options receiving higher match ratings. For that reason, I am opting for Soria. The Spaniard made six saves in total, one of which was a penalty stop during Getafe's 2-1 win.
LB: Fridolina Rolfo (Barcelona) - 86 OVR -> 87 OVR:
You guessed it, another Barcelona IF. This time around, the league leaders recorded a 6-0 win as they continue to dominate women's football. Rolfo is seemingly the best option after she scored once and assisted another from the LB role.
CB: Matteo Darmian (Inter) - 81 OVR -> 85 OVR:
The top of Serie A is getting very tight, with both Inter and Napoli seemingly favourites as we head into the second half of the season. Inter picked up a narrow 1-0 win away at Venezia this weekend, with Darmian scoring the only goal of the game.
LB: Renan Lodi (Al-Hilal) - 77 OVR -> 86 OVR:
The first player I expect to receive a featured IF this week is Lodi. Saudi Arabia has seen an influx of IFs this year, with EA concentrating much more on the division than in previous years. With a goal and an assist during a convincing win, Lodi's IF is inevitable this week.
LM: Sadio Mane (Al-Nassr) - 84 OVR -> 87 OVR:
Staying with the Saudi division, we have one of the better cards this week in Sadio Mané. The Senegalese winger scored twice as Al-Nassr recorded a 3-1 home win.
CM: Andre-Franck Zambo Anguissa (Napoli) - 80 OVR -> 84 OVR:
Anguissa has been snubbed on a couple of occasions so far this season, but the Napoli midfielder continues to perform well, consistently receiving MOTM awards. This week saw yet another, with Anguissa scoring one of Napoli's two goals during a 2-0 win.
CAM: Gaetane Thiney (Paris) - 83 OVR -> 86 OVR:
There were numerous players in line for this week's side with previous promotional cards. EA has often been reluctant to award these IFs, but without them, they would struggle to make a full side this week. Thiney is another in that category, and after she provided both a goal and an assist this week, I find it difficult to exclude her.
RW: Ousmane Dembele (PSG) - 86 OVR -> 88 OVR:
Arguably the best player this week in terms of who you would want to pack is Dembélé. The PSG winger has returned to his best form this season and continues to be a prominent figure in the French champions' side. Another two goals on Sunday ensured PSG recorded all three points via a 2-1 win over Saint-Étienne.
CAM: Xavi Simons (Leipzig) - 83 OVR -> 86 OVR:
Onto the Bundesliga representatives now, and there are just a couple who end up making the side. Simons is the first, after his brace helped Leipzig to a 4-2 win over Werder Bremen.
ST: Jonathan Burkardt (Mainz) - 76 OVR -> 85 OVR:
Burkardt continues his fine goalscoring form for Mainz with another two, taking his total to twelve for the season. I am surprised the 24-year-old has not received more interest, with the performances he is putting in for Mainz being very impressive this season.
ST: Gift Monday (Tenerife) - 75 OVR -> 86 OVR:
With no standout strikers being highly rated this week, I would expect one of the featured IFs to be awarded to that position. Monday has a strong base card, and female options have not been featured often in the past. This is a good opportunity to produce a usable card, and her brace during a 5-1 win should see her at least included.
TOTW 18 Predicted Subs & Reserves
CB: Clement Lenglet (Atletico Madrid) - 76 OVR -> 83 OVR:
La Liga was one of the main divisions in action this week, but several low-scoring matches occurred, making the IF decisions very difficult. I do still expect a couple to be included, so I have taken a punt on Lenglet being one. The Frenchman provided the assist on the only goal of the game.
CDM: Tere Abelleira (Real Madrid) - 80 OVR -> 84 OVR:
While it does seem highly unlikely that Barcelona will drop enough points to allow Real Madrid back into the title race, all they can do is keep winning. A 6-0 win over Levante was recorded this week, with Abelleira recording both a goal and an assist from CDM.
CAM: Sem Steijn (Twente) - 75 OVR -> 86 OVR:
What a season it has been so far for Sem Steijn. A hat trick for Twente this weekend takes his tally to fifteen for the season from just seventeen matches. Considering he is not a striker, that is simply ridiculous.
CM: Mahdi Camara (Brest) - 76 OVR -> 83 OVR:
Ligue 1 had several players receive an 8/10 from L'Équipe this week, and Camara was one of them. The Frenchman scored once and assisted another as Brest recorded an impressive 2-1 win over Lyon.
ST: Gaetan Laborde (Nice) - 78 OVR -> 84 OVR:
With Laborde not making L'Équipe TOTW, there is some risk associated with this selection, but a gold striker with two goals this week wasn't easy to come across, especially in the top five divisions. For that reason, I find it difficult to omit Laborde's brace.
ST: Nikola Krstovic (Lecce) - 75 OVR -> 83 OVR:
Serie A Player of the Week went an unfamiliar way, with Krstović of Lecce picking up the award. It was only the Montenegrin's fifth and sixth goals of the season.
ST: Baris Yilmaz (Galatasaray) - 80 OVR -> 84 OVR:
Yilmaz has impressed for Galatasaray this season, with another brace on Sunday taking his goal tally to ten for the season. These performances have attracted interest, with Nottingham Forest reportedly looking at him currently.
RB: Pedro Malheiro (Trabzonspor) - 73 OVR -> 83 OVR:
Performances like that of Malheiro happen once or twice a season across all divisions. The Portuguese RB scored three times for Trabzonspor, and what makes that even better is the fact he also kept a clean sheet!
CAM: Jakob Breum (GA Eagles) - 66 OVR -> 83 OVR:
Another hat trick from the Eredivisie now, and this one also comes from the CAM position. Breum scored all three for Go Ahead Eagles as they recorded a 3-0 win over Fortuna.
LM: Hugo Picard (Guingamp) - 66 OVR -> 83 OVR:
With Ligue 2 receiving an IF last week, it makes this selection a lot more realistic, with IFs to that division being limited previously. Picard provided three assists for Guingamp as they recorded a 4-1 away win.
LM: Adrian Segecic (Sydney FC) - 59 OVR -> 83 OVR:
Another hat trick now, and once again the A-League continues to provide strong candidates for IFs. Sydney FC brought Segecic off the bench, who then scored three to secure a 4-1 win.
LM: Myziane Maolida (Al-Kholood) - 71 OVR -> 83 OVR:
The previous four reserve spots are ones I would be shocked if any fail to make EA's side, but the final one is up for grabs and could go numerous ways. I have opted for Maolida after he scored his second of the match in the 100th minute to claim all three points for Al-Kholood.
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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