Player Review

First things first, hey. I've been an avid FIFA player since FIFA 05. I usually finish around Gold 1 or Elite 3 in weekend league, and for the last weeks I've really struggled due to the new patch. I've switched teams and formations more times than I can remember, and the issues I've had always comes down to my goalkeepers being inconsistent, conceding ridiculous goals, and just being completely spastic at times. That's FIFA for you, isn't it..

After the patch, I've tried out Alisson, Ederson, Adan, SIF Neto, Courtois, hell.. even that IF Campaña. There was always something with each of the cards that just didn't feel right. I wasn't confident in them at all, as I knew they could lose me the game any minute.

I like to play quite aggressively and offensively with high team depth in a 4411 or 451(2) formation. I tend to quickly overwhelm the opposition with many players in the midfield, giving them few passing options. However, due to my style of play I'm sometimes caught on a counter-attack where I really need to rely on my goalkeeper in a 1-on-1 situation. Turns out, this "little" guy, Pau Lopez is my hero, my saviour and my new go-to goalkeeper.

I won't go through each of his stats, but I'll rather tell what makes this card so good for me.

Pau Lopez isn't what you would typically call a meta goalkeeper. His stature isn't that big compared to other goalkeepers and he looks rather small in game, and when you look at his stats it's easy to pass on this guy. I was sceptical at first, but time and time again he has proven me wrong.

I've so far played about 50 games with him, and the words I'd use for him is spectacularily consistent. He always shows up in games where I need him, and so far he hasn't made any blunders for me. No, he isn't some kind of magic man that saves absolutely everything, but he saves the shots you'd expect him to save, and that isn't a given in FIFA this year. He is amazing in 1-on-1 situations due to his somehow amazing reflexes, great handling and positioning. When possible, he tends to catch the ball quite often. When he doesn't catch it, he easily parries the ball either to a team-mate, or to a non-dangerous area. I feel like he is always at the right position at the right time, making saves time after time. He is also decent against headers and comes out quickly for corners.

If I were to point out something with this card it would be his diving. It's not that it's bad, but due to his height and average diving he is a bit vulnerable to shots in the top-corners or low drivens. Luckily, finesse shots have been nerfed, so I don't face them too much anymore, and with keeper movement it's easy to correct his positioning if that sort of situation would occur.

The other con I have is that he doesn't have the long-throw trait, but it's not that big of a deal.

To conclude, if Pau Lopez can reach the ball, he will save the ball 95% of the time. He is a great and consistent keeper, that has won me a numerous games in the WL and sometimes puts up with some impossible saves. Go test him out. He's only 800 coins, and that is a bargain