FC 25 Team of The Week 21 Predictions

Whether it's shock results, rivalry wins, or heavy wins, TOTW 21 contains it all. With de Vrij scoring a last-minute equaliser in the Milan Derby, Rice excelling as Arsenal embarrass City, or Wood scoring three in a 7-0 win.

Joan Garcia - GK - 76 > 83 OVR

Seven saves and clean sheet  /  Espanyol 1 - Real Madrid 0  /  8.7 Sofascore Rating 

With relegation candidates Espanyol shocking league leaders Real Madrid with a 1-0 win, an IF for them is inevitable. There are several contenders, though, with Romero scoring from RB and Hilali assisting from LB. It’s Garcia who I eventually opted for, however, with the Spaniard making seven saves in total to keep his clean sheet and allow the shock victory to occur.

Sergi Cardona - LB - 75 > 83 OVR

Two assists  /  Villarreal 5 - Valladolid 1  /  8.2 Sofascore Rating

With defensive options being few and far between this week, I can overlook the fact that Cardona was not named MOTM. With two offensive contributions from LB, I find him difficult to ignore this week. Villarreal went on to win comfortably, 5-1.

Stefan de Vrij - CB - 83 > 86 OVR

One goal  /  AC Milan 1 - Inter 1  /  7.5 Gazzetta Rating 

The Milan derby ended with both teams taking home a point in a 1-1 draw. With De Vrij being named MOTM with a strong 7.5 rating, I find it difficult to see the Dutchman missing out this week. Competition between defenders is not high either.

Waldemar Anton - CB - 81 > 86 OVR

One assist  /  Heidenheim 1 - Dortmund 2  /  2.5 Kicker Rating

While it is rare to see players receive an IF for less than a 2 Kicker rating, it has happened in the past, and with limited Bundesliga and defensive options, hitting both with Anton is possible. The German was named MOTM after he provided an assist during a narrow 2-1 win for Dortmund.

Steven Bergwijn - LM - 79 > 84 OVR

Two goals  /  Al-Ittihad 4 - Al-Kholood 3  /  9 Sofascore Rating

The first of two Saudi division players making my prediction this week is Bergwijn. While he never made an impact in the Premier League, his footballing ability was always there to see. With seven goals and six assists to his name this season, he is a constant threat in Saudi Arabia.

Georginio Wijnaldum - CM - 78 > 86 OVR

Two goals, one assist  /  Al-Ettifaq 3 - Al-Shabab 1  /  9.1 Sofascore Rating 

With Wijnaldum being a name many will recognise from his time at Liverpool, I can see EA opting to award him a featured IF. The Dutchman played a pivotal role during Al-Ettifaq’s 3-1 home win, in which he scored twice and assisted another from the middle of the park.

Declan Rice - CM - 87 > 88 OVR

Two assists  /  Arsenal 5 - Man City 1  /  9 Sky Rating

While Man City have shown clear signs of improvement from their shocking run, they won’t be happy about their performance on Sunday. Arsenal made them look silly with a convincing 5-1 win. Rice was named MOTM after he provided two assists during the win.

Mariona Caldentey - CDM - 84 > 86 OVR

One goal, one assist  /  Man City 3 - Arsenal 4  /  9.3 Sofascore Rating 

It's rare that both male and female fixtures align, but that was the case this week with City and Arsenal. Both results went in favour of Arsenal, and both could result in an IF. Caldentey seems likely from the WSL after her goal and assist from CDM helped Arsenal edge out a 4-3 thriller.

Kolo Muani - ST - 82 > 85 OVR

Two goals  /  Juventus 4 - Empoli 1  /  7.5 Gazzetta Rating

Muani was linked with several European clubs during the January transfer window, but it was Juventus who eventually secured his signature. The Frenchman has started well for them, with his brace against Empoli meaning he has three from his first two. Muani was named MOTM for his double, with a 7.5.

Ousmane Dembele - ST - 86 > 89 OVR

Hat trick  /  Brest 2 - PSG 5  /  9 L’equipe Rating

There is only a three-week gap between IFs here, which has yet to happen, but in previous years, exceptions have been made as short as two weeks towards the latter stages of the game. With Dembélé scoring three, I can see him being awarded a TIF on Wednesday. He was also named Player of the Week in France with a 9/10.

Chris Wood - ST - 76 > 86 OVR

Hat trick  /  Forest 7 - Brighton 0  /  9 Sky Rating

Coming off the back of a 5-0 loss, it was imperative that Forest bounced back strongly. That is an understatement for what occurred, with them putting seven past Brighton without reply. Several Forest players could make TOTW, but realistically only one will, and I expect that to be Wood, who added another three to his already impressive tally for the season.

Substitutes

Andrea Tarazona - GK - 77 > 83 OVR

Eleven saves  /  Levante 2 - Barcelona 1  /  9 Sofascore Rating

It's a very rare occurrence to see Barcelona drop points, let alone lose a match. Levante had just ten points prior to this match, so it came as no surprise to see Barcelona as heavy favourites. Levante had other ideas, though, and recorded a 2-1 win. Tarazona made eleven saves in total to help pull off the shock win.

Jill Janssens - RB - 70 > 83 OVR

Two goals and clean sheet  /  Freiburg 0 - Hoffenheim 3  /  8.9 Sofascore Rating 

For the second consecutive week, a Hoffenheim defender has scored twice and kept a clean sheet. Cazalla ended up making TOTW last week, and I expect the same to happen for Janssens this time around.

Javier Guerra - CDM - 75 > 83 OVR

One goal, one assist  /  Valencia 2 - Celta Vigo 1  /  8.5 Sofascore Rating

Both Guerra and Rioja managed a goal and an assist during Valencia’s 2-1 home win over Celta Vigo and either could realistically be opted for this week. I have gone for the more defensive option in Guerra with that standing out more in my eyes.

Adrien Thomasson - CM - 75 > 83 OVR

Two assists  /  Montpellier 0 - Lens 2  /  8 L’equipe Rating 

When a player receives an 8 or higher from L’Équipe, their chances of making TOTW are high. Thomasson provided both assists from CM for Lens during their 2-0 win, and L’Équipe awarded him an 8 for that performance.

Martijn Kaars - ST - 66 > 86 OVR

Four goals  /  Schalke 2 - Magdeburg 5  /  9.9 Sofascore Rating

Kaars picked up his first IF for a hat-trick just two weeks ago, and while that seems unlikely for an IF, it happened once before with the Eredivisie. Kaars continued his goalscoring form with four goals away at Schalke this weekend. If exceptions can be made for TOTW gaps, this is a prime candidate for that.

Jean-Philippe Mateta - ST - 79 > 86 OVR

Two goals  /  Man United 0 - Crystal Palace 2  /  9 Sky Rating

It's probably safe to say that any Palace relegation worries can now be extinguished after they picked up another three points this weekend with a 2-0 away win over Man United. Mateta scored both Palace goals, claiming a 9/10 from Sky.

Mika Biereth - ST - 68 > 84 OVR

Hat trick  /  Monaco 4 - Auxerre 2  /  9 L’equipe Rating 

Biereth’s goalscoring form in Austria saw him awarded a big move to Monaco. The Austrian youngster shows no signs of slowing down despite the step up in division quality. Three goals this weekend for Monaco mean he has scored four from his opening three for his new side.

Reserves

Junior Firpo - LB - 73 > 83 OVR

Three assists and clean sheet  /  Leeds 7 - Cardiff 0  /  9.7 Sofascore Rating

Azeem Abdulai - LM - 60 > 83 OVR

Three goals, one assist  /  Exeter 2 - Leyton Orient 6  /  9.6 Sofascore Rating

Santiago Pierotti - ST - 68 > 83 OVR

Two goals  /  Parma 1 - Lecce 3  /  8 Gazzetta Rating 

Larissa Muhlhaus - ST - 70 > 83 OVR

Hat trick  /  Potsdam 1 - Werder Bremen 4  /  10 Sofascore Rating

Krzysztof Piatek - ST - 74 > 83 OVR

Hat trick  /  Basaksehir 4 - Samsunspor 0  /  9.5 Sofascore Rating

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