FC 26 Team of The Week 3 Predictions!

As a collective, TOTW 3 looks set to be the worst we have seen so far with limited options to get excited about. Once again Messi could headline, with Alvarez being the main standout option. Araujo and Joelinton could also be forced in to at least offer someone worth packing.

Dominik Greif - GK - 78 > 82 OVR

Three saves and clean sheet / Lille 0 - Lyon 1 / 8 L’equipe Rating

Ligue 1 will inevitably have a couple of players included but as to who that will be is not straightforward. Nobody really stood out from the division so I have taken a couple of punts, the first being Grief. Although the Lyon keeper only made three saves he was awarded MOTM with an impressive 8/10 from L’Equipe.

Marc Guehi - CB - 82 > 84 OVR

One assist / Palace 2 - Liverpool 1 / 9 Sky Rating

Having been snubbed of his dream move to Liverpool, Guehi has acted like a true professional, continuing to put in top performances and leading a Palace side who look extremely competitive. The English defender produced a MOTM display as Palace snatched all three points against the reigning champions late on. Guehi provided the assist for the 97th-minute winner.

Ronald Araujo - CB - 83 > 85 OVR

One goal / Real Oviedo 1 - Barcelona 3 / 8.5 Sofascore Rating

There was a lack of big-name players for this week’s side, so I have taken a bit of a punt on Araujo. He received a high match rating after scoring one of Barcelona’s three goals during their 3-1 away win over Oviedo.

Konrad Laimer - LB - 82 > 84 OVR

Goal and clean sheet / Munich 4 - Bremen 0 / 1.5 Kicker Rating

Once again it was Kane who stood out for Munich, claiming MOTM with a brace to his name, but with a TOTW already this season he won’t get in again so soon. Instead we look to their defence, from which both Tah and Laimer scored in the 4-0 win. Laimer received the higher match rating from Kicker, making him the more likely of the two.

Armand Lauriente - LW - 80 > 83 OVR

One goal, one assist / Sassuolo 3 - Udinese 1 / 7.5 Gazzetta Rating

While some divisions offered a plethora of options others were difficult to select from. Serie A leaned more towards the latter. A goal and an assist from Lauriente was among the highest match ratings of the week as his contributions helped Sassuolo secure a 3-1 win.

Georgia Stanway - CDM - 85 > 86 OVR

Three assists / Munich 4 / Freiburg 0 / 8.6 Sofascore Rating

There were a couple of options from Munich’s midweek victory over Freiburg, but it’s extremely difficult to ignore a CDM with three attacking contributions. For that reason, Stanway is the first of two players selected from Tuesday’s fixtures. While this day has been a gray area over the years, EA have become more consistent in including them in recent games.

Lionel Messi - CAM - 86 > 87 OVR

Two goals, one assist / NY City 0 - Inter Miami 4 / 10 Sofascore Rating

Messi was snubbed last week, but he looks among the best options again this week. The Argentine repeated last week’s feat with two goals and an assist, this time playing behind Suarez rather than as an outright striker.

Joelinton - CM - 82 > 84 OVR

Two goals / Newcastle 4 - Bradford 1 / 9.8 Sofascore Rating

We have limited data on how often EA will opt to include matches from cup games and how the quality of opposition changes the selection process, so there will be a learning curve to start with. Joelinton, on performance alone, deserves a spot after his two goals from CM stood out during Newcastle’s 4-1 win over Bradford.

Julian Brandt - CAM - 83 > 85 OVR

Two assists / Mainz 0 - Dortmund 2 / 1.5 Kicker Rating

I was surprised that Brandt wasn’t named the official MOTM from Dortmund’s 2-0 away win over Mainz after providing both assists. Instead, that went the way of Adeyemi for his goal. Brandt did receive the same match rating, however, with a 1.5, so I can still see it being him who makes the eventual cut.

Igor Thiago - ST - 75 > 84 OVR

Two goals / Brentford 3 - Man United 1 / 9 Sky Rating

United continue to struggle under Amorim, with last week’s win over Chelsea probably being the one thing saving him. It was back to reality on Saturday for United fans, as they fell 3-1 away at Brentford. Thiago stood out, scoring twice to guide Brentford to all three points.

Julian Alvarez - ST - 87 > 88 OVR

Hat trick / Atletico Madrid 3 - Rayo Vallecano 2 / 10 Sofascore Rating

With La Liga having a full set of midweek fixtures to choose from, I would expect one or two more than usual to be selected from the division. Alvarez is an easy inclusion after the Argentine scored all three of Atletico’s goals in their 3-2 home win over Vallecano.

Substitutes

Omar Alderete - CB - 78 > 82 OVR

Goal and clean sheet / Forest 0 - Sunderland 1 / 9 Sky Rating

Sunderland were early relegation favourites, but the early signs have been extremely promising for them, as they now sit fourth with eleven points from six after a 1-0 win away at Forest. Several players made a case for the IF, but Alderete seems the most plausible, having scored the only goal of the game. Roefs also stood out, but him being a silver card has proved costly in previous weeks.

Janou Levels - LB - 76 > 81 OVR

One goal, one assist / Wolfsburg 4 - Bremen 2 / 9.2 Sofascore Rating

The second of two from the Frauen Bundesliga is Levels. The Dutch defender played a big role during their 4-2 home win over Bremen, recording both a goal and an assist. While EA may opt to stick with one per league, I feel there can be slight leeway on a week-to-week basis.

Can Uzun - CM - 74 > 80 OVR

One goal, one assist / Gladbach 4 - Frankfurt 6 / 1 Kicker Rating

One of the craziest matches you will see all season saw Frankfurt leading 6-0 before Gladbach scored four in what would have been the biggest comeback of all time had they pulled it off. Koch is an IF option, having scored twice from CB, but after conceding four I can’t justify it. Instead we look at Uzun, who scored one and assisted another while also claiming Bundesliga POTW.

Korbin Shrader - CDM - 82 > 84 OVR

Three goals, one assist / Lyonnes 6 - PSG 1 / 10 Sofascore Rating

Lyon are proving to be the dominant force they so often are in the top tier of French women’s football. A 6-1 win over one of their “title contenders” came on Saturday. Shrader is the clear choice for a spot in TOTW 3, having scored three and provided an assist during the dominant win.

Rafa - CAM - 82 > 84 OVR

Hat trick / Kayserispor 0 - Besiktas 4 / 10 Sofascore Rating

The competition for places was higher than ever this week, with so many midweek fixtures and cup matches also being taken into consideration. Rafa played on Wednesday, but with three goals to his name from CAM in a 4-0 away win for Besiktas, his spot in TOTW 3 should be pretty much nailed on.

Joseph Paintsil - ST - 76 > 81 OVR

Hat trick / LA Galaxy 4 - Kansas 1 / 9.8 Sofascore

Once again I am finding it difficult to narrow it down to just one MLS option with the goals continuing to fly in across the division. Paintsil played as a striker this week and it paid off, with the pacey forward scoring three times to help LA Galaxy to a 4-1 win.

Gift Monday - ST - 80 > 83 OVR

Hat trick / Washington 4 - Houston 0 / 9 Sofascore Rating

The NWSL saw a player forced into the side last week which suggests a quota might need to be met. This time there were several strong candidates but none stood out more than Monday. The Nigerian striker scored a hat trick for Washington in their comfortable 4-0 home win.