TOTW 3 PREDICTIONS

It feels like the past week has flown past, and suddenly TOTW 3 is upon us. This week, we have a much wider variety of games to choose from, including plenty of midweek fixtures, huge scorelines, and superstars getting their fair share of the action. Due to this, we are seeing some big names miss out, and others just scraping into the final cut, but either way, it’s going to be one hell of a line-up!

Starting Eleven

Costil

As usual, we kick things off with a goalkeeper, and for this selection we head over to France. Bordeaux edged out a narrow 1-0 win over Lille in the week, and despite taking all the points, the match was far from one-sided. Costil was the hero on the day, commanding his defence, dominating loose balls and pulling off a total of 7 incredible saves across the match.

Kolarov

This man's constant success and improvement still shocks me. After his move from the Premier League, many thought his career was winding to a close, however Kolarov silenced any doubters and shown that age is nothing but a number. Roma played twice this week, destroying Frosinone 4-0 and then beating Lazio 3-1. Not only was Kolarov solid at the back, but he also contributed a goal to each of these games, securing his spot in these predictions.

Maguire

After his big money transfer fell through in the summer, Maguire has since gone on to sign a long term contract with Leicester, and shown just why he was in such high demand. Leicester were away to Newcastle for their weekend fixture, where they picked up all the points in a 2-0 victory. Maguire was not only a rock at the back, but also scored the second goal, putting the final nail in Newcastle’s coffin.

Maicon

Over to the Super Lig now, where Galatasaray edged out a narrow 1-0 victory over Erzurum. Maicon was the clear man of the match, providing an incredible defensive display across the full 90 minutes, and also scoring the only goal in the match. These kind of stats simply cannot be ignored, especially when they come from a center back.

Sigurdsson

Everton were hoping to continue their push this season, with a home fixture against newly promoted Fulham. It wasn’t until the second half when we finally saw some action, and surprisingly it came in the form of Sigurdsson missing from the spot. He quickly rectified this mistake with a sensational strike from outside the box, which he followed up with a second in the final minutes.

Banega

Across to Spain now, where we find Sevilla away to Eibar for their weekend fixture. In a game that provided fans with 4 goals, it was mainly one way traffic in favour of the visitors, as they cruised to a 3-1 victory. Banega was the hero on the day, scoring twice and cementing that man of the match award as well.

Reus

Could this be the season that we finally see the return of Marco Reus? Are the injuries behind him? Is this where he picks up where he left off a couple of years back? I think it just might be. Dortmund have had a fantastic start to the season, and with a 7-0 win over Nuernberg, they have no signs of slowing down. On the day, Reus scored twice, assisted another, and swoops in to secure his spot in these predictions.

Suso

AC Milan have gone through a rough couple of years, from attempting a total rebuild, to massively underachieving, this has to be the season where they turn their fortunes around. Currently 10th in Serie A, a win on the weekend was needed, and Suso made sure that this was going to happen. Scoring twice during a 4-1 win away to Sassuolo, Milan picked up some much needed points, however I am still left waiting for that OTW Higuain to get an upgrade!

Neymar

Is this too soon? Did he do enough? Well it’s definitely a possibility at least! PSG had two games this week, Cavani scoring a brace in the first immediately put him on everybody's radar, but with the surplus of strikers available to choose from, Neymar suddenly shines through. With 2 goals in the second game of the week, away to Nice, Neymar forces his way into our predictions, and creates hype and excitement across the world!

Mandzukic

One of the biggest transfers in world football, Ronaldo finally leaving Real Madrid, to join the Italian monsters Juventus. With him and Mandzukic the two strikers of choice, surely Ronaldo will be the first to receive the much anticipated upgrade? Well, it looks like Mandzukic may just win this race. Juventus beat Napoli 3-1 on the weekend, and with Mandzukic scoring twice in such a big fixture, ignoring him would be nothing short of foolish.

Kane

A slightly riskier pick to round up the starting eleven here, as we head back to England and the Premier League. Now it's not impossible that two goals can secure a striker a spot amongst the elite, but when one comes from the spot, and your name is Harry Kane, things become a lot more complicated. Tottenham were 2-0 winners over Huddersfield on the weekend, and with Kane behind both goals, and the distinct lack of strong Premier League options, I think we may just see him sneak in.

Substitutes and Reserves

Masip

Onto the bench now, where we head back to Spain for our second goalkeeper selection. Real Valladolid were away to Villarreal for this heated match, and despite taking all the points in a 1-0 victory, it was an uphill climb from start to finish. Masip was in sensational form, dominating his box, picking up 9 saves and even stopping a penalty to ensure his team took all the points.

Botteghin

Feyenoord edged out a 2-1 victory over Vitesse on the weekend, and there was one man who played a monumental part in this win. Despite conceding, Botteghin was incredible at the back, and when we then consider that he scored the winning goal, he cruises into our selections here.

Hermoso

Back across to Spain now, where we find yet another display of dominance from a defender. Espanyol managed to steal the points in a 1-0 victory over Eibar. Hermoso was a monster defensively throughout the match, but then also popped up when needed to score the only goal of the match, and secure the win.

Lazaro

Across to the Bundesliga next, where we find league leaders and favourites, Bayern Munich, against Hertha Berlin. On paper, this game had only one outcome, however this is football, and we should be used to shocks and surprises by now. Hertha Berlin were the team on top, as they pulled off an incredible 2-0 victory. Lazaro was the man of the hour, ensuring the clean sheet and also providing an assist for one of the goals.

Acosta

America is our next destination, where DC United played hosts to Montreal in a game that provided 5 goals. It was all one way traffic on the day though, as we saw the hosts keep their clean sheet and bury 5 against the visitors. Acosta was a man in form, scoring once, and assisting a further 3, in a near perfect performance. I know a lot of you will want to see Ibrahimovic here, but Acosta is just as good, right?

Lodeiro

We stay in America here, with yet another breathtaking performance from a midfielder. Seattle breezed past Colorado 4-0 in their weekend fixture, with Lodeiro playing a part in 3 of the goals. With 2 assists and a goal to his name, he is the second, and sadly last, MLS player to make these predictions. Fear not though, as we could still see EA include a surprise Ibrahimovic, or even Rooney!

Andre Silva

La Liga this year is full of surprises and shocks, with neither Barcelona or Real Madrid dominating like they have for numerous years. This was shown once again, when Real Madrid travelled to Sevilla for their fixture this week. It was almost too easy for the hosts, as they cruised to a comfortable 3-0 win. Andre Silva was a man on fire, scoring twice to crumble the hopes and dreams of fans across the world.

Torres

Huachipato were away to San Luis for their game this week, and in a match that provided 6 goals, it was the visitors who took all 3 points. The match ended 4-2, and with Torres the man behind not one, not two, but three goals, he has given himself every chance of making the final cut this week.

Samatta

From one hat-trick to another now, as Genk breezed past Zulte Waregem in an all too comfortable 4-0 victory. Samatta was the hero on the day, securing his hat-trick and terrorising the defence from start to finish.

Poulsen

We now move across the difficult 2 goal territory for this selection. With so many big names bagging two in their respective matches, any striker making this list would have to put in one hell of a performance. Poulsen did exactly this during Leipzig’s 2-1 win over Hoffenheim. Securing a near perfect match rating, and scoring both the goals, he sneaks into our final selection here.

Finnbogason

We remain in the Bundesliga here, where we find yet another astonishing performance and yet another hat-trick. Augsburg brushed aside Freiburg in their clash, with a simple 4-1 victory. Finnbogason was a man possessed, securing his hat-trick, and with it his spot in our predictions.

Eder

Our final selection sees us heading across to the newly added Chinese Super League, where we find a 7 goal thriller between Changchun Yatai and Jinagu Suning FC. The match ended 5-2 in favour of Jiangu, and we are far from short of options for nominations here. Eder is the man who gets the nod, scoring twice and assisting a third to secure his spot in these predictions.