TOTW 25 PREDICTIONS

Another week and another set of predictions, except this time the team looks like it could be absolutely incredible, if EA choose to include players that were featured in their current promotion that is! Mbappe and Lewandowski lead the line, but will 2 goals be enough for yet another special card, or will we see the final lineup left lacking that magic.
 

Starting Eleven

Kepa

Kepa was front page news just a few days back, as he refused to be substituted in the cup final against Manchester City. Today however, he makes the front page of our predictions but for very different reasons. Chelsea pulled off a very narrow 2-1 win against Fulham on Sunday, where despite dominating the statistics, they never really looked like they controlled the match. Kepa didn’t quite manage to keep a clean sheet, however an array of fantastic saves, including one in the final seconds, is the reason that Chelsea left with the points.

Trent Alexander Arnold

After yet another away draw, Liverpool saw themselves drop off the top of the league, putting themselves in a position where they need Manchester City to slip up. However, ignoring the recent Merseyside derby, Liverpool picked up all three points mid-weed with a 5-0 thrashing at home to Watford. With two goals from both Mane and VVD, alongside a couple of assists from Robertson, it’s already clear that this decision was far from easy. With that being said though, TAA picked up 3 assists, took the man of the match award, and takes his spot amongst the elite this week.

Klostermann

We head across to Germany now, where Leipzig take the points with a narrow 1-0 away win over Nuernberg this week. Klostermann was in brilliant form from the very start. Locking out the opposition, ensuring a clean sheet, and scoring the games only goal. This should be more than enough to secure a spot, especially from a fullback!

Maripan

Over to Spain now where Deportivo Alaves took home all the points after a 2-1 away victory against Villarreal. The match was incredibly tense from the very start, with neither team able to dominate play. Maripan played a big part in this, and while he may not have managed to maintain the clean sheet, his solid defensive performance combined with a goal, could very well be just enough to see him make the final squad this week.

Rakitic

Real Madrid and Barcelona went head to head in yet another El Clasico fixture this week, as they battled for points in La Liga. Based on the season so far, it felt like most football fans expected Barcelona to take yet another win, and despite playing away from home again, they delivered exactly this. The match was decided by just a single goal, Roberto was the man who provided the assist, but Rakitic was the man who converted the ball, and hence steals his spot within our line-up.

Fekir

Over to France now, where Lyon picked up a comfortable 5-1 win at home to Toulouse on Sunday. Now I’m sure there will be plenty of people dreaming of a SIF Dembele, simply because they own his OTW card, however sadly he isn’t making our lineup! With an inform received just 4 weeks ago, there is every chance that EA could include him, however it makes it that little bit less likely, but even if we ignore this factor, he wasn’t the best player on the pitch for Lyon. Fekir may have only scored once from the spot, but he also provided 2 assists, while taking the highest rating alongside the man of the match award too.

Bergwijn

PSV continued their dominating form this week as they took the points with a 2-0 away win against Excelsior on Saturday. Bergwijn has been sensational this season, yet has somehow managed to miss out on any special card upgrades during this season. This could change this week however, as he scored both goals during the win and comfortably was the best player on the pitch too.

Thauvin

Marseille played hosts to Saint-Etienne for the late kick off in Ligue 1 this week, and it looks like the visitors aren’t fans of s late night! Marseille took the points with a comfortable 2-0 win, and only one man was worthy of taking a spot this week. Thauvin was in fine form throughout, scoring once from the spot and assisting the second, giving him a serious chance of a second Inform this week.

Lukaku

With the second leg of their Champions League fixture with PSG just around the corner, a clash against a struggling Southampton felt like a very welcoming fixture for the hosts. On the day however, it was far from smooth sailing, as Southampton scored two absolutely sensational goals, making the hosts fight from the start. In the end however, it was United who took the points with a 3-2 win, even with Pogba missing s penalty late on. Lukaku looked fantastic however, scoring twice with his weak foot, even if he missed a couple of other big chances.

Mbappe

Now these next two selections may seem a little weak, however with TOTW 25 usually being a fairly big one, and a distinct lack of superstar names, we feel like these guys have every chance of making the cut. PSG picked up the points with a 2-1 away win against Caen this week, in a game that was anything but smooth sailing for the league leaders. Mbappe was once again the man who stood up and saved the day, scoring once from the spot and the second from open play. The only question left is whether that’s enough for a third Inform.

Lewandowski

We have a similar situation to that with Mbappe now, however Lewandowski did receive a slightly higher match rating, and scored both his goals from open play. Bayern destroyed Gladbach 5-1 in their Bundesliga clash this week, and with the goals split across the team it instantly becomes difficult to nominate a player for this spot. As mentioned before, Lewandowski did score twice, and take the man of the match award too, so he creeps into this final spot in our predictions here.

Substitutes and Reserves
 

Cragno

Onto the bench now, and our first stop is Italy where Cagliari pulled off a surprise result against an inform Inter Milan. It was Perisic who scored the first goal, however it was at the wrong end, and Martinez’s equaliser lasted just 5 minutes before Pavoletti scored the match winner. Cragno was in fantastic form across the match, and although he didn’t manage a clean sheet, his 5 saves from 24 shots, could just about be enough to see him hit his first inform of the campaign.

Kabak

Heading back across to the Bundesliga now, where Stuttgart destroyed Hannover in a very comfortable 5-1 victory on Sunday. Now there were plenty of possible nominations to choose from, however we found it nearly impossible to ignore the two goals scored from this defender, especially when he is only rocking a bronze card as it stands!

Emre Can

Juventus we’re away to Napoli for their match this week, in a fixture that took us to the very top of the Italian table. There was drama and action from the very start, as the match provided us with multiple red cards, goals, saved penalties and surprises! In the end, it was Juventus who took the points, edging out a narrow 2-1 win over the hosts. Emre scored their second goal, and also the highest match rating, just about doing enough to stop Szczesny from taking his third inform of the season.

Aranguiz

Usually a single goal isn’t going to quite do the trick when it comes to making the final squad, however with a slight lack of Bundesliga options, we may be able to make an exception this week. Leverkusen were 2-0 winners over Freiburg this week, and with an 8.3 match rating, the man of the match award and a goal, Aranguiz sneaks into our predictions here.

Mkhitaryan

We head across to Arsenal now, and while they may have been robbed against Tottenham on the weekend, their midweek thrashing of Bournemouth is something that we simply cannot ignore. Arsenal took the points with a 5-1 win in the day, and while Ozil was brilliant with a goal and an assist, Mkhitaryan was just that little bit better, scoring once and finding two assists as well.

Quintero

With the MLS finally back, we suddenly have a whole heap of additional fixtures to consider each week when generating our predictions. Minnesota United edged out a 3-2 win away to Vancouver this week in a match that provided endless action for the fans. Quintero was in sensational form on the day, scoring one and assisting the other two.

Orgill

Ankaragucu were on the road this week, as they travelled to Antalyaspor for their Super Lig fixture. The match itself provided fans with a total of 6 goals, however these were not split evenly and it was the visitors who took the points with a 4-2 win. Orgill was simply splendid on the day, dominating the opposition, securing his hat-trick and taking home that match ball.

Tawamba

Al Taawoun played hosts to Ettifaq this week, in a match that looked extremely straightforward for the hosts. Al Taawoun took the points with a 4-1 victory, while Tawamba was the hero on the day. Scoring not once, not twice, but three times, Tawamba not only secured his hat-trick and the man of the match award, but also found his way into our predictions too.

Lammers

SC Heerenveen were 4-2 winners over Willem II this week, in a game full of action, controversy and goals. With so many fantastic attacking performances, choosing just one nomination was tough, however Lammers made our job that little bit easier. With 2 goals and 1 assist across the match, not only did he pick up a near perfect match rating, but he also secured his spot within our predictions, and with it a chance of a second Inform too.

Van Persie

Feyenoord were incredible this week, or should I say Van Persie was, as the hosts brushed aside FC Emmen with a more than comfortable 4-0 win in their league fixture. RVP took on a role that saw him playing just behind the striker, where with a masterclass performance he dominated from start to finish, securing his hat-trick, his nomination within our predictions, and hopefully his first inform of the year too!

Quagliarella

Back across to Italy now, where Sampdoria picked up the points with a 2-1 away win against SPAL. Quagliarella was once again the man of the hour, scoring both the goals and firing his side to success. This man has only just received an upgrade, has a chance of a third Inform, and the golden boot, all at the ripe old age of 36 too!

Morata

We know how you guys love to see a OTW card make the lineup, so that’s how we are going to end things this week, with a Spanish striker who may have finally found is feat in Spain. Atletico Madrid took the points this week with a 2-0 away win against Real Sociedad. Morata was behind this quickfire double, scoring once in the 30th and then again in the 33rd. Now the worry is that there are buckets of strikers who failed to make the lineup with 2 goals, however we all know how EA loves to include OTW cards, and hence we feel that Morata could sneak in for his first upgrade of the year.