TOTW 1 PREDICTIONS

 

It’s time to get this hype started! In a week full of high scoring matches and major upsets, TOTW 1 looks set to be one to remember, with several top tier players putting in performances worth noting. Please note that for players with unknown ratings we have used their FIFA 20 base overall as a guide. 

 

 

GOALKEEPER

Walter Benitez - GK - OVR 81>>84 Just as the past few years we are likely to once again see several Ligue 1 keepers throughout the year. The first looks to be Benitez after his five saves for Nice in their 0-0 draw resulted in L’equipe awarding him an 8/10 which also resulted in him claiming POTW

 

DEFENDERS

James Tavernier - RB - OVR 76>>81 Although both of Tavernier’s goals came from the penalty spot during Rangers 5-1 away win over Motherwell with a lack of defensive options being available for selection, I can see EA giving him the early IF, despite often ignoring him last season.

Ruben Dias - CB - OVR 81>>84 Ruben Dias is heavily linked with a move away from Benfica but that has not impacted his performances for the club with the Portuguese defender scoring one of Benfica’s two goals during a 2-0 win over Moreirense from which he managed MOTM with an impressive 8/10 match rating.

Jesus Navas - RB- OVR 84>>86 The defensive side of things was by far the hardest to fulfill this week and thus I have taken a bit of a punt on Navas. It doesn’t appear that EA has used Marca as a source consistently for a while now but with the defender claiming three stars from the site, I am willing to take the risk that they look this year. Navas picked up the assist on one of Sevilla’s three goals as they managed to record a 3-1 win over Cadiz

 

MIDFIELDERS

Hirving Lozano - RM - OVR 80>>83 Napoli ran rampant in their home match against Genoa this weekend, scoring six times without reply. There were a couple of strong options for TOTW with Lozano scoring twice and Mertens with a goal and two assists being the main options. With the Mexican going down as the official MOTM from Gazzetta I would expect him to get the nod over Mertens though. 

Sergio Oliveria - CM - OVR 78>>82 Both Oliveria and Marega stand a chance of making this side after their comfortable 5-0 win this weekend. Both players picked up an 8/10 from Abola but the deciding factor for me came down to position with so many strikers standing out this week the safer choice seems to be Oliveria.

Alejandro Gomez- CAM - OVR 86>>87 FIFA fans have become accustomed to Gomez being among the best options in Italy the past few years and this one is likely to be no different. With a goal and two assists to his name during Atalanta’s 4-2 away win over Torino the Argentine looks set to start the game off with his first of likely many IF’s

Ansu Fati - LM - OVR 76>>81 There is a lot of pressure on Fati’s shoulders at the moment with the comparisons being made and the hype surrounding him. So far, he has stood the test though and continues to impress on a weekly basis. He came out the gates fast during Barcelona’s clash with Villarreal scoring twice early on before then winning the penalty that Messi Dispatched. Barcelona went on to win 4-0 to start their campaign off in style.

 

FORWARDS

Luis Suarez - ST - OVR 87>>88 Although Suarez didn’t start the match for Atletico Madrid this weekend, he still managed to make an instant impact coming off the bench in the 70th minute before scoring twice and assisting another to finish off Granada with the hosts eventually winning 6-1. Suarez is highly likely to pick up an OTW too but with the first release date already known that shouldn’t impact his chances of making TOTW as well.

Wissam Ben Yedder - ST - OVR 84>>86 Monaco actually ended the game with just nine men on the pitch after both Tchouameni and Disasi saw red, but the hosts managed to hold on to the three points via a 3-2 win over Strasbourg. Ben Yedder scored twice and thus looks set to claim a week one IF. Which is also made better by his interactions on twitter surrounding exactly that.

Jamie Vardy - ST - OVR 86>>87 Finishing off a superb front three we have Jamie Vardy. Most would have had this match down as a City win and when they took the lead early in the 4th minute it looked as though that would be the case. Leicester dug it hard though and put it a superb all-round performance to come back and win 5-2. Vardy scored three of those goals and although two were from the spot with it being against City he is an easy choice for TOTW.

 

SUBSTITUTES

Karl Darlow - GK - OVR 73>>79 Spurs once again failed to impress but if it wasn’t for Karl Darlow it could have easily been a different story. Although Darlow failed to keep a clean sheet he managed a colossal eleven saves in order to keep Newcastle in the match. His heroics then resulted in Newcastle managing to come away with a point due to a last-minute penalty.

Daniel Caliguri - LM - OVR 77>>81 Another side to suffer a disappointing defeat was Dortmund who fell 2-0 to the hands of Augsburg. Caliguri among others were fantastic throughout but with the Italian claiming both a goal and an assist I would expect the eventual IF to go his way, especially with a Kicker MOTM to his name.

Unai Lopez - CDM - OVR 78 >>82 Bilbao bounced back from their disappointing 2-0 loss to Grenada on the opening day of the season with a 2-1 away win over Eibar. Unai Lopez was heavily influential in that result scoring both of their goals from a CDM role and as a result, looks to be one of the more clear cut options this week.

Jarrod Bowen - RM - OVR 76>>81 West Hams start to the season had been nothing short of shocking so to see them beat Wolves, who have started strong, comfortably 3-0 was a surprise. New signings Bowen and Soucek found themselves within the goals, with the former scoring twice and additionally claiming MOTM.

Niclas Fullkrug - ST - OVR 77>>81 Werder Bremen put more pressure on Schalke this weekend with a 3-1 win against them meaning Schalke have now conceded 11 goals from their opening two fixtures and sit bottom of the table as a result. Fullkrug was named Kickers player of the week after scoring all three of those goals and thus making him nailed on for this side.

Andrej Kramaric - ST - OVR 82>>84 Hoffenheim managed to pull off a huge surprise this weekend by not only beating Bayern Munich but also doing it comfortably. Kramaric was heavily involved in the action scoring both the third and fourth goals in their 4-1 win making him the likely candidate for the IF. One thing is definite though and that is that we will see a Hoffenheim player in the opening side.

Adrian Mierzejewski - ST - OVR 76 >> 81 Chongqing made it six wins on the bounce in the Chinese Super League via a 4-1 away win. Mierzejewski who I believe was playing in a striker role scored three of those four goals making it six goals in five matches for him on a personal level. He could well be listed as a CAM but regardless of that I fully expect him to make the cut.

 

RESERVES

Luca Caldirola - CB - OVR 72>>79 With a ridiculously high amount of silver defenders putting in superb performances this week my decision for this position was largely based on the division with Serie A being a big league I feel it has preference over others. As for Caldirola’s performance, the defender managed to find himself on the scoresheet twice during their closely fought 3-2 win over Sampdoria, claiming MOTM from Gazzetta in the process.

Andrei Cristea - ST - OVR 65 >>75 Romania is a new addition to the FIFA line-up this season with the full league being included from EA. They have an easy chance to now promote the division with an easy IF addition and it's one I fully expect them to take. Cristea scored three and assisted another in a 5-2 win for Poli Iasi.

Stefan Mugosa - ST - OVR 69>>77 The first of three K-League options I have selected for this week is Mugosa. The Montenegrin was involved in four goals for Incheon during their 6-0 win with three of his own going alongside an assist. Although three from the K-League are unlikely with not many hat tricks occurring I feel as though two is very likely, so I am willing to take the punt on all three.

Adam Taggart - ST - OVR 71>>78 There is a slight risk surrounding this selection as the game in question was a K-League relegation fixture but with both teams being well known in Korea I am willing to take the punt that it will and If that is the case there is no doubt that Taggart will make the cut. He scored all three of Suwon’s goals in order to help them pick up a crucial three points.

Stanislav Iljutcenko - ST - OVR 68 >>77 Yet another option from the K-League comes from Pohang’s Iljutcenko and once again the reason is due to a hat trick. The big difference with Ijutcenko however is the fact he comes from a Championship group game rather than a relegation one. For me that puts Iljutcenko ahead of both Taggart and Mugosa.