TOTW13 PREDICTIONS

Starting Eleven
 

Handanovic - GK 
Juventus were hosts to the travelling Inter Milan for this Serie A fixture, and despite the home team turning the pressure up to eleven, the guests were just as prepared at the back. Between fantastic defensive performances and yet another incredible game from Handanovic, Inter Milan managed to secure a clean sheet and with it a point. Pulling off 8 saves in a match of this magnitude could very well be enough for a second inform too. 
  
Masuaku - LB 
Relegation battling West Ham were hosts to Chelsea in this London derby, and as the guests arrived, everybody was expecting one outcome. After an early goal for the hosts, 85 minutes of non-stop bombardment took place with only the backline and keeper standing in Chelsea's way. Somehow, they held on, and while most names are worth a mention, Masuaku really stands out. 
  
Nacho - CB 
Over to La Liga now where Real Madrid have had a less than impressive start to the season. With Sevilla only 3 points behind them, everybody was expecting a tight match with end to end action, however it wasn't meant to be. In a 5-0 thrashing it was Real Madrid who stole the show, and Nacho with both a goal and a clean sheet, is the player who makes these predictions. 
  
Otamendi - CB 
Another week and another inform possibility for Manchester City. We aren't even at Christmas yet, but it looks like the league is already wrapped up. United were hosts for this Manchester derby, and despite their best efforts City simply proved to be too much. With a fantastic defensive showing and the winning goal, its Otamendi who gets the nod for a second inform here. If Otamendi was too miss out though, I would expect to see Ederson take the spot, simply due to an incredible double save and fairly solid performance. 
 
Bonaventura - CM 
After their spending spree in the summer, anyone not questioning Milan's form would come as a surprise. Currently in 7th, a whole 16 points behind the leaders, if they were going to save their season it had to start soon. At home to Bologna on the weekend, once again people were likely expecting a comfortable win, however it took two fantastic goals from their CM, Bonaventura, to close out the game. 
 
Bender - CDM 
Leverkusen were the travelling side for their Bundesliga fixture on Friday, and luckily for them, the trip was completely worthwhile. In a deserved 2-0 victory, it was Bender from the CDM spot who really stood out. Contributing to both the attack and defensive duties, Bender was all over the pitch and even scored one of the two goals.

Di Maria - LW 
Top of the table and in fantastic form PSG were hosts to Lille for their Ligue 1 fixture where once again the hosts took all the points in a 3-1 victory. Now the standout performance in the match was once again Mbappe, with a goal, an assist and even the man of the match award, however he sits comfortably in the TOTGS and is hence unlikely to make the cut. With these predictions lacking bigger names, Di Maria who also scored and assisted creeps into the lineup. 
 
Son - LW 
Tottenham have been struggling recently, rapidly dropping away from any sort of title contention and slowly losing their grip on Champions League spots too. Stoke were the travelling side this week, and unluckily for them, this was the game where Tottenham decided to turn their League form around. In a 5-1 thrashing there were several fantastic performances, but Son on the left, was mesmerizing. Scoring once and assisting another, could we be seeing a second inform Son already? 
 
Promes -LW 
Moving over to Russia now with one of their largest derbies around, the Moscow Derby. Spartak were at home to CSKA and with CSKA ahead by a point, the hosts needed to make this game count. During a fantastic performance from the home team, Spartak pulled off a 3-0 victory and with 2 goals from the left, Promes could be on track for his first inform this year. 
  
Dost - ST 
Sporting were away to Boavista for their weekend clash and with Porto currently even on points and ahead on goal difference, a win was absolutely critical here. Thanks to another sensational performance from their striker, Dost, Sporting managed to wrap up a comfortable 3-1 victory, Dost scoring two of them. The only question is, will this be enough for a second inform? 
 
Germain - ST 
Marseille were hosts to Saint-Etienne for this Ligue 1 fixture and with 70% of the possession, the match was anything but even. During a comfortable 3-0 victory, two players really stood out. Thauvin from the wing had a flawless performance, assisting twice and hitting the woodwork, but it's their striker Germain who gets the nod this time. Converting twice and only being denied his hat-trick by the post, hopefully he has done enough to squeeze in.

Substitutes/Reserves
 

Sorrentino - GK 
Chievo were hosts to Roma in this Serie A clash and while we already have one big goalkeeper in this TOTW, a second here feels truly deserving. Despite Roma absolutely battering the home sides goal, both a solid defensive showing and some fantastic goalkeeping ensured that the game remained 0-0. Pulling off a total of 8 saves, Sorrentino also secures his spot in these predictions. 
 
Karcemarskas - GK 
Last week we saw a total of three goalkeepers make the team of the week, and based off the amount of top draw performances again this week, I can see the pattern continuing. While on paper it looks like Osmanlispor FK cruised to a comfortable 3-0 victory over Alanyaspor, a lot of this was due to fantastic saves from their keeper. Racking up a total of 9 saves, not only did he ensure a clean sheet was kept, but he massively contributed to his team securing the points. 
  
Jong - CB 
Ajax were hosts to PSV in this Eredivisie fixture, and despite PSV being a whole 10 points above the hosts, we were in for a treat. Ajax really brought their top game, and secured all the points with an incredible 3-0 victory over the league leaders. While many had great games, Jong from the CB spot really stood out. Ensuring a clean sheet was kept and also assisting one of the goals, hopefully he has done enough to make the lineup. 
 
Vazquez - CAM 
Moving over to the MLS for this pick and with the cup final being played over the weekend, it would just seem wrong to not pick a player from that match. Toronto were 2-0 winners
over Seattle during this cup final and while a few players put in a great show, the player getting the nod here is their CAM, Vazquez.  
  
Terrier - LW 
Back to Ligue 1 now and Strasbourg were away to Bordeaux. During a comfortable 3-0 victory for the guests, it was Terrier from the LW who really stole the show. Scoring once, assisting another and putting in an almost flawless performance, his spot in this team of the week is truly deserved. 
 
Roofe - RW  
Next up we head back to England's second division, the Championship, where we find QPR at home to Leeds. This time it was the travelling side who stole the show, and in a 3-1 victory they have one man deserving of a little extra praise. From the LW, Roofe managed to score not one, not two, but three of the goals and if a hat-trick isn’t enough to make the team of the week, then I don’t know what could be! 
 

Khayati - CM 
Our next game sees ADO den Haag away to Twente in an incredibly close match. Once more it was the away team who just managed to edge out the win and in a 3-2 victory, it was their CM, Khayati, who really shone the brightest. Scoring twice and assisting the third, its o so close to a hat-trick and a performance like this shouldn’t go unnoticed. 
 
Aouar - CAM 
Back to France now where Lyon travelled to Amiens for their Ligue 1 fixture. Once again it was the travelling team who took all the points and this time it was Lyon's CAM, Aouar, who scored both the goals in a 2-1 victory. 
 
Defoe - ST 
Back across to the Premier League now and we find ourselves with our first possible path to glory card of the week. Crystal Palace were hosts to Bournemouth and although 4 goals were scored, neither team could quite edge out the opposition and secure the win. Defoe however had a great game for Bournemouth, in a rare start he managed to score both their goals and wrap up a point at least. 
  
Mounie - ST 
Staying in the Premier League now where Huddersfield aimed to continue their impressive start to their Premier League campaign. Huddersfield were at home to Brighton this time and thanks to a brilliant performance from their striker Mounie, they managed to secure yet another 3 points. In a 2-0 victory, it was Mounie who found the net twice and with it, earned his spot in these predictions. 
  
Petersen - ST 
With two slots remaining for this week's predictions, we have two fantastic hat-tricks to talk about! The first was found when Freiburg travelled to FC Cologne for this Bundesliga fixture. In a 7-goal thriller, it was the away team who were narrow winners. With the game ending 4-3, Petersen is the hero of the day, and although two of his goals came from the spot, you cannot take this hat-trick away from him! 
  
Aboubakar - ST 
For the final spot this week, we find ourselves picking yet another player from Porto. In a fantastic 5-0 victory, away to Vitoria de Setubal, it was Aboubakar who stole the show. Scoring three times (with 1 from the spot), he ensured Porto took home all the points while also ensuring he earnt a spot in this team of the week too.