Hello and welcome to another Team of the Week prediction before we're heading into another (and finally the last of 2023) international break!
The weekend have been full of entertaining games and beautiful goals across all leagues with Real Madrid beating Valencia 5-1 and Tottenham losing last minute away at Wolverhampton but the most spectacular game was played between Chelsea and Man City, ending in a 4-4 score, but sadly I don't expect an inform from that game. We will also see Player of the Month votings and winners being released this week which could and should make some obvious informs miss out this week. I'll explain it in more detail in the article so go on and have a look!
TOTW9 Predicted Starting XI
GK: Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG) - 87 OVR -> 88 OVR:
Paris Saint-Germain moved back to the top of the Ligue 1 table after Kylian Mbappe's hat-trick gave them a 3-0 victory over Reims on Saturday. But with the Ligue 1 Player of the Month voting coming this week I expect Mbappé to miss out and he wasn't even named MOTM by L'Equipe. The award went to Donnarumma who made a few neat saves in the first half to keep his side ahead and was even better after the break. Arguably his best showing in a PSG shirt so far, picking up a 9 match rating and POTW in France.
LWB: Federico Dimarco (Inter) - 82 OVR -> 85 OVR:
It proved to be a fairly comfortable victory for Internazionale in their Serie A encounter with Frosinone on Sunday evening as they emerged 2-0 winners courtesy of goals from Federico Dimarco and Hakan Calhanoglu. Dimarco was stellar this evening on the left side, tracking back defensively and causing havoc with his golden left foot as he dispatched quickfire passes and brought down numerous balls with superb touches. The wing-back broke the deadlock from long-range, stunning shot-stopper Massimo Turati as he was caught off his line from the halfway line more-less, scoring a major contender for goal of the season.
CB: Victor Lindelöf (Man Utd.) - 80 OVR -> 85 OVR:
United got over the line - just about - to recover from the disaster that was the defeat to Copenhagen, but it was anything but pleasing on the eye. Lindelöf turned out to be the most unlikeliest of heroes! Some fans were left wondering why he was even picked ahead of Varane, but ultimately justified his selection with the winning goal as he slotted home from inside the box.
CB: Jonathan Gradit (RC Lens) - 78 OVR -> 84 OVR:
RC Lens beat Olympique de Marseille 1-0 at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis on Sunday night. Gradit is so often an unsung hero for Lens, steadily doing his job at centre-back alongside former Premier League man Danso and Facundo Medina, and Argentina international. But his intervention here went beyond just stopping attacks as part of a fearsome back three, the 30-year-old scoring just his second French top-flight goal - one that could have big implications come the end of the season.
CM: Aitana Bonmati (Barcelona Women) - 90 OVR -> 91 OVR:
Barcelona Femeni showcased a dominating performance against Villarreal CF Feminino, securing a convincing 6-0 victory. Aitana Bonmati continued to impress, playing for 62 minutes and ending the match with 2 goals. With 58 touches and 2 key passes, Bonmati was influential in the team’s attack and could get another special card. Batlle could be the option if EA decides against Bonmati.
CM: Ivan Rakitic (Sevilla FC) - 81 OVR -> 85 OVR:
La Liga offered very little in terms of informs this week so apart from Rodrygo it's a bit of a guessing game. Ultimately I decided to include Ivan Rakitic after the Croatian scored the equaliser with a stunning strike in the Derbi sevillano against Real Betis.
CAM: Diego Rossi (Columbus Crew) - 76 OVR -> 86* OVR:
Despite an encouraging game two win, Atlanta United was unable to complete the series comeback after falling 4-2 in game three against the Columbus Crew and the Crew advances. Diego Rossi scored one and assisted another for his side and was influential the time being on the pitch. We know EA loves the MLS so I'm taking the punt here and hope they once again take note of this game.
LM: Leroy Sané (Bayern) - 84 OVR -> 86 OVR:
Bayern picked up another Bundesliga win on Saturday, beating Heidenheim at home with 4-2. Leroy Sané is simply unstoppable. Sané was explosive and quick, making nine (9!) key passes this game. His incredible dribble to set up Kane for the first goal, and then masterful corner kick for Kane's second took his tally this season to 14 goals and assists in 11 Bundesliga games, and his six assists put him level with RB Leipzig's Xavi Simons for most in the league. Sané playing so well this season has a lot of hearts smiling. Sané getting an inform is long overdue, the only thing why he's not in could be if he's winning Bundesliga POTM.
LM: Louise Fleury (Paris FC) - 82 OVR -> 85 OVR:
Paris FC went back on winning ways after their loss last matchday, beating Saint-Etienne Women comfortably with 6-1. Louise Fleury could pick up her second Inform on Wednesday after she scored three goals and assisted another and the card finally looks useable.
ST: Rodrygo (Real Madrid) - 85 OVR -> 86 OVR:
Real Madrid will head into the November international break one point off the top of La Liga after thrashing Valencia 5-1 on Saturday night. Rodrygo was a joy to watch. Pulled Valencia to-and-from with his excellent movement and pace, getting his just rewards with two goals of his own and also two assists.
ST: Karim Benzema (Al-Ittihad) - 90 OVR -> 91 OVR:
Al-Ittihad recovered from their narrow 0-1 loss against Shabab and went back to winning ways with a 4-2 victory over Abha club. French forward Karim Benzema was the outstanding player on the pitch, the iconic attacker scored three goals and assisted another and looks set to pick up his first inform this year.
TOTW9 Predicted Subs & Reserves
ST: Sophie Baggaley (Brighton & Hove Women) - 61 OVR -> 83 OVR:
There have been a couple of really good goalkeeper performances this week and 2 goalkeepers are not the go-to way this year but it's simply impossible to ignore Baggaley after she made a total of 13 saves, with some of them being stunning, in their narrow 1-0 surprise win against Manchester City.
ST: Odilon Kossounou (Leverkusen) - 76 OVR -> 83 OVR:
Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen saw off Union Berlin 4-0 on Sunday to equal Pep Guardiola's record-holding Bayern Munich team of 2015/16 for the best start to a season in Bundesliga history. Both central defenders got on the scoresheets and both picked up a 1.5 match rating from Kicker but with Kossounou being named MOTM he's the one I'm expecting to make it this week.
ST: Franck Honorat (Gladbach) - 76 OVR -> 83 OVR:
Gladbach played Wolfsburg at home in the Bundesliga matchday opener on Friday evening and kept all three points, beating Wolfsburg comfortably with 4-0. Plea was named Man of the Match but I'm instead picking Honorat who also got a 1.5 match rating after he scored one and assisted another.
ST: Pablo Sarabia (Wolves) - 78 OVR -> 84 OVR:
Wolverhampton Wanderers produced two stoppage-time strikes to stun Tottenham Hotspur at Molineux, denying Spurs the chance to go back to the top of the Premier League table. Sarabia grabbed a late equaliser with a stunning strike, then adding an assist to completely change the game.
ST: Chadrac Akolo (St. Gallen) - 69 OVR -> 83 OVR:
There haven't been a lot of hat-tricks this week but there have been two from the Swiss League so I expect at least one to make it. Akolo could be one of these two after he scored three goals in St. Gallen's 4-2 vs Winterthur.
ST: Gaetan Perrin (Auxerre) - 71 OVR -> 83 OVR:
Oraiwu scored three times in Auxerre's 5-2 win over Saint-Etienne on the weekend but instead of him I'm predicting Perrin to make it into the side after the Frenchman was involved in four of the five goals with scoring one and assisting another three.
ST: Dominic Solanke (Bournemouth) - 75 OVR -> 83 OVR:
Bournemouth picked up just their second win of the Premier League season with a 2-0 victory at home to Newcastle United on Saturday evening. Dominic Solanke struck twice to make it back-to-back defeats for Newcastle in all competitions as Eddie Howe experienced a forgettable return to the South Coast. Solanke powered home his first after a fortuitous deflection, and then was in the right place at the right time to grab his brace.
Dominic Solanke struck twice to make it back-to-back defeats for Newcastle in all competitions as Eddie Howe experienced a forgettable return to the South Coast. Solanke powered home his first after a fortuitous deflection, and then was in the right place at the right time to grab his brace.