Hello and welcome to our prediction for Team of the Week 12 which will be released on Wednesday this week!
Team of the Year is just around the corner and this with this in mind and the new upgrades we should get a pretty decent Team of the Week on Wednesday! Ligue 1 was in action twice last week so I expect a few more players being featured than usual, especially with La Liga being poor in terms of potential informs because of cup games from the big two. The two derbies in the Premier League last weekend should provide informs this week and Serie A should be pretty decent too after Atalanta and Napoli running riot in their games. But enough said, go on and check out who could be in TOTW12!
STARTING XI
GK: Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal) - 82 OVR -> 85 OVR:
Arsenal moved eight points clear at the top of the Premier League table with a 2-0 win at Tottenham in the north London derby. Made four huge saves, two of them from Harry Kane, during the course of the 90 minutes as he put in his best performance of the season. So neat and tidy all game, didn’t spill anything.
RWB: Nordi Mukiele (Paris SG) - 79 OVR -> 84 OVR:
Paris Saint-Germain secured what was ultimately a comfortable victory over Angers in Ligue 1 on Wednesday night last week, bouncing back from a first defeat of the season against Lens. Mukiele had a lot of space to run into on the right and used it, making two fine assists and only denied a goal of his own by a great save.
CB: Chancel Mbemba (Marseille) - 79 OVR -> 84 OVR:
Marseille recorded a comfortable 2-0 win midweek against Troyes and with two fixtures of them counting for TOTW there are a few options for an inform, I've decided to include Mbemba after he scored one of the two goals and kept a clean sheet.
RWB: Hamari Traoré (Stade Rennais) - 85 OVR -> 87 OVR:
Paris Saint-Germain fell 1-0 to a determined Stade Rennais side in Ligue 1 on Sunday, the result sees the gap at the top cut to just three points, with RC Lens within striking distance. The golden goal came from Traore who played RWB and despite just being rewarded with a 7 match rating and not making it into L’Equipes TOTW I still think he has a good chance to make it.
CDM: Orkun Kökcü (Feyenoord) - 79 OVR -> 86 OVR:
Feyenoord took advantage after both Ajax and PSV drew their games and extended their lead at the top of the Eredivisie table after a convincing 3-0 win against Groningen. Kökcü, who is linked with several clubs for a summer transfer, scored one of the goals and could pick up the inform this week.
CAM: James Ward-Prowse (Southampton) - 81 OVR -> 86 OVR:
Southampton picked up a huge win at Goodison Park, dragging Everton into the bottom three after a 2-0 victory. James Ward-Prowse was again the best player for his side and you should ultimately try avoid fouls around the box or even in a space of 25-30m when playing against them because Ward-Prowse will most likely score them and that’s what he was doing against Everton, scoring another free-kick.
LM: Marcus Rashford (Manchester Utd) - 81 OVR -> 86 OVR:
Two goals in the space of four second-half minutes swung a tense derby Manchester United's way on Saturday lunchtime as the Red Devils crept one point behind Manchester City with a 2-1 victory. Rashford had two excellent chances before he broke down and required treatment at the end of the first half. Effectively got an 'assist' by leaving the ball for Fernandes who scored the controversial 1-1 and then made it 2-1.
RW: Ademola Lookman (Bergamo Calcio) - 77 OVR -> 85 OVR:
Atalanta demolished Salernitana 8-2 on Sunday as they became the first team to score eight times in a Serie A game since Inter Milan in 1996. Ademola Lookman struck twice (one penalty) and registered an assist with six other players on the scoresheet for Atalanta, who are three points away from the Champions League places in sixth.
ST: Paulo Dybala (Roma FC) - 86 OVR -> 88 OVR:
AS Roma finished last weeks Serie A matchday on Sunday with a fantastic 2-0 win against Fiorentina and made sure they’re level on points with Atalanta. Paulo Dybala enjoyed a successful evening, scoring both goals after a brace of assists from Abraham and picked up a 7.5 match rating.
ST: Wissam Ben Yedder (AS Monaco) - 86 OVR -> 88 OVR:
AS Monaco boosted their hopes with a 7-1 demolition of AC Ajaccio on Sunday afternoon, coming into the game in need of a lift after a disappointing last week following their Cup elimination and a 2-2 draw. Monaco’s captain Ben Yedder made sure it’ll be a good Sunday, bagging his second hat-trick of the season and picked up an 8 match rating from L’Equipe.
ST: Victor Osimhen (Napoli) - 85 OVR -> 87 OVR:
Napoli took a huge stride towards their first Serie A title in more than 30 years with a 5-1 thrashing of Juventus at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on Friday night. His movement off the ball was the difference in the early exchanges, and he duly capitalised on a rebound to put Napoli ahead. Excellent work on Napoli’s second, pressuring Bremer and then squaring the ball for Kvaratskhelia. Scored a superb header and single-handedly tore the Juve defence to shreds.
SUBS & RESERVES
SUBS
GK: Matz Sels (Strasbourg) - 79 OVR -> 84 OVR:
After a stunning campaign last year, finishing sixth in Ligue 1 and narrowly missing out on Europe, Racing Strasbourg been in relegation places from the word go, and can’t seem to get out. Even more important was their narrow 2-1 victory at home to Lyon and shot stopper Matz Sels was one of the reasons for it, finishing the game with a total of six saves.
CB: David Garcia (CA Osasuna) - 79 OVR -> 84 OVR:
Osasuna kept themselves in the race for an international spot next season, recording a narrow 1-0 win against Mallorca. David Garcia once again proved he’s one of the most reliable defenders in La Liga, helping his side to keep the clean sheet with a number of duels won and good interceptions.
CAM: Khephren Thuram (OGC Nice) - 77 OVR -> 83 OVR:
OGC Nice were hoping for a mid-season change after the headcoach changed and they’ve been off to a good start as they trashed Montpellier 6-1 on Wednesday last week. Thuram had endured a difficult season with Nice until last week and the youngster ended the game with a goal and an assist from the CAM position.
LM: Galeno (FC Porto) - 77 OVR -> 83 OVR:
All eyes have been on the clash between Benfica and Sporting on Sunday but the game ended in a draw and most likely won’t provide an inform. FC Porto tho should see one of their players included with Galeno after he scored twice and assisted another in their 4-1 win against Famalicao.
RM: Isi Palazon (Rayo Vallecano) - 77 OVR -> 83 OVR:
La Liga is short on contenders this week because a couple of big names haven’t been playing and most results being poor. One of the players who were decisive and could find their way into the side this week is Palazon who scored the only goal in Vallecano’s 1-0 win away at Valladolid.
ST: Brennan Johnson (Nott'm Forest) - 75 OVR -> 83 OVR:
Nottingham Forest earned a 2-0 victory at home to Leicester City in an east Midlands derby win which lifted the hosts five points clear of the relegation zone. Gibbs-White was named the official MOTM for his two assist but I’m instead including Johnson who scored both goals for his side.
ST: Teemu Pukki (Norwich City) - 75 OVR -> 83 OVR:
Preston North End were thrashed 0-4 by Norwich City on Saturday, as David Wagner's men ran riot in their first league game under the German manager. Teemu Pukki was the star of the show, scoring twice and also adding an assist to his name.
RESERVES
RWB: Jayden Bogle (Sheff. Udt.) - 73 OVR -> 82 OVR:
There is only one hat-trick from silver or bronze players this week which makes picking the reserves harder as usual. Bogle is one who could make it this week after he scored twice in Sheffield’s 3-1 against Stoke.
CM: Olivier Kemen (Kayserispor) - 70 OVR -> 81 OVR:
Kayserispor went back on winning ways in the Turkish Super league after 4 winless games in a row, recording a 4-1 win at home against Sivasspor. Kemen scored twice and registered an assist and could be in this week.
CAM: Quentin Cornette (Havre AC) - 66 OVR -> 80 OVR:
The only hat-trick this week came from the Ligue 2 where Havre took all three points with a 3-1 win against Nimes. They had to wait until Cornette was subbed on tho to be on winning ways but when he was on he got the business done for his side, ending the game with all three goals to his name.
RW: Mark Sykes (Bristol City) - 66 OVR -> 80 OVR:
Mark Sykes is also an option to be featured in Team of the Week this week after he scored twice in Bristol's 4-2 win against Birmingham.
ST: Hugo Cuypers (KAA Gent) - 72 OVR -> 82 OVR:
The last player who made it into my prediction for Team of the Week 12 is Gent's Hugo Cuypers after he scored both goals in his side's narrow 2-1 win at home against Kotrijk.
That concludes this week's Team of the Week predictions! What do you make of these predictions? Is there anyone else who should have made the TOTW? Let us know below!