FIFA 23 Team of the Week 18 Prediction

Published on by FutheadNewsStaff 1 Comments

Predictions and cover image by Simplblue88 - for more predictions, Designs and FIFA related graphics follow Patric on twitter!

Squad Link: https://www.futhead.com/23/squads/44137/

Goalkeeper

Casteels GK – VfL Wolfsburg - 84 -> 87 Rated: Wolfsburg were comfortably beaten and outplayed last weekend by RB Leipzig, but they responded in emphatic fashion against Cologne as they took all three points with a 2-0 victory. Wolfsburg shot-stopper Cateels claimed Man of the Match after he made a total of five saves and made sure his side went home with all points and a clean sheet.

Defenders

Firpo LB – Leeds Utd. - 75 -> 83 Rated: Javi Gracia secured a massive Leeds United 1-0 win against relegation rivals Southampton in his first game in charge at Elland Road. An incredibly strong first half where he was allowed to venture higher up the pitch, creating intriguing interplay with Willy Gnonto. Had a performance that was well worth his goal on the 77th minute, coupled with incredible defensive efforts, saving Wober a couple of times.

R. Ely CB – UD Almeria - 75 -> 83 Rated: Relegation-threatened Almeria stunned league-leading Barcelona with a 1-0 win - the club’s first-ever victory against the Catalan giants - on Sunday evening. Rodrygo Ely was one of the best players on the pitch, helping his side to keep the clean sheet with a number of tackles and clearances and might be in the side this week.

Gimenez CB – Atlético de Madrid - 83 -> 86 Rated: Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid exchanged set-piece goals in the final 15 minutes of a subdued 1-1 derby draw on Saturday evening. Gimenez entered for Reinildo in the 23rd minute. Could have put a Yannick Carrasco corner in behind Courtois for the game’s opening goal but got the header all wrong. Hoofed away nearly every ball that came near him in a no-nonsense display at the back, and got forward to open the scoring with a thundering header from Griezmann’s free kick.

Midfielders

Skipp CM – Spurs - 77 -> 86 Rated: Tottenham claimed their first Premier League win against Chelsea for the first time since November 2018 with a 2-0 victory on Sunday. Getting sharper and sharper and showing he's more than ready to claim his spot. Made some swift early breaks from the Tottenham half, one of which resulted in a one-two with Emerson that led to a Kane shot wide. He then scored his first goal for the club with a rocket of a shot from distance that Kepa could only palm on to the underneath of his own crossbar and in.

Candreva CAM – Salernitana - 83 -> 86 Rated: Salernitana went back on winning ways after three consecutive Serie A defeats, claiming a comfortable 3-0 victory at home against Monza. Antonio Candreva once again showed he's not done yet despite his age as he finished the game with a goal and an assist and picked up a 7.5 match rating and MOTM.

T. Müller CAM – FC Bayern - 87 -> 89 Rated: Bayern Munich moved back above Borussia Dortmund on goal difference at the top of the Bundesliga, after blowing title rivals Union Berlin away at the Allianz Arena with a 3-0. Thomas Muller is the literal definition of aging like fine wine. Surpassing Oliver Kahn in number of appearances for Bayern, the Raumdeuter showed his prowess in one of the most crucial games of the season. Muller’s greatest power lies in his ability to find the right place to be in, at the right time. Making some of the most crucial passes in the game, and racking up two assists, he is in incredible form as always.

Foden RM – Manchester City - 85 -> 87 Rated: Manchester City got back to winning ways with an emphatic 4-1 thumping of Bournemouth on Saturday evening. Recalled to the side for his 200th City appearance, Foden backed up Pep Guardiola's pre-match vote of confidence with a great run to set up Haaland for City's first and he grabbed an assist for their second. Gifted the chance for his goal, but a clinical finish nonetheless. Also involved in the fourth goal.

Junya Ito RM – Stade de Reims - 78 -> 84 Rated: Stade de Reims recorded an comfortable and easy looking 3-0 home victory against Toulouse on the weekend and with Junya Ito scoring once and assisting another two I can't see the Japanese not being included this week.

Forwards

Mbappé ST – Paris SG - 92 -> 93 Rated: Paris Saint-Germain produced a performance for the champions as they downed Marseille 3-0 on their own turf in Ligue 1 on Sunday evening. Mbappe started sharp and put his team ahead midway through the first half. He then provided an assist for PSG's second with a smart cross into the box. Mbappe made it a brace with a lovely volley on his left foot to beat Pau Lopez in the second half. In doing so, the 24-year-old became Paris Saint-Germain's joint-top scorer with 200 goals, tied with Edinson Cavani having played 54 fewer games than the Uruguayan.

Werner ST – RB Leipzig - 84 -> 87 Rated: Boosted by an excellent second-half display that saw them claim a 1-1 draw with Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League during the week, Leipzig racedout of the blocks in their top-six tussle against Frankfurt and recorded a narrow 2-1 victory. Timo Werner was named MOTM after he scored one and assisted another and could pick up his second inform this week.

Substitutes

Mandanda GK – Stade Rennais - 79 -> 84 Rated: Jérémy Doku got the only goal in the Derby Breton to give his side all three points but performances like today's are why Mandanda was the long-time Olympique de Marseille captain and part of the France squad that lifted the FIFA World Cup in 2018. His positioning and shot-stopping were second to none, and he saved six of the seven shots on his goal with Spence getting him out of jail for the other.

Szalai CB – Fenerbahce - 76 -> 83 Rated: The Turkish league restarted after a break due to the horrible earthquake and Fenerbahce recorded a comfortable 4-0 victory at home against Konyaspor. Szalai was one of the goalscorers and could be in this week.

Almada CAM – Atlanta United - 76 -> 83 Rated: The MLS is finally back and what a weekend it was. Atlanta United looked like they'll lose their opening fixture at home, being down 0-1 entering the final minutes of the game before Thiago Almada stepped up and scored a brace with the first one easily being one of the best goals of the season.

Ivanusec LM– Dinamo Zagreb - 75 -> 83 Rated: I'm taking the punt on this one as he was snubbed for the same last time I included him. Dinamo Zagreb picked up a 4-0 victory against Hajduk and Ivanusec once again was among the goalscorers, ending the game with a brace.
Jae-Sung Lee CAM – Mainz 05 - 76 -> 83 Rated: Mainz 05 claimed another Bundesliga victory in the opening match on friday last week, beating their opponents Gladbach with 4-0. Jae-Sung Lee, who's in insane form recently, once again delivered with a goal and an assist and was named POTW in Germany.

Braithwaite ST – RCD Espanyol - 76 -> 83 Rated: Espanyol recorded their second straight La Liga victory, beating RCD Mallorca narrowly with 2-1. Both goals came from Martin Braithwaite who I therefore expect to pick up the inform.

Ings ST – Aston Villa - 79 -> 84 Rated: West Ham scored four goals in a sensational 15-minute spell to beat Nottingham Forest 4-0 at the London Stadium. Danny Ings finally made his first Hammers start. Should have done better with header from a Coufal cross but made amends with two vital goals.

Reserves

P. Martinez CDM – Levante UD - 67 -> 80 Rated: Reserves this week are a bit harder than usual with no single hat-trick. One who could benefit from that and make an appearance in TOTW is Levante's defensive midfielder Martinez who scored one and assisted another in their 3-1 against Lugo.

Veiga CM – RC Celta - 61 -> 76 Rated: One of the most inform player recently in La Liga could finally pick up his first inform. Gabri Veiga was the star of the show in Celta Vigo's 3-0 win against Valladolid, scoring twice and assisting another.

Brophy ST – Ross County - 65 -> 79 Rated: Ross County went back on winning ways with a 4-0 home win against Dundee United and put more misery on their opponents. Brophy was the decisive factor, finishing the game with two goals and two assists and should be in this week.

Moffi ST – OGC Nice - 72 -> 82 Rated: Moffi probably had the breakout performance Nice fans have been waiting for since he joined on loan. The forward scored twice and assisted another one in Nice's 3-0 win away at Monaco.

Seuntjens ST – Fortuna Sittard - 72 -> 82 Rated: Not a hat-trick of goals to make it into the side but a hat-trick of assist from Seuntjens in Waalwijks's 4-1 win away to Heerenveen could be enough this week to see him in.