Hello and welcome to another Team of the Week Prediction!
Another weekend of football is done and we're almost entering the new year but for now we still have a lot of football ahead of us, especially with Boxing Day coming very soon! The last days have been full of surprises, probably the biggest upset have been caused by German side Eintracht Frankfurt who trashed Bayern with 5-1. Tottenham went back to winning ways in style while Newcastle and Chelsea suffered another defeat. Serie A also had some really exciting games and the most beautiful goal came from Muriel who scored an insane backheel goal against AC Milan. There also was the MLS final on the weekend and we can usually expect an inform from it, if it's the case this week it should be Cucho who was named MOTM but he can also be released as SBC. But enough talked for now, let's go on and check out who could potentially be in TOTW13!
TOTW 13 Predicted Starting XI
GK: James Trafford (Burnley) - 71 OVR -> 83 OVR:
Burnley dug deep to grab an impressive point away at Brighton on Saturday, as Vincent Kompany's side ended their four-games losing streak away from home. Summer signing James Trafford almost put on a one-man show as he made a string of heroic stops to deny Brighton, finishing the game with a total of ten saves and deservedly picked up Man of the Match.
CB: Federico Gatti (Juventus) - 76 OVR -> 86* OVR:
In a classic Massimiliano Allegri fashion, the Bianconeri snatched the lead and vigorously defended it until the final whistle. For the second Friday night in a row, Federico Gatti was the hero after clinching yet another winner. The defender’s second-half header was worth three points as well as a morale-boosting victory with Juventus beating Napoli narrowly with 1-0.
CB: Diego Carlos (Aston Villa) - 81 OVR -> 85 OVR:
Aston Villa sealed a club-record 15th consecutive home league win in a row with a 1-0 victory against Arsenal on Saturday evening. Diego Carlos was one of the best players against the Gunners as the Brazilian defender made crucial clearances at crucial times for Villa and didn't bend or break under pressure.
CB: Chancel Mbemba (Marseille) - 80 OVR -> 85 OVR:
Olympique Marseille's attack continues to click on all cylinders after their 4-2 win over FC Lorient at the Stade du Moustoir. The performance marked the third time in their last four matches in all competitions that Marseille have scored three or more goals. With Aubameyang just recently being included in a promo I don't think he'll be in this weeks TOTW so I'm instead including Mbemba who scored one and assisted another. Two goals conceded is not the ideal thing to inlcude a defender but worth a shot.
CDM: Scott McTominay (Man Utd.) - 82 OVR -> 85 OVR:
Scott McTominay doesn't do things by half measures, he loves a double. Especially against sides from west London. Manchester United's new-found goal-machine proved the difference and gave Erik ten Hag's side a badly-needed win against Chelsea, their first against a big-name side all season, beating their opponents with 2-1 midweek.
CM: Merino (Sociedad) - 84 OVR -> 86 OVR:
Real Sociedad picked up important three points away from home, beating Villareal with 3-0. There are two serious contenders from that game who both scored one and assisted another and I'm opting for Merino this time, hoping he finally picks up his first inform of the season.
CM: Hakan Çalhanoğlu (Inter) - 86 OVR -> 87 OVR:
Inter Milan dispatched a sorry Udinese thanks to a blitz of three goals in seven minutes before half-time to reclaim the lead of Serie A after Juventus briefly went top thanks to their Friday-night victory over Napoli. Dimarco could have been worthy of a joint-award, the wing-back mightily impressive and surviving an injury scare with Denzel Dumfries already sidelined. But Calhanoglu was the early livewire for Inter, twice fizzing thunderbolts at Silvestri’s goal before stepping up to dispatch his penalty. He never looked like missing from 12 yards and that kicked off the rout before Calhanoglu set up Dimarco’s goal to double the lead.
LM: Junior Dina Ebimbe (Frankfurt) - 75 OVR -> 86* OVR:
Bayern Munich returned to Bundesliga action this weekend against Eintracht Frankfurt after their game against Union Berlin was postponed last weekend. Going into this game, Frankfurt were winless in five games but Bayern Munich were left stunned as they lost 5-1 to Frankfurt. In both halves, Dina Ebimbe helped drive Frankfurt forward due to his efforts not only defensively but also on the attacking front and he was rewarded with two goals. Both of his strikes were striker esque and he consistently caused Dayot Upamecano issues throughout the game until he was subbed off.
LM: Heung-Min Son (Spurs) - 88 OVR -> 89 OVR:
Tottenham ended a run of five games without a win with a convincing 4-1 victory at home to Newcastle United. Spurs finally put a barren run behind them to keep hold of fifth-place in the Premier League standings, while the Magpies were consigned to their second three-goal loss in a week. On the left once more and he picked out Udogie with a run and low cross and did the same for Richarlison to make it two assists in the first half. He then netted himself with a penalty late in the second half - the first Spurs have had this season - after being brought down by Dubravka. A real captain's performance and he inspired the team.
ST: Ademola Lookman (Atalanta) - 81 OVR -> 85 OVR:
An enthralling Serie A encounter at the Gewiss Stadium produced late drama and numerous breathtaking moments as Atalanta toppled Milan 3-2. Another poor away result for Rossoneri has left their faint Scudetto hopes in tatters. Luis Muriel was awarded Man of the Match for his insane backheel goal which meant Atalanta kept all three points at home but with Lookman scoring twice I'm instead including him.
ST: Alexandre Lacazette (Lyon) - 83 OVR -> 86 OVR:
Lyon had showed signs of a revival after a spirited display in Lens last weekend, but a humbling defeat in the week to Marseille offered a grim reminder of the seven-time champions’ place in the relegation zone. A visit from a Toulouse side who have struggled domestically themselves would be an easier fixture, but given Les Gones’ issues at home this season, was far from a sure thing. But Lyon managed to grab their second win of the season with a 3-0 victory and it was all thanks to Alexandre Lacazette who netted a hat-trick and picked up an 8 match rating for his performance which should see him getting the inform this week.
TOTW 13 Predicted Subs & Reserves
ST: Cristhian Stuani (Girona) - 77 OVR -> 83 OVR:
Girona have gone back to the top of La Liga thanks to a famous 4-2 win over Barcelona at Estadi Lluis Companys. The City Group-owned club moved two points clear of Real Madrid and a whopping seven clear of Barcelona who drop down to fourth following the defeat. Stuani, who got subbed on 25 minutes before the end, proved to be the difference maker as he assisted the third goal before he then sealed the win with his side's all-important fourth goal.
ST: Marcos Senesi (Bournemouth) - 76 OVR -> 83 OVR:
Just when Manchester United thought they were turning the corner, they reverted to their very worst version of themselves and were blown apart by Bournemouth on Saturday, losing 3-0 at home in embarrassing fashion. Solanke picked up the Man of the Match award for his goal but with the amount of strikers I'm instead picking Senesi who not only kept a clean sheet but also scored one of his teams three goals.
ST: Raul Jiménez (Fulham) - 76 OVR -> 83 OVR:
Fulham followed up their thumping midweek 5-0 win over Nottingham Forest by thrashing West Ham by the same scoreline at Craven Cottage on Sunday. Mexican forward Raul Jiménez scored twice midweek and also added another goal to his season tally on the weekend.
ST: Rodrigo Gomes (Estoril) - 68 OVR -> 83 OVR:
We rarely see players from the Portuguese league from other teams than the big ones but this week should be different. Estoril picked up all three points with a comfortable 4-0 win against Chaves and Rodrigo Gomes was involved in all four goal with scoring twice and assisting another two.
ST: Abdoulaye Doucouré (Everton) - 77 OVR -> 83 OVR:
Chelsea suffered their seventh defeat of the Premier League season as another toothless performance ended in a 2-0 loss to Everton who extended their unbeaten run to now three consecutive games. Everton's Doucoure was on the scoresheet again as he needed no second invitation to slot home the rebound with a composed finish after Robert Sanchez had saved Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s effort, moved back up into his attacking midfield role, he was full of hard running.
ST: Esmee Brugts (Barcelona Women) - 71 OVR -> 83 OVR:
The blaugranes overwhelmed Eibar in the Estadi Johan Cruyff, taking a 5-0 victory in which all the goals were scored after the break. The Basque side showed great resilience in defence in the first half but in the second a quick fire hat-trick from Esmee Brugts puts them on winning ways and denied any hopes for Eibar to surprise the hosts.
ST: Jan-Niklas Beste (Heidenheim) - 74 OVR -> 83 OVR:
Heidenheim recorded an important and also entertaining 3-2 victory at home against Darmstadt and extended the gap to the relegation zone to now five points. You might not have heard of Jan-Niklas Beste yet but keep your eyes open for him because he could end at a bigger club next summer if he continues his performances. The 24-year-old once again proved he's probably Heidenheim's most important player as the German winger provided all three assists in their victory against Darmstadt and only three players in Europe's Top 10 leagues provided more assists than him.
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!
Check out the players who made all previous Teams of the Week here.
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