TOTW 2 Predicted Starting XI
With the worldwide release just around the corner, this will be the first side that casuals encounter in Ultimate Team. There are several meta players and big names likely to be included, with Messi and Son lighting up the MLS, while Gravenberch and Militao stand out as elite FUT options.
GK: Marco Carnesecchi (Atalanta) - 84 OVR -> 86 OVR:
There were a couple of keepers who could make the cut this week, but Carnesecchi stands out for me. The Italian was named MOTM during Atalanta's 3-0 win after making five saves, including one from the spot, keeping his clean sheet intact.
RB: Kerstin Casparji (Man City) - 79 OVR -> 82 OVR:
The options were significantly more limited than last week for the WSL, and while we could see EA ignore the division, I feel they may include one. The lack of defenders works in Casparji's favour. The Dutch RB scored one of their five in a 5-1 away win over Tottenham, claiming MOTM in the process.
CB: Eder Militao (Real Madrid) - 84 OVR -> 86 OVR:
With how CBs play in this game, Militao is high on the meta list. That ranking is set to rise further after the Brazilian scored a spectacular goal to go along with his clean sheet in Real Madrid's 2-0 home win over Espanyol.
LB: Tyrick Mitchell (Crystal Palace) - 78 OVR -> 84 OVR:
With both Premier League and defender options being slim this week, Mitchell’s winner against West Ham could be enough, despite not keeping a clean sheet. With a featured upgrade, the card becomes very usable. Sky awarded the defender an 8/10.
LW: Ferran Torres (Barcelona) - 83 OVR -> 85 OVR:
There are a few sides in contention for picking up IFs from the opening two weeks. Barcelona are one of them, with Torres scoring twice from the left during a 3-0 win over Getafe. He is the first of two Barcelona players in this prediction.
CAM: Sara Dabritz (Real Madrid) - 85 OVR -> 86 OVR:
While it’s Barcelona that will inevitably win the division, Real Madrid also offer several top cards in the game. Dabritz is very usable and, after scoring twice this weekend, looks set for an in-form upgrade. It’s yet to be seen if EA will allow two Liga F players in a single week, but in terms of who deserves to be there, Dabritz should be included.
CM: Ryan Gravenberch (Liverpool) - 85 OVR -> 86 OVR:
This weekend saw the Merseyside derby played, a match that usually produces an IF. The choice is an easy one here, with Gravenberch scoring once and assisting another from CDM as Liverpool once again claimed bragging rights with a 2-1 win.
LW: Claudia Pina (Barcelona) - 86 OVR -> 87 OVR:
Just four games into the season, Barcelona are on +24 GD, which says all you need to know about their dominance in the division. They were snubbed of an IF last week, but this time it’s practically certain that Pina will be included. The Spaniard scored three times from LW as Barcelona beat Sevilla 5-0 away from home.
ST:Lionel Messi (Inter Miami) - 86 OVR -> 87 OVR:
The first of two high-profile players from the MLS in my prediction is Lionel Messi. The Argentine was involved in all three Inter Miami goals as they secured a 3-2 home win over DC United. With two goals, an assist, and a perfect match rating from Sofascore, I fully expect a Week 2 Messi.
ST: Christian Pulisic (AC Milan) - 84 OVR -> 86 OVR:
Serie A saw a couple of debatable inclusions last week, suggesting that EA will happily force players in from the top divisions. That being said, Pulisic isn’t in that category, with the American scoring twice and earning an impressive 8/10 from Gazzetta in AC Milan’s 3-0 away win over Udinese.
ST: Heung Min Son (Los Angeles) - 85 OVR -> 86 OVR:
The MLS continues to offer numerous options, and we saw EA snub three hat tricks last week in order to keep it to just one includee from the league. I do, however, think two popular gold options are viable. Son is the second, after scoring a hat trick in Los Angeles’ 4-1 win.
TOTW 2 Predicted Subs & Reserves
CDM: Baptiste Santamaria (Valencia) - 76 OVR -> 81 OVR:
Onto one of the more underwhelming additions to the side now with Santamaria. The Valencia central midfielder would need a huge upgrade to be remotely usable, but nevertheless, he deserves his IF. With both a goal and an assist, Santamaria guided Valencia to a 2-0 win over Athletic Club.
CM: Kaishu Sano (Mainz) - 79 OVR -> 82 OVR:
There were a few players in the Bundesliga claiming a perfect 10 match rating from Kicker this week. One of those was Sano, with the Japanese midfielder providing both a goal and an assist as Mainz recorded a convincing 4-1 away win over Augsburg.
LM: Alex Iwobi (Fulham) - 80 OVR -> 83 OVR:
As previously mentioned, the Premier League offered minimal options this week, and thus Iwobi stands out for his goal and assist during Fulham's 3-1 home win over Brentford. Similar to Semenyo last week, with a quota for Premier League options likely, Iwobi is one of a few realistic choices for EA to include.
CM: Gabri Veiga (Porto) - 76 OVR -> 81 OVR:
Thankfully, the talented Veiga is now back playing his football in Europe after a stint in Saudi Arabia. He excelled this week, scoring once and providing two assists as Porto recorded a 3-0 away win over Rio Ave.
ST: Ansu Fati (Monaco) - 75 OVR -> 81 OVR:
With numerous talented players breaking through at Barcelona, a loan deal was secured for Fati to help his development. The Spaniard came on at halftime during their recent match against Metz, scoring a brace as Monaco went on to win 5-2.
ST: Joao Felix (Al-Nassr) - 79 OVR -> 82 OVR:
Felix’s move to Chelsea ended up being extremely underwhelming, with the Portuguese forward now opting for a move to Saudi Arabia despite being just 25 years old. There were several options from Saudi this week, and it could go a number of ways. Felix scoring twice and providing an assist, alongside being a big name, makes me lean in his favor.
ST: Ludovic Ajorque (Brest) - 77 OVR -> 81 OVR:
Ajorque delivered one of the best performances you’ll see in Ligue 1 this season. The Frenchman scored once and assisted three more to earn a 9/10 from L’Équipe. Brest went on to beat Nice 4-1, securing their first win of the current campaign.
CB:Evan Weir (Walsall) - 60 OVR -> 80 OVR:
Walsall picked up numerous IFs last season during their early domination of League Two, before what is one of the biggest collapses in footballing history saw them fail to secure promotion, let alone the title. They have once again started the season strongly, with 19 points from their opening nine matches. Weir scored twice in their recent 4-2 win over Tranmere.
RB: Hampus Skoglund (Hammarby) - 68 OVR -> 80 OVR:
Last week, the reserve defender was difficult to predict; however, this time we have two very strong candidates. The second is Skoglund, who, alongside keeping a clean sheet, managed to record three assists, all while playing RB. Hammarby went on to win 4-0.
CAM: Callum McCowatt (Silkeborg) - 67 OVR -> 80 OVR:
Although on paper Silkeborg only managed a point away at Kobenhavn, it is still a very good result for them. McCowatt scored all three of their goals, making his inclusion in TOTW 2 seem extremely likely.
CAM:Oliver Burke (Union Berlin) - 73 OVR -> 80 OVR:
Another perfect 10 from Kicker went to Burke, who scored a hat trick during their seven-goal thriller away at Frankfurt, with the away side ultimately winning 4-3. Ilic also provided three assists, but I would be shocked if the final decision didn’t go to Burke.
ST: Ivan Prtajin (Kaiserslautern) - 69 OVR -> 80 OVR:
A hat trick is often enough for inclusion in the reserves section, but those with more than that are practically guaranteed. Prtajin was involved in all four of his side’s goals, scoring a hat trick and providing an assist to secure Kaiserslautern a 4-1 win.
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!
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