The games are now coming thick and fast as clubs all over Europe are in the midst of the busiest period of the domestic calendar. In the Premier League, clubs are warming up for the festive period, with the action from last weekend backed up by midweek fixtures for the first time this season.
As for some other European leagues, they have a winter break to contend with, so they have to cram their fixtures into a smaller period of time. In Spain and Italy, attentions turn to the Copa del Rey and Coppa Italia in midweek, whereas France’s Ligue 1 follow the Premier League with domestic action during the week. As for Germany, with the Bundesliga only featuring 18 sides, they have no such worries.
So, in this vital period of the season, who shone this past week and could earn a spot in the FIFA 19 Team of the Week? 23 players will be selected on Wednesday, December 5 at 6pm BST, and receive a special in-form boost to their FIFA Ultimate Team (FUT) ratings. You can challenge the squad in Ultimate Team for a coin bonus, or look to claim one for yourself in packs from the FUT store. Alternatively, you can buy and sell them on the transfer market.
Kepa Arrizabalaga (OVR 83 – IF 85)
Eyebrows were raised when Chelsea forked out a record £72 million for 24-year-old goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, but credit to the Spaniard, he is starting to repay that fee. His five saves against West London rivals Fulham ensured a 2-0 win and a seventh clean sheet of the season, only bettered by Liverpool’s Alisson (9) and Manchester City stopper Ederson (8).
Kepa’s work in between the sticks should see him receive an in-form boost from 83 to 85 this week. His base card is priced at 1,300 coins on both PS4 and Xbox One on Ultimate Team.
Gerard Pique (OVR 87 – IF 88)
31-year-old Gerard Pique’s place in the starting lineup at Barcelona is under threat this season with Samuel Umtiti (OVR 87) growing into one of the world’s best defenders, and new signing Clement Lenglet (OVR 82) shining this season. Pique is unphased by the challenge, and produced a fine performance against Villarreal, capping his display with a goal in the 2-0 victory.
Pique’s 87 overall should creep up to 88 as a result, with the World Cup winner costing around 27,000 coins on both consoles. His 88 Champions League item will set you back around 62,000 coins on each platform, whereas his 88 UCL Road to the Final card, which improves after each round of the competition, is worth around 152,000 coins on PS4 and 150,000 on Xbox One.
Giorgio Chiellini (OVR 89 – IF 90)
Another solid man at the back, Giorgio Chiellini matched Pique’s efforts by also bagging a goal in a commanding win. Chiellini’s Juventus defeated Fiorentina 3-0, sending them 11 points clear at the top of Serie A with only a third of the season gone.
Chiellini should see his 89 OVR hit 90 this week, with his base card worth 57,500 on PS4 and 48,750 on Xbox One. His 90 rated Champions League card costs 219,000 on PS4 and 285,000 on Xbox One.
Cedric Soares (OVR 77 – IF 81)
Any side fancies their chances against a flat Manchester United at the moment, and Premier League struggles Southampton grabbed their chance by holding the heavyweights to a 2-2 draw at St. Mary’s. Cedric Soares, transferred from his traditional right back spot to left wing-back, fired in a beautiful free kick to put the home side 2-0 up, but a failure to pick up all three points has cost manager Mark Hughes his job on the south coast.
Cedric’s quality and versatility should be rewarded with a spot in the Team of the Week this Wednesday, where we expect his 77 overall to rise to 81. The Portuguese international costs just 500 coins on PS4 and 550 on Xbox One.
David Neres (OVR 79 – IF 82)
Over in Holland, and Ajax celebrated their qualification to the Champions League knockout stages in style, with a 5-1 hammering over Den Haag back in the Eredivisie. Right winger David Neres was the star, with the Brazilian scoring and claiming an assist in the victory, closing the gap with PSV at the top of the table to just two points.
Neres should see his 79 overall rating climb to 82 this week, with his normal gold card costing just 700 coins on both consoles, a bargain for his 88 pace. His 80 Champions League item comes in slightly higher at 2,000 coins on both platforms.
Aaron Ramsey (OVR 82 – IF 84)
Aaron Ramsey changed the game at half-time during the North London derby. The Arsenal man, who is out of contract at the end of the season, picked up two assists as the Gunners fought back from 2-1 to claim a crucial 4-2 victory over their biggest rivals Tottenham, and leapfrog them in the Premier League table to fourth place.
Welshman Ramsey’s 82 overall rating should now improve to an 84 in-form. You can pick up his base item for just 750 coins on PS4 and 900 on Xbox One.
Diego Valeri (OVR 80 – SIF 85)
Across the Atlantic, the MLS Conference Finals were played out this past week, and Portland Timbers star Diego Valeri came up trumps once again in their thrilling 3-2 win over Sporting Kansas City. Following a 0-0 draw in the first leg, attacking midfielder Valeri then netted a brace to take the Timbers through to the MLS Cup final, where they will come up against Atlanta United.
Valeri is in line for a second in-form card on FUT 19, and we expect his 80 overall rating to now rise to 85. The Argentine’s 80 base card costs just 750 coins on PS4 and 800 on Xbox One, but an 83 in-form is worth 20,000 on PS4 and 21,000 on Xbox One.
Serge Gnabry (OVR 82 – IF 84)
With the news that Arjen Robben will leave Bayern Munich at the end of the season, Serge Gnabry needed to show he was ready to fill the void, and the young German did exactly that against Werder Bremen. A brace from the wide midfielder claimed a much-needed 2-1 victory for the seven-time defending Bundesliga champions, taking Bayern into the top four.
Gnabry’s 82 overall should rise to 84 this week, with his position set to switch from left to right midfield. His base card costs 3,500 coins on PS4 and 4,000 on Xbox One, whilst an 83 Champions League items is priced at 22,000 on PS4 and 27,500 on Xbox One.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (OVR 87 – IF 88)
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang etched his named into Arsenal folklore on Sunday, with his brace and assist capping a scintillating 4-2 victory for the Gunners over Spurs at the Emirates. In has been a sensational start in an Arsenal shirt for the striker, who has 22 goals in 32 games for the club following his £56 million move from Borussia Dortmund back in January.
Despite being the Premier League’s top goal scorer, a TOTW appearance still awaits Aubameyang, that should change with the Gabon man improving from an 87 to an 88 rating. His base card costs 297,000 coins on PS4 and 270,000 on Xbox One.
Iago Aspas (OVR 85 – SIF 87)
Iago Aspas consistently puts his hand up for Team of the Week selection, and the Spaniard is already chasing the three appearances (and Team of the Season card) he made on FIFA 18. A brace against Huesca gave Celta Vigo a 2-0 victory to take them up to 13th in La Liga, and could earn the forward a second in-form card of the season.
Aspas’s 85 overall should now rise from 85 to 87, with his position moving from right wing to striker. His base item is worth a reasonable 12,750 coins on PS4 and 13,000 on Xbox One, with his ST in-form costs 122,000 on PS4 and 123,000 on Xbox One.
Timo Werner (OVR 83 – TIF 87)
Timo Werner completes a stunning attack, with the German also netting twice as RB Leipzig swatted aside Borussia Monchengladbach 2-0. After a difficult World Cup, the striker is firing again with 10 goals so far this season, which have helped Leipzig up to third place in the Bundesliga.
Werner could become the first man to pick up a third in-form card in FUT 19, with his 83 overall set to improve to 87. The 22-year-old’s base card priced at 2,700 coins on PS4 and 3,000 on Xbox One, whilst his 85 in-form is worth 200,000 on PS4 and 160,000 on Xbox One. A second 86 in-form will set you back 266,000 on PS4 and 235,000 on Xbox One.
RealSport Team of the Week 12 prediction
