The international break comes to the bane of football fans across the world, especially with the run-ins in Europe’s top leagues about to spring into life. With Euro 2020 qualifiers commencing this past week and South American sides preparing for this summer’s Copa America with international friendlies, there was little club action to dissect.
For this week’s FIFA Ultimate Team of the week, we were able to look at clubs lower down the football pyramid. The MLS is the standout division, but with just five fixtures from North America, opportunities have been past two Leagues One & Two in England, as well as the Segunda Division in Spain and Serie B in Italy.
This time, it may not be the usual squad of 23 players released for the Team of the Week, but possibly an 18 for the starting 11 plus substitutes. You can challenge the squad on Ultimate Team for a coin bonus or look to get the players for yourselves by hunting in packs from the FUT store. You can also buy and sell them individually in the transfer market.
RealSport predicts the starting lineup, with a huge opportunity for the lower leagues this week.
Simon Eastwood (OVR 66 – IF 73)
Simon Eastwood has finally been given the faith as a number one goalkeeper at Oxford United, and the 29-year-old has repaid the club with some superb performances. The U’s picked up a 1-0 win over Coventry in League One this past weekend, but Eastwood produced five saves to hold on to the three points.
Eastwood’s 66 overall could rise to an in-form 73 this week, with his base card valued at 400 coins on PS4 and 450 on Xbox One in Ultimate Team.
Luke O’Neill (OVR 63 – IF 70)
Luke O’Neill produced the good for Gillingham from right back, with the defender bagging two assists in the 4-2 victory over AFC Wimbledon. In one of the biggest relegation battle in recent history, the victory moves 12th placed Gillingham five points above the relegation zone.
O’Neill should see his 63 base rating improve to an in-form 70, and you can pick up his bronze card for just 200 coins on PS4 and 1,200 on Xbox One.
Walker Zimmerman (OVR 72 – IF 77)
Over to the MLS, and centre back Walker Zimmerman was the hero for Los Angeles FC. The American popped up in injury to steal a 2-1 victory for LA, which sees them top the Western Conference standings in the MLS with most sides not playing this weekend.
Zimmerman’s 72 rating should rise to a 77 in-form on Ultimate Team, with his base card setting you back 900 coins on PS4 and 1,800 on Xbox One.
Ryan Hollingshead (OVR 66 – IF 72)
Staying in the States, FC Dallas man Ryan Hollingshead found himself on the scoresheet in a 2-1 win over Colorado Rapids. With just four sides playing in the Western Conference, Dallas rise to fourth in the standings with two wins and a draw from their first four matches.
Hollingshead’s 66 overall should improve to an in-form 72 this week, with his base card costing 1,300 coins on PS4 and 2,200 on Xbox One.
Dani Pacheco (OVR 76 – IF 79)
The star quality comes from Dani Pacheco this week, with the Malaga man netting the only goal in the 1-0 victory over Gimnastic in the Spanish Segunda Division. The win sees the former Champions League side move up to fourth place in the leag table, four points adrift off the automatic promotion spots.
Pacheco’s 76 overall is set to improve to a 79 in-form this week, with the left midfielder’s base card costing 500 coins on PS4 and 800 on Xbox One.
Reece Brown (OVR 64 – IF 73)
Forest Green Rovers claimed a 2-0 win over the struggling Port Vale in League Two, with central midfielder Reece Brown grabbing both goals. FGR now have a two-point cushion in the playoff spots, with seven games left to play.
Attacking midfielder Brown’s 64 overall is set to improve to a 73 in-form this week, with his base card setting you back 2,000 coins on PS4 and 10,000 on Xbox One.
Marco Mancosu (OVR 64 – IF 73)
The one game in Italian professional football this week saw Lecce and Ascoli meet in Serie B, and it was a one-sided affair with Lecce romping to a 7-0 victory. Central midfielder Marco Mancosu bagged two goals and one assist in the win, which lifts his club to third in the table and just one point off automatic promotion.
Mancosu’s 64 overall should improve to around 73 this week, with his base card having no recent sales on Ultimate Team.
David Accam (OVR 71 – IF 77)
Back to the MLS, and David Accam had a hand in all three goals as Philadelphia Union defeated Columbus Crew 3-0. The Ghanaian scored twice and grabbed an assist to give Union their first win of the campaign and take them up to eighth in the Eastern Conference.
Accam’s 71 overall should rise to around 77 this week, with the left midfielder’s base card costing 1,300 coins on PS4 and 2,400 on Xbox One.
Lucas Akins (OVR 67 – IF 74)
Burton Albion gave themselves a sniff of the playoffs, with the Brewers taking down Accrington Stanley 5-2. Strike Lucas Akins bagged two penalties and an assist in the win, which sees the club moving within five points of the playoff spots.
Akins should see his 67 overall rating improve to an in-form 74 this week, with his base card valued at 200 coins on PS4 and 500 on Xbox One.
Aaron Wilbraham (OVR 63 – IF 71)
Rochdale picked up a much-needed win, and with seven points in their last three games, the Dale have given themselves every chance of climbing out of the League One relegation zone. Aaron Wilbraham grabbed two goals in a 3-1 win over Scunthorpe, leaving Rochdale just needing two points to climb out of the drop zone.
Striker Wilbraham is set to improve from a 63 overall to a 71 in-form this week. His base card costs 200 coins on both consoles in Ultimate Team.
Armand Gnanduillet (OVR 63 – IF 70)
Blackpool’s Armand Gnanduillet completes the lineup with the forward also bagging a brace in the 4-1 win over Bradford. The result sees the Tangerines move up to eighth place in League One, just two points off the playoffs.
Gnanduillet should increase from a 63 overall to a 70 in-form on Ultimate Team, with the Ivorian having no recent sales on the game.
RealSport’s TOTW 28 prediction
