It’s incredible that it has been over 30 weeks since FIFA 18 came out, and we’re at that stage of the season that league titles are being won. Bayern Munich were the first last week, and they have now been followed by Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain and PSV Eindhoven.
We are in danger of the season petering out now, but fear not, with a World Cup to look forward to, there is still plenty of incentive for players in Europe’s biggest leagues to keep up their performances.
The Bundesliga is bringing excitement, with the constant juggling of positions for those competing for places behind champions Bayern. Schalke took a massive step towards Champions League football with a 2-0 victory in the Revierderby over local rivals Borussia Dortmund, but with five points separating the clubs between third and sixth, this one is going down to the wire.
A draw for Napoli against AC Milan looks to have handed Juventus the Serie A title. The Old Lady had no such trouble in their 3-0 demolition of Sampdoria, meaning the defending champions now have a six-point gap at the top of the table with just six games to go.
So, with so many incredible performances from across Europe this week, who has done enough to make the FIFA 18 Team of the Week? A squad of 23 players will be released on Wednesday, April 18, and they will receive an in-form boost for the next seven days. You can challenge the squad on Ultimate Team for a coin bonus and find these players on the FUT store or buy and sell them on the transfer market.
Dani Gimenez (OVR 70 – IF 74)
There were plenty of top performers in goal over the weekend, but we’ve gone for Real Betis stopper Dani Gimenez. The Spaniard made five saves as his side held on to a 1-0 victory over Girona, as Betis continue to fly in La Liga, sitting in fifth place.
Gimenez’s heroics should see his 70 overall go to a maximum silver rating of 74. The ‘keeper only sets you back 1,400 coins on PS4 and 1,700 on Xbox One in Ultimate Team.
Naldo (OVR 84 – TIF 88)
Naldo has had a superb season, and the centre back incredibly netted his seventh Bundesliga goal of the campaign in the Revierderby win for Schalke. The defender smashed in a free-kick from distance to claim the second against Borussia Dortmund, seemingly securing Champions League football for the Gelsenkirchen club.
Due to two Team of the Week appearances so far, the Brazilian Naldo should improve from 84 to 88 this Wednesday. His base card is priced at 5,900 coins on PS4 and 5,400 on Xbox One, whilst his latest in form, rated at 87, will cost a hefty 93,000 on PS4 and 88,000 on Xbox One.
Kevin Long (OVR 70 – IF 74)
With Ben Mee out injured, Kevin Long has been given his opportunity at Burnley. The Irish defender hasn’t disappointed, building on his assist last week with a goal against Leicester, as European football looks increasingly likely for the Clarets. The 2-1 over the Foxes has moved Burnley to within just two points of sixth-placed Arsenal.
Long is only rated at 70 on Ultimate Team, but this could rise to a maximum silver rating of 74 this week, or even further. The centre back currently costs 2,000 coins on both consoles due to his performance at the weekend.
Mathieu Debuchy (OVR 78 – TIF 85)
What a turnaround it has been for Mathieu Debuchy. Deemed surplus to requirements at Arsenal, the Frenchman headed to native club Saint-Etienne in January and has returned to his best form. The right back netted his third goal in just nine Ligue 1 games at the weekend against Strasbourg as his side held on for the 1-0 win.
Debuchy has received two in-forms already since his January transfer, so expect his 78 overall to improve to at least 85 this week. His normal gold card will cost just 600 coins on PS4 and 900 on Xbox One, whilst his 84 in form will cost around 21,000 coins on both consoles.
Douglas Costa (OVR 83 – OTW 85)
Douglas Costa is another man in fine form, and after a superb showing against Real Madrid in the week, the Brazilian came off the bench for Juventus against Sampdoria and recorded three assists. The left midfielder set up Mario Mandzukic, Benedikt Howedes and Sami Khedira in the 3-0 victory, which now gives Juve a six-point lead in Serie A with just six games remaining.
Costa has surprisingly not received a single Team of the Week spot all season, but that did not stop his rating improving from 82 to 83 in the Ratings Refresh in February. His new base card is valued at around 5,000 coins on both consoles, whilst his Ones To Watch, which will improve with a TOTW appearance, costs just under 90,000 coins on both platforms.
Isco (OVR 86 – PTG 89)
Another man in a superb vein of form is Real Madrid’s Isco. The Spaniard scored and assisted Casemiro in the 2-1 win over Malaga as Los Blancos look to maintain momentum for their Champions League semifinal against Bayern Munich.
Isco’s 86 normal rating should improve to 89 this week, and you can get his normal central midfield card for 26,000 coins on PS4 and 22,000 on Xbox One. An 87 in-form attacking midfield item is priced at 138,000 on PS4 and 120,000 on Xbox One, whilst his 87 Path to Glory, which will improve with another in-form card, costs 174,000 coins on PS4 and 170,000 on Xbox One.
Giovani Lo Celso (OVR 75 – IF 82)
PSG splashed the cash on Neymar and Kylian Mbappe last summer, but one of the discoveries of the season has been midfielder Giovani Lo Celso. The 22-year-old Argentine has played 42 times this year and is now likely to head to the World Cup this summer. The youngster scored twice as Paris celebrated winning the Ligue 1 title with a 7-1 demolition of previous champions Monaco.
Lo Celso’s great form should be rewarded with a Team of the Week appearance, and we expect his 75 rating to improve to 82. You can pick up his 75 base card for just 750 coins on PS4 and 650 on Xbox One.
Nolan Roux (OVR 73 – SIF 82)
Striker Nolan Roux has found himself moved out wide to the left for Metz, but it looks to be working. The Frenchman scored twice as his side defeated Rennes 2-1, giving Metz a survival lifeline, with five points to make up with five games to go.
Roux’s 73 overall rating should improve to around 82 this week, and you can pick up his silver base card for 1,300 coins on PS4 and 2,500 on Xbox One. A 79 left midfield in-form will cost you around 30,000 coins on both consoles.
Ayoze Perez (OVR 74 – IF 82)
Newcastle have found form at the right time of the season, and their fourth win in a row has taken them into the top half of the Premier League. Ayoze Perez was the star in the 2-1 win over Arsenal, opening the scoring before setting up Matt Ritchie to slot home.
Perez’s 74 overall rating is likely to increase to an 82 in-form this week. You can pick up the attacking midfielder’s maximum silver card for 1,900 coins on PS4 and 2,500 on Xbox One.
Kevin Volland (OVR 80 – IF 84)
The only hat trick hero this week is Bayer Leverkusen’s Kevin Volland. The German helped destroy Eintracht Frankfurt 4-1 with three goals, which has aided Leverkusen’s Champions League hopes no-end. There are now just games to go in the Bundesliga, and Bayer sit in third place, with a four-point cushion from fifth.
Volland’s hat trick make him a shoe-in for the Team of the Week, and we expect his 80 overall to improve to an 84 in-form. You can pick up his base card for a reasonable 1,400 coins on PS4 and 1,300 on Xbox One.
Olivier Giroud (OVR 82 – PTG 84)
Olivier Giroud changed the game against Southampton. The Chelsea new boy came on at 2-0 down with just half an hour to play, but within 20 minutes he had scored twice and the Blues were 3-2 up. A performance like that is likely to give him the nod over Alvaro Morata in the future, as Chelsea look to gain a miraculous seven points on Tottenham to qualify for the Champions League as well as chase down FA Cup success.
Giroud’s brace should see his 82 overall improve to 84 this week, which would affect his Path To Glory card. Giroud’s 82 base card will cost 2,500 coins on both consoles whilst his Path To Glory is priced at 50,000 coins on PS4 and 52,000 on Xbox One. His 86 Goal of the Year item, achieved whilst at Arsenal, costs 36,500 on PS4 and 39,000 on Xbox One.
RealSport’s Team of the Week 31 prediction
Who do you think should be in the Team of the Week? Let us know in the comments section below.
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