Premier League action returned this weekend with some excellent individual and team performances. Chelsea brushed Cardiff aside largely thanks to Eden Hazard's terrific display and West Ham earned their first points of the season with a hard-working team performance. Elsewhere, Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first goal for Juventus and Real Madrid were held to a 1-1 draw by Athletic Bilbao.
With the season still in its early stages, it is difficult to gauge how well a team will do in the campaign, although there will be teams hoping to continue their perfect starts. Further afield, the MLS regular season is drawing to a close with the race for the playoffs heating up. Bradley Wright-Phillips could not have done more than the hat-trick he scored and is likely to be among the 23 players selected for the FIFA Ultimate Team of the Week.
Tim Krul (OVR 77 – IF 83)
Dutchman Tim Krul made a key save to deny former Canaries midfielder Jonny Howson as Norwich kept a clean sheet and inflicted a first defeat of the season for Middlesbrough. The victory is only Norwich’s second of the season and also their second clean sheet. Krul will be hoping to continue his form following his move from Newcastle in the summer.
Krul should receive a boost upwards of 80 OVR whilst his basic 77 card is available for 1,900 coins on PS4 and 2,900 on Xbox One.
Adam Smith (OVR 73 – IF 80)
Bournemouth will be disappointed to have conceded two late goals against Leicester however they were brilliant going forward. Josh King, Callum Wilson and Ryan Fraser grabbed the headlines, but right-back Adam Smith posed a constant threat and managed to get himself on the scoresheet when he grabbed the Cherries’ fourth.
Smith’s first in-form on FIFA 18 should be around the 80 OVR mark, whilst his basic 73 card is available for 5,800 coins on PS4 and 7,500 on Xbox One.
Chris Smalling (OVR 81 – IF 85)
Manchester United’s central defenders have come in for criticism this season, with it being no secret that Jose Mourinho wanted to bring in one or two more defenders in the transfer window. Chris Smalling stepped up against Watford smashing home a volley to make it 2-0 and helping United spoil Watford’s perfect start to the season. Having been omitted from recent England squads, Smalling will be hoping his good form can catch the eye of Gareth Southgate.
Smalling’s basic 81 OVR card is available on PS4 for 900 coins and 1,700 coins on Xbox One and his first in form should see him rewarded with an 85 card.
Ike Opara (OVR 75 – IF 80)
Athletic centre-back Ike Opara netted Sporting Kansas City’s third goal in a comfortable 5-1 win over the San Jose Earthquakes. Opara tucked away his chance well as the ball fell at his feet following a corner and remained solid as the Earthquakes posed little threat and remain bottom of the Western Conference.
Opara’s basic 75 OVR card is worth 900 coins on PS4 and 1,900 on Xbox One and it already has an 84-pace stat making him one of the quickest centre backs in the game. An in-form boost to 80 OVR will be very popular among FUT players this week.
Andriy Yarmolenko (OVR 81 – SIF 86)
Struggling West Ham got off the mark with an excellent win away at Everton, summer signing Andriy Yarmolenko netting a brace in his first Premier League start. The Ukrainian was part of an attacking trio that caused problems for Everton throughout the match and he capped off a fine display with a curling left-footed shot that left England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford no chance.
Yarmolenko’s basic 81 OVR card is available for 4,400 coins on PS4 and 2,200 on Xbox One whilst his 84 in-form card is available for 21,750 coins on PS4 and 40,000 on Xbox One. His second in-form should be rated at 86 OVR.
Lassana Coulibaly (OVR 71 – IF 78)
Rangers strong start to life under new manager Steven Gerrard continued this weekend with a 4-0 thumping of Dundee. Lassana Coulibaly slotted home for Ranger’s first after Borna Barisic saw his shot blocked, the midfielder then adding an impressive overhead kick assist to cap a brilliant return from injury.
Coulibaly is available on PS4 for 800 coins and 1,200 on Xbox One, his performance at the weekend should see him gain an in-form boost up to 78 OVR.
Gaston Pereiro (OVR 76 – TIF 88)
Uruguayan attacking midfielder Gaston Pereiro netted a brace of penalties as PSV routed ADO Den Haag 7-0 on Saturday. Pereiro also assisted Erick Gutierrez for PSV’s fifth as they continued their perfect start to the season taking maximum 15 points from the first five matches. The Dutch club will hope to take their form in to a big week for them with a trip to Barcelona in the Champions League before facing off against Ajax in a top of the table clash next Sunday.
Pereiro’s third in-form card could see him boosted as high as 88 OVR, his 86 in-form is available for 25,000 coins on PS4 and 40,000 on Xbox One with his 81 in-form card around the same price on PS4 and 25,000 coins on Xbox One. His basic 76 OVR card is available for 450 coins on both consoles.
Eden Hazard (OVR 91 – TIF 95)
Belgian wizard Eden Hazard put in a mesmerising performance against Cardiff on Saturday scoring three against the newly promoted side and earning himself the Man of the Match award. Hazard has now scored five goals in his last three games, prompting Blues manager Maurizio Sarri to claim he is the best in Europe.
Hazard should rise from 91 to a stunning 95 this week, with his basic card available for just under 100,000 coins on both PS4 and Xbox One. A 92 in-form card is available for around 300,000 coins on both consoles, with his 94 in-form is worth up to 565,000 coins on PS4 and 490,000 on Xbox One.
Nicolas Pepe (OVR 73 – IF 79)
23-year-old winger Nicolas Pepe was the difference as Lille saw off a spirited comeback from Amiens to run out 3-2 winners. Ivorian forward Pepe scored all three for Lille who sit second in Ligue 1 and will be attracting attention from other clubs around Europe with Arsenal already rumoured to be interested. Already four goals and three assists in five games, Pepe is one to watch.
Pepe will see his first in-form card get a 79 OVR, his basic 73 OVR card is worth 2,800 coins on PS4 and 2,500 coins on Xbox One.
Ian Henderson (OVR 67 – IF 75)
Another 33-year-old forward with a hat-trick on Saturday, Ian Henderson led Rochdale to their first home win of the season as they saw off struggling Gillingham with ease. An all-round display from former England youth international Henderson was encapsulated by a superb volley to round of his hat-trick.
Henderson’s basic 67 card is worth 200 coins on both consoles and his in-form card should see him rewarded with a 75 OVR.
Luis Miguel Rodriguez (OVR 70 – IF 78)
Veteran forward Luis Miguel Rodriguez racked up a hat-trick as Atletico Tucuman saw off Tigre 3-0. The 33-year-old is in his third spell at his boyhood club and has helped them to second place in the Argentine Primera Division after an unbeaten start. Rodriguez’s first goals of the season should be enough to see him in to the FUT TOTW and he will be a tricky customer with a four-star skill rating.
Rodriguez’s basic card is rated at 70 overall and is available for just 300 coins on PS4 and 450 coins on Xbox One. His heroics against Tigre should see him rewarded with an in-form 78 OVR.
RealSport's TOTW 47 prediction
