Team of the Week 34 (TOTW) predictions

The end of the season is almost upon us, and just a handful of fixtures remain in Europe’s top divisions. All the league titles have been secured, with Juventus’ win over Bologna at the weekend ruling Napoli out of the Serie A title race.

Fights for Europe and for top-flight survival are going down to the wire however, none more so than in the Premier League. Chelsea’s victory over Liverpool coupled with West Brom’s last-gasp win against Tottenham threw things wide open at both ends of the table, but time was up on Stoke’s ten-year Premier League stay following defeat to Crystal Palace.

In Spain, Barcelona maintained their unbeaten campaign, drawing with Real Madrid in El Clasico despite being reduced to ten men. The relegation spots are settled in La Liga, but Villarreal and Getafe are still fighting it out for the final Europa League place.

There is plenty of competition for European places in Italy, and at the other end, one of five clubs will join Hellas Verona and Benevento in relegation to Serie B. Just one round of fixtures remains in the German Bundesliga, with four sides still challenging for the Champions League places, with a further three in the Europa League hunt.

So much is on the line for clubs at the climax of the season, meaning players are still producing their best football. We look at who could make the FIFA 18 Team of the Week and earn themselves an in-form boost on Ultimate Team. 23 players will be selected on Wednesday, May 9 and be released at 6pm BST. You can challenge the squad for a coin bonus or try to find the players in packs on the FUT store. They can then be bought and sold individually on the transfer market.

Benoit Costil (OVR 82 – IF 85)

Few goalkeepers stood out this weekend, but Bordeaux’s Benoit Costil produced a penalty save in the 3-1 win over Saint-Etienne. The ‘keeper had already been beaten by Remy Cabella from the spot earlier in the game, but Costil responded brilliantly to ensure the victory for his side.

The Frenchman’s 82 overall rating should increase to around 85 if he makes the Team of the Week. You can pick Costil up for 1,300 coins on PS4 and 1,500 on Xbox One in Ultimate Team.

Mario Gaspar (OVR 81 – IF 83)

Mario Gaspar has been a consistent performer for Villarreal this season, and his form was rewarded with an important goal in the 1-0 win over Valencia. The victory almost secures Europa League football for El Submarino Amarillo, holding a six-point cushion with three games to go. 

Mario’s goal is likely to take his 81 overall to an in-form 83 this week, and his base card costs 3,400 coins on PS4 and 2,100 on Xbox One. 

Thilo Kehrer (OVR 71 – IF 80)

A brace for centre back Thilo Kehrer makes the Schalke man one of the best performers of the week. Kehrer’s two goals came in a 2-1 win over Augsburg which secured Champions League football for the Gelsenkirchen outfit.

The goals for Kehrer should take his 71 silver rating to perhaps as high as 80, with his base card currently priced around 4,000 coins on both consoles.

Massimo Gobbi (OVR 73 – IF 78)

Massimo Gobbi bombed up the left flank for Chievo Verona to notch two assists in the 2-1 victory over Crotone. The win was vital for Chievo’s survival hopes as they leap-frogged Crotone to move up to 15th, still just one point above the drop zone.

Gobbi’s creative work should see his 73 silver rating become an in-form gold 78. You can claim the Italian’s base card for 1,200 coins on PS4 and 2,700 on Xbox One.

Nicolas Pepe (OVR 73 – IF 81)

Lille are also in the midst of a relegation scrap, but Nicolas Pepe took his side out of the relegation zone with a brace in the 3-2 win over Toulouse. The three points see Lille creep up to 16th, one point above Toulouse in the relegation play-off spot. 

Right winger Pepe and his heroics deserve an in-form increase from 73 to 81. You can get the Ivorian’s silver card on Ultimate Team for 10,500 coins on PS4 and 13,250 on Xbox One.

Marcelo Brozovic (OVR 81 – SIF 86)

Inter Milan kept the pressure on Lazio for the final Champions League place with a crushing 4-0 victory over Udinese. Central midfielder Marcelo Brozovic was the star with the Croatian setting up two goals in the win.

Brozovic’s performance in the middle of the park could cause his 81 overall rating to improve to 86 this week. You can get his base card for 1,000 coins on PS4 and 1,400 on Xbox One, with his 84 in-form item priced at 16,500 on PS4 and 19,000 on Xbox One. 

Ademola Lookman (OVR 64 – IF 74)

Ademola Lookman forced through a loan move from Everton to RB Leipzig during the January transfer window, and it looks to be paying dividends. The left midfielder has scored six times since the switch, two of which came in the 4-1 win over Wolfsburg at the weekend.

Lookman’s 64 overall rating should increase to a maximum silver 74 card, and he could switch to an attacking midfield position due to Leipzig’s 4-2-2-2 formation. You can get the young Englishman for around 1,500 coins on both consoles. 

Roberto Pereyra (OVR 80 – IF 83)

Roberto Pereyra was the main man as Watford secured Premier League survival in the 2-1 victory over Newcastle. The Argentine scored one and created another in the win, and with things not too rosy at Vicarage Road in 2018, Pereyra could look for a move this summer.

The central midfielder’s 80 overall should improve to 83 this week, and we also expect his central midfielder position to move to left midfield. Pereyra will set you back 1,600 coins on both consoles in Ultimate Team.

Kike Garcia (OVR 76 – IF 82)

Eibar are sat in mid-table in La Liga, but they look to be taking confidence into the off-season with a 4-1 win over European chasers Girona. Striker Kike scored twice and set up another in the victory, taking his goal tally to a slightly disappointing seven for the season. 

Kike’s brace is likely to see him make the Team of the Week and improve his 76 overall to 82. The Spaniard is priced around 500 coins on both consoles. 

Mario Gomez (OVR 82 – PTG 85)

Looking to make Germany’s World Cup squad, Mario Gomez helped his cause dramatically with a brace for Stuttgart against Hoffenheim. The win keeps Stuttgart’s European ambitions alive heading into the final fixture, but they do face champions Bayern Munich as they seek to close the two-point gap from the Europa League places. 

Gomez’s 82 overall rating should improve to 85 this week, which would also improve his Path To Glory SBC item. The striker’s base card costs 3,300 coins on PS4 and 3,600 on Xbox One, whilst an 84 in-form will set you back around 27,000 on both consoles. 

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (OVR 88 – OTW 91)

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang completes our line-up following the forward’s brace against Burnley in Arsenal’s 5-0 victory. The January signing also notched an assist in Arsene Wenger’s final game at the Emirates, and Aubameyang will, of course, be one of the new manager’s key players next season. 

Aubameyang’s 88 overall rating will improve to at least 91 if he makes the Team of the Week, and his striker position would switch to left wing. The Gabon man’s base card costs 110,000 coins on PS4 and 106,000 on Xbox One, with his 90-rated second in-form item priced at 650,000 on PS4 and 560,000 on Xbox One. His live Ones To Watch card currently costs 525,000 on PS4 and 550,000 on Xbox One. 

RealSport’s Team of the Week prediction

Who should make the Team of the Week? Let us know in the comments section below.